Is Dubai just a playground for the uber rich? A stopover on an Emirates flight? An unnecessary consumerist hellhole?

Well, yeah it might be...

But peel back the glitz and you’ll find desert culture and calm in the eye of the world’s weirdest city.

Think you can’t afford to do anything in Dubai?

A boat ride across Dubai Creek costs 30p. And it’s the best way to avoid the busy motorways.

You can hop off at the historical district of Al Bastakiya (there’s still traditional desert houses here) or the Deira souks.

There’s two ways to shop in Dubai. The giant, hellish malls selling everything from sports cars to your soul.

Or the souks which have been trading in spices, gold and perfumes since this place was just a sand pit.

"But there's no progressive culture here, right?"

WRONG. The warehouses down Alserkal Avenue are filled with clusters of galleries and creative organisations.

You’ll find everything from performance art to design studios with fashion houses and media centres in between. Dubai is this you?

Look around, it’s all skyscrapers and glittering casinos. It’s easy to forget you’re in a desert. But head just a couple of kilometres in any direction and you’re knee deep in silky sand.

Make the most of it with a spot of sandboarding… It’s a lot easier than surfing or snowboarding so you’ll be slicing through sand faster than you can say ‘I’ve broken my ankle and shat myself’.

For an extra helping of weird, head for the world’s biggest flower garden or go skiing at the top of a shopping mall.

But Dubai’s more than its mega-waterparks, futuristic architecture and tax-free shopping. You just need to dig a little deeper (without hitting the oil).