WHY GO:

The United Arab Emirate likes to break records.

Dubai is home to the largest shopping mall in the world, The Dubai Mall, and the world’s tallest building, the 2,716ft Burj Khalifa.

You also won’t have trouble finding a hotel.

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There are more than 250 to choose from, including the new, swish The Address, with its infinity pool and spa, in downtown Dubai.

DON’T MISS:

A city tour including a visit to Palm Jumeirah, the artificial island shaped like a palm leaf and built on reclaimed land.

Here you’ll find Atlantis The Palm Dubai, an extravagant hotel where you can swim with dolphins.

Just down the coast you can’t miss the Burj Al Arab, shaped like the sail of an Arab dhow with a fleet of Rolls-Royces available for its guests.

To get a feel for old Dubai, head to the Creek, a seven-mile-long natural seawater inlet that cuts the city in two.

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Traditional working dhows line the quays and scores of abras (small water taxis) criss-cross the waterway. One of the nicest ways to experience it is on a two-hour dhow dinner cruise during which you can admire the illuminated skyscrapers.

The traditional souks, such as Deira Spice with its sacks of fragrant herbs and spices, and the dazzling Deira gold souk, are well worth a visit.

You can’t visit Dubai without exploring the desert in a four-wheel-drive.

Go riding over the sand dunes before visiting a Bedouin camp where you can nibble sweetmeats and sip mint tea as you watch the sunset.

● GETTING THERE

Cox & Kings (020 7875 000/www.coxandkings.co.uk) offers a 10-night Dubai and Sri Lanka tour including three-nights at The Address in Dubai and seven nights at Blue Water resort in Sri Lanka from £2,675pp (two sharing), B&B.

Price includes return flights with Emirates.