Most vacationers show up at their destination hunting for a good deal. A discount on the room here, modest restaurant prices there, anything to keep spending in check.
Dubai also draws a different kind of traveler, one who pays little attention to price tags, unless the bill is so enormous that it becomes a landmark in its own right.
The emirate is a well-known playground for the rich and famous: celebrities, company executives and members of royal families fly in on helicopters, yachts and supercars.
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Dubai has built an extraordinary range of high-end attractions tailored to expensive tastes. Let's take a look at some of the VIP experiences on offer.
Buy Your Own Island
You will never have to worry about the neighbors asking you to turn the music down if they don't live on the same island. As Dubai presses ahead with construction of its ambitious artificial archipelago, "The World," private islands are hitting the market. One of them, spanning 11.6 acres, is going for a bargain 16 million dollars, and many more "countries" are set to go up for sale in the coming years.
Make Connections at the Capital Club
The Capital Club, one of the most prestigious private clubs in the world, is known as a gathering place for the government and business elite. Membership is by invitation only and costs around 15,000 US dollars. For that sum you can enjoy fine dining prepared by Michelin-starred chefs and browse an in-house gallery, but for many guests the real perk is the chance to network with the elite.
Drive Your Ferrari Into a Nightclub
The chic new venue Secret Room has rolled out a fresh offer for high rollers. For less than 3,000 dollars, guests can drive their supercar onto the dance floor and soak up the crowd's admiration, or ignore its annoyance. The club can only accommodate one car at a time, so competition is fierce.
Splurge at the Auctions
Bids often reach staggering heights before the hammer even falls. In 2016, one buyer spent 9 million dollars on a custom-made license plate, though he couldn't have paired it with the world's most expensive tires, which went for 600,000 dollars. Rare watches have also fetched remarkable prices, including antiques once owned by Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and singer Eric Clapton.
Throw a Yacht Party
Some wealthy guests bring their own yachts. But if that sounds like too much hassle, you can charter a 145-foot superyacht built for 25 guests, billed by the hour at roughly 130,000 dollars a weekend. Rich List Group arranges its own exclusive yacht parties for a select clientele.
Set Up Camp in the Royal Bridge Suite at Atlantis
The most expensive hotel room in Dubai regularly ranks among the priciest in the world too, going for around 20,000 dollars a night.
The rate includes a games room, a massage room, on-call staff or personal assistants, and a breathtaking sea view. Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian have reportedly been among the guests to enjoy the hotel's hospitality.
Party on Top of the World
Since 2014, the iconic Burj al-Arab hotel has opened its helipad for weddings and private parties at a price of around 55,000 US dollars. At 212 meters above sea level, the views are breathtaking, though anyone prone to vertigo may find it a challenge. The hotel is happy to add personal touches, such as customized birthday messages visible from the helicopter that brings guests in.
The Golden Treatment
The Talise Ottoman Spa at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray promises "the world's most luxurious spa care." The spa's most extravagant treatment involves coating guests in a golden body mask that, apparently, revitalizes the skin.
Try the World's Most Expensive Perfume
A delicate blend of scents and a gem-encrusted bottle make up "Shumukh," which was unveiled at the Dubai Mall earlier this year with a claimed value of around 1.3 million dollars. Nothing is yet known about the buyer, but two of Dubai's most famous, and wealthiest, YouTubers got to sample its scent by remote control.
Join the Polo Club
Beloved by royal families around the world, including Dubai's own, this sport enjoys huge popularity in the emirate, which hosts several prestigious tournaments. The best way to take part is to become a member of a leading club, where the initial outlay runs to around 10,000 dollars.
