Desert oasis, Vegas of the Midde East, city of shopping malls, Disneyland for adults. No matter how you describe Dubai, there is nowhere quite like it.
Rising up out of the sand against the Persian Gulf coastline, Dubai is often hailed as the most futuristic city in the Middle East, if not the world.
However with controversial politics, a questionable legal system and in your face gaudiness, there are many reasons tourists hate it.
It sometimes comes across as a place that is yet to decide if it is a haven for tourists or a staunchly conservative religious state.
So why do tourists visit Dubai? What is there to love (and hate)?
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One of the biggest factors that draws in tourists, is the Dubai weather.
A typical, tropical desert climate, Dubai sees warm sunny weather for most of the year and makes a brilliant spot for winter sun if you live in the northern hemisphere.
However this also comes with exceptionally hot summers of 50C+ mixed with sand storms. This is unbearable and can leave little to do but sweat it out in the pool.
Rain occurs throughout the year but mostly between January and March with February being the wettest month. Yes, it rains in Dubai.
As far as transport hubs go, Dubai airport is pretty remarkable.
Home to one of the highest rated airlines in the world, superb duty free shopping, sleep pods and even a 5* hotel, it's a common stop-over for many European passengers heading East.
From the airport, it's quick and easy to get through customs and into a taxi to Downtown Dubai. If your layover is 5 or more hours, heading into Dubai is a convenient way to stretch your legs and get some lunch.
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When it comes to costs, there are no two ways about it: Dubai is expensive.
A playground for the fabulously rich, Dubai has come out in recent research as the second most expensive city in the world for tourists.
In the typical tourist spots of Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah it is difficult to do anything without spending a lot of money. The shops, bars, restaurants and hotels all aim for extreme luxury.
Entry cost to Wild Wadi water park is $90 or £66 and tickets to the At The Top at the Burj Khalifa are up to $142 or £104 per person.
Even a burger in Barasti Beach Club is $29 / £21 (let's not get started on cocktail prices).
Around 85% of Dubai's population are immigrants.
Attracted by high wages and zero taxes, Dubai has long marketed itself as a glamorous and attractive base for expats.
There is also a promise of housing more affordable than the likes of London and New York, which often even has space for house staff.
However with this comes the inevitable difficulty in finding anyone who is actually Emirati.
It also brings with it a complete melting pot of cultures, especially on the food scene.
Distinctly Emirati food is hard to find, but broad Middle Eastern food like shawarma and mezze is available everywhere.
There are also thousands of international restaurants from the Cheesecake Factory and Cold Stone Creamery to Hakkasan and Nobu.
I personally love the chance to eat at some of my favourite chains if I ever feel remotely home sick, but for your average traveller it's not necessarily the authentic Emirati food they are looking for.
Authenticity in Dubai is there, but it's very hard to find. To see the real UAE, you mostly need to leave the city itself.
The comparisons between Dubai and Disney's Magic Kingdom can sometimes be pretty accurate.
Hiding any part of the dark side of Dubai behind a happy, smiling front.
Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov on Unsplash
The ethics, politics and legal system of Dubai can leave visitors at best bemused and at worst imprisoned.
Not only is it common to hear stories of tourists imprisoned for kissing in public, or being raped and then jailed for sex outside of marriage.
Whilst these kind of laws exist in other Islamic countries around the world it can be hard to take from a place that promotes itself as a destination for holidaymakers looking for a good time.
You only have to read a newspaper to know about the dodgy working conditions and lack of human rights amongst labourers in the country.
Stories of workers from India and Bangladesh arriving there on a promise of high wages, only to have their passports confiscated and be forced to live and work in unbearable conditions.
This is one of the biggest concerns that travellers have with Dubai, and one that it's not easy to forget.
Have you been to Dubai? Did you love it or hate it?
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