Dubai 'one of the best global locations'

Dubai has been named as one of the best places in the world to visit. 

The New York Times has created a list of the '52 Places to Go in 2014' and the emirate has been included, highlighting how it is one of the global hotspots for travellers alongside the Seychelles, Cape Town and California.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said the group is 'honoured' to have been chosen as 'one of the top destinations to visit in 2014'.

He added being listed at number 23 is 'impressive and well-earned' and builds on what has been a successful 12 months for the tourism sector. With Dubai being named as the host of Expo 2020 and the announcement of the Vision for Tourism 2020, it's clear that hard work is paying off. 

'We are pleased that Dubai's diverse and wide-ranging tourism offering is being communicated and recognised around the world and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to Dubai in 2014,' Mr Almarri stated. 

The entry reflects the improvements made to Dubai in recent years. Key developments such as Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport, new hotels and upcoming attractions such as IMG Worlds of Adventure have made the location much more appealing.

Indeed, there are a range of projects planned for the next 12 months that will make the emirate even more welcoming. These include the Umm Suqeim Expressway, Jumeirah Corniche Project and the Dubai Tram.

According to Gulf News, the last project will ease traffic considerably when it opens in November. Up to 405 passengers will be able to use the tram at any one time and it will be the world's first tram system with synchronised automatic platform doors. Dubai Marina, Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village are three of the areas set to benefit.