The article was originally produced on December 13, 2013, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Nissan Pathfinder

The first impression that hits you when you arrive in Dubai is all the smells. Because if there were nothing here, scents would be barely perceptible as everything consists of sand and sand has no smell. But just like everything else here, even the smells are artificial. Wherever you enter, whether it's a hotel, restaurant or office building, you're greeted by a new scent. You don't have to go back far when the land that is now covered with spectacular skyscrapers was just sand. With the oil discoveries in the 60s, this place literally exploded. Dubai is one of the seven emirates or so-called sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, which can also be seen as states. The Emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaywayn. Each emirate is ruled by a sheikh and the sheikh who currently rules Dubai is Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (since 2006). Everywhere you can see large paintings of the seven sheikhs. Dubai mainly consists of two neighborhoods that are worth mentioning. It is partly Downtown where you find the Dubai Mall, among other things. The Dubai Mall is the host's largest shopping center at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, which is the host's tallest building with its 828 meters. The Dubai Mall is a spectacular place to say the least, and here it is important to have proper coverage on the credit card. The range of stores exceeds common sense, currently around 1,200 but is to be expanded with a further 200 stores within a year. In addition to shops and restaurants, you will also find an aquarium, a larger model, and a skating rink. In a way, it's hard to understand the point of a complex like this beyond the economic aspect. But when you look at the climate down here and, for example, this summer when it was just over 50°C for a long time, you can understand that a cool refuge of this size is needed.

The other place to mention in Dubai and much less stressful than Downtown and is Dubai Marina. The area is ringed by skyscrapers that make Manhattan seem flimsy and out of date. Here you will find a scraper called Cayan Tower with the same twisting design as Turning Torso in Malmö. The difference is that the Cayan Tower is much taller than the Turning Torse, 116 meters to be exact with its height of 306 meters. The entire Dubai Marina is surrounded by water and with a pleasant promenade that winds around the entire area. Restaurants with a wide range of food in all variations are crowded along the promenade. But just like in the rest of the United Arab Emirates, there is no alcohol to be consumed in the restaurants. Instead, you can enjoy a shisha, hookah, after dinner. If you absolutely want access to alcohol, you can find it in the bars and restaurants in the hotels that are licensed to serve alcohol.

There is no doubt that this part of the world lives on its oil and what importance oil has for the automotive world. Everything is adapted to having a car and everyone drives a car down here. At every hotel, shopping center or restaurant, parking attendants are ready to take care of your car and it's free. A full tank of gas costs practically nothing. Something that has meant that the range of cars down here is filled with either car models with large petrol engines or SUVs. Considering the nature that can be found down here, it is a great pleasure to go out into the desert with your cars and drive in the sand dunes. On the weekends it's like a big party and usually goes pretty wild when people go out and drive in the desert.

To explore the road and the desert between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the new Nissan Pathfinder is at our disposal. A mid-range SUV with several years and generations behind it, but now in a completely new guise. The first generation came already in 1986 and since then four generations have been made. The angular, dull shapes are now rounded. The front has received a more sloping grill and transverse lines for the lamps. The entire exterior of the car shines with a much more modern look. The interior also has a nice design, nothing extravagant but clear and easy to perceive as driver and passenger. In a practical way, you fold up an extra row of chairs at the back so that seven people can fit in total. However, the longest passengers should not be placed at the back, even if the space is larger than other cars with similar functions. In the center of the instrument panel is a touch screen that has most of the functions such as nav, infotainment system and many other functions. In just a few seconds, the phone is paired with the car's system and you can stream your music wirelessly from the phone and receive calls and more. 

The engine in the new Pathfinder is a V6 petrol engine with 260 horsepower. An engine that does the job well but could be a little stronger. A diesel version would be the best and is guaranteed to arrive shortly. On the highway, the gearbox tends to rev the engine a lot, but as soon as the car picks up speed, it calms down and the journey is quiet and silky smooth. Grazing miles with Pathfinder is no problem at all. When even the highest scrapes begin to disappear into the horizon behind, the environment around the road changes to sand and sand again. We turn off the road and out among the dunes. Thanks to the ability to lock the diff and low gear, the Pathfinder chews its way through the dunes with ease. It is important not to stop where it is flat or going uphill, then there is an imminent risk of getting stuck. The feeling of driving in sand can be compared to driving in deep snow, it is porous and the grip is scarce. To improve this, you can release air in the tires, which improves tire grip. However, you have to be careful when you're out driving like this, if you get stuck it can be difficult to get free on your own. Some things to keep in mind are to have plenty of water with you, a charged phone and not to have loose objects in the car. The latter because nothing is left where it was after a while of driving, and getting a suitcase around your neck is not recommended.

Along the coast to the west is Abu Dhabi. Slightly more widespread than Dubai and with a much calmer atmosphere. Here we find Yas Island with the associated Formula 1 track and the Ferrari World amusement park. For a guaranteed speed experience, a ride on the Formula Rossa roller coaster is recommended, the fastest in the world with an acceleration of 0-240 km/h in five seconds. If you don't want to experience the actual speed, but see it, you may be lucky enough to time one of UIM's boat races with the Class 1 boats. Catamarans with high-revving twin V12 engines. A guaranteed memory for both eye and ear. 

Finding things to do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is not difficult, it is rather a matter of choosing what you want to do and having coverage on the card. But leaving a cold and gray overcast Scandinavia in exchange for sun and warmth combined with everything that is offered to do is a must for those who like to move and see the world.