Dubai: In a world of its own

Claiming a number of 'firsts', Dubai is staying one step ahead of its rivals with a string of innovative projects. But is it actually going too far, asks Robin McKelvie, as he tours some of the Emirate's impressive venues. The rise of Dubai as a C&I destination during the past decade has been nothing short of miraculous. One look at the figures demonstrates this clearly: in the first half of this year alone airport traffic increased by 27 per cent; there is now around 150,000m2 of meeting and conference space and visitor figures are projected to rocket from 4.9 million in 2003 to 15 million by 2010.