Dubai in United Arab Emirates is a city with incredible skyscrapers AND a desert! 
We only connected through Dubai to India. While landing at the airport, we looked for the Burj Khalifa skyscraper out of the airplane window. This city has so many interesting fun facts! When making our itinerary for our India trip, we considered staying in Dubai to do a desert camel experience but changed our plans. However, if we are able to go back someday to Dubai for an actual stay, I plan to learn more about what to do there and how to prepare for a trip there. 
Some of the excursions there include:
- helicopter tours
- desert safaris
- show cruises
My sons were interested in the Burj Khalifa building and I bought them a souvenir of this building in the airport gift shop. 
This made me curious about the fascinating architecture there and how this modern city has evolved. 
To learn about the fun facts for kids and adults, click on this link: http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-dubai-3099.html
suggested reading: Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson
Watch this video to see the Burj Khalifa building!
Follow this lesson plan to build trip itineraries with your family: