Dubai is difficult to put in a box. Sure, there’s the Dubai you’ll see on social media – glitzy and glamorous, populated by influencers and space-skimming high rises. But then there’s the Dubai you won’t see on Instagram: proudly traditional, fiercely collectivist, a counterpoint to the warp-speed modernity on display in the city. Sometimes, it’s hard to square the two – but then, this contrast is what makes Dubai so appealing.

You can see the Emeriti commitment to futurism in Dubai’s infrastructure. Its most iconic building – the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab – was once the world’s tallest hotel, built on a man-made island just off Jumeirah Beach. Not content with just one audaciously high gaff, they went and built the world’s tallest building: at 2715ft, the Burj Khalifa is a feat of architecture. Soon enough, a super-speed Hyperloop train will connect Dubai to Abu Dhabi – 138km apart – in just 12 minutes.

But then, whilst standing in the shadow of one of the city’s teetering glass towers, you may hear the call to prayer, and be drawn back to the religious tradition that grounds life here. For a look at the more devout side of the city, pay a visit to Jumeirah Mosque, whose candy interiors make it the most widely photographed temple in the city. Dubai’s myriad souks are also reminders of its Islamic heart – the outrageously Midasian Gold Souk displays gleaming jewels and trinkets of all sorts, while the stalls at the heavenly-scented Spice Souk flog overspilling, crayon-coloured sacs stuffed with regional flavours. Whichever Dubai you encounter, the UAE’s crown jewel is never easily forgotten.