My first glimpse of Dubai is breathtaking, and I mean that in the most literal sense possible. Stepping into the heat and humidity of this Arabian Gulf haven is quite a shock to the system. My sunglasses fog up, as does every single pore on my body. I scramble to find an air-conditioned taxi, and indulge in some instant relief. My taxi driver is from Cashmere, speaks no English and drives like an Italian, overall not a good mix. Luckily, the sprawling city skyline does a good job of distracting me and I soon find myself driving towards one of the most iconic landmarks in the city: Palm Jumeirah. This absolute feat of human engineering is where my friends Suzanne and Martin live. They moved here 2 years ago, to get out of the hustle and bustle of Sydney, and to take advantage of Dubai’s incredible financial opportunities. I hesitate ever so slightly getting out of the taxi, I somehow foolishly expect the Palm to somehow sway; even though I know it was built using almost 1000 million cubic metres of sand, and almost seven million cubic metres of rock. ‘WOW!” Is the first word I utter upon seeing my long ...

There is a good choice of restaurants in Dubai Marina offering a mix of French, Italian and Latin-American cuisine, complemented by restaurants serving an eclectic range of food styles. If you rather not cook in your Dubai Marina apartment then check some of these restaurants out:• BiCE, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, is one in a chain of Italian restaurants that sells the kind of quality dishes that attracts crowds of diners even though it is sited in one of the Marina’s slightly less fashionable locations. The food is exquisite and includes authentic Italian dishes, served with fresh herbs, virgin olive oil and mature balsamic vinegar. • Frankie’s, in Al Fattan Marine Tower, Dubai Marina, is the culinary creation of the champion jockey, Frankie Dettori, and the chef that bucks all the trends, Marco Pierre White. The décor in the bar is plush and soft, with rich colours complemented by the familiar voices of crooners from a bygone age. The dining room is sleek and smart and wholly contemporary and the ideal accompaniment to Marco Pierre White’s perfectly grilled and seasoned fish dishes or richly flavoured game. • Le Classique offers richly flavoured French dishes in traditional surroundings. The restaurant ...