It’s hard to describe Dubai to folks who have never visited before. It’s one of those cities that can make your head spin: It’s a feast for the senses, where old and new seem to collide at every turn.

The Emirati love for the “ship of the desert” began way back in the olden days when camels were used by Bedouins for transportation, meat, and milk, and regarded as a sign of wealth. They were also...