Desert wonderland rolls out red carpet

With the new visa-on-arrival policy, Dubai hopes to lure more Chinese visitors to stay for a few nights. [Photo provided to China Daily]

According to Mejren, the bureau－which has 22 offices in total－is also using Chinese social media such as WeChat and microblogs to promote Dubai in the Chinese market.

The Chinese can also buy tickets for local attractions on its official website via China UnionPay, and he says that the bureau plans to change traditional paper tickets to electronic ones within two or three years, so that the Chinese can buy tickets online before their arrival in Dubai.

Compared with other destinations in the Middle East, he is confident about Dubai's attractiveness as a destination.

"We come up with new things all the time, and offer unique experiences," he says.

In August, the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera House was opened, offering opera, ballet and orchestra performances.

In the same month, IMG Worlds of Adventure－the world's largest indoor theme park－featuring Marvel comic heroes and dinosaur adventures was opened.

Separately, Dubai Parks and Resorts－including three theme parks and one water park－will be fully open in December. There, visitors can interact with DreamWorks Animation characters and watch Hollywood-style shows in its Bollywood Parks.