Welcome to Grapeshisha, the insider’s guide to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, that features tips, local knowledge, cultural information, and a whole lot more that help you understand what the UAE is all about. Whether you are looking to move, to visit on a holiday or are just aghast at how this part of the world has transformed in less than half a century, Grapeshisha is for you.
Grapeshisha launched in 2004, and is now one of the most popular sites about Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Since we started, Grapeshisha has been featured and referred to by many high profile sites. Gridskipper called us “one of the most excellent sites regarding the UAE and Dubai in particular”, MSN has listed us on its travel channel as one of “Dubai’s Awesome Links” and Mediaweek said that we are “one of the best independent information sites about the UAE”. We are regularly featured and referred to in the local UAE press including the Gulf News, The National and Emirates Business 24-7 as well as the international press most notably The Telegraph newspaper and the Times of India. On occasion we find our way onto the best-of lists, compiled by bloggers as well as other mainstream press outlets. The travel books like us and heavyweight names such as Lonely Planet have recommended us, as well as local magazine publishers such as Whats On and Time Out, with the latter featuring us on “Time Out’s Favourite UAE bloggers”. Concierge Magazine says that we “frequently pick up on quiet trends gaining force in the Emirates”. We have been quoted, profiled and referred to, both anonymously and named, in a variety of books. And we have been counted as one of Maktoob/Yahoo's very few featured business blogs. We are profiled regularly in the blogger network, Global Voices and we are proud to be included within itoot, Arabia's invite only blogger network. Finally, Grapeshisha provides information for publication and has been the source material for the Government's Official Investor's Guide to the UAE and other subsequent publications.
We do undertake written articles, with notice, and can provide quotes where appropriate. For either of these, or for any realistic advertising queries or other partnership type discussions, do get in touch.
In addition to publishing our blog on a semi regular basis, we continue to develop our independent articles to some of the most topical information required about the United Arab Emirates and have recently launched our hotel booking affiliation, allowing you to compare the best rates from a multitude of travel agents to make sure you are paying the right price for the best hotels.
Our success is due to a little luck, a lot of hard work, but most of all to our readers. We hope that the information on this site has helped you and that you enjoy what you have read. Spread the word, sign up for the blog and perhaps next time you smoke your shisha, you’ll make sure it’s grapeshisha.
