Dubai's party bubble sees Emirates' biggest Covid surge 19 Jan, 2021 11:29 PM 8 minutes to read Holiday hotspot: A lack of travel restrictions and lockdown measures have led to a covid spike at the destination. Photo / Kamran Jebreili, AP Holiday hotspot: A lack of travel restrictions and lockdown measures have led to a covid spike at the destination. Photo / Kamran Jebreili, AP Other By: Isabel Debre Masks off the minute you step inside. Bars packed and pulsing like it's 2019. Social media stars waving bottles of champagne. DJs spinning party tunes through multi-hour brunches. Since becoming one of the world's first destinations to open up for tourism, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, has promoted itself as the ideal pandemic vacation spot. It cannot afford otherwise, analysts say, as the virus shakes the foundations of the city-state's economy.