Featured Destination: Dubai

Dynamo of the Desert

Dubai doesn't do anything at less than full throttle. This cosmopolitan gem of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a land of glitzy bests and firsts and onlys.

Beyond the opulence of its skyscrapers, mega-malls, yachts and thoroughbreds, however, is a safe place where the curious can peel back layers of a culture straddling old-world tradition and modern ambition.

With airlines and cruises increasing service to Dubai, it's a well-serviced final destination -- or one to pair with other locales around the globe.