Dubai

Dubai is the second largest emirate with an area of 4,114sq km, which is about 5% of the UAE without the islands.

The older districts of Dubai cover an area of 1500sq m and is called 'Pearl of the Gulf' and 'Jewel of the world' because of its heritage and history.

In Dubai, the land of glamorous tourist resorts, extravagantly-themed property developments, and futuristic skyscrapers, there is simply no such thing as over the top. With its split personality of luxury malls and traditional souks, upscale brands, and local craftsmen, Dubai is a place where nomadic tribal heritage and modern society co-exist in a bizarrely paradoxical fashion. Living in Dubai has never been more exciting.

When contemplating a move to Dubai, you may wonder what lies beneath all of the glitz and glamour. Scratch the surface and you will find that there is far more than meets the eye than sprawling developments and tax-free shopping malls. Take the old city centre for example, a haphazard ensemble of old-style souks and traditional Arabian houses where you can find people of all nationalities mixing together.

Living here means abiding by the rules of a non-Western culture. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have fun. The city is packed full of hotels, nightclubs and beach bars that welcome well-behaved expatriates and offer those living in the city a social life that rivals that of any city in the west. The cityscape, nightlife and shops are modern and well developed. Bars and nightclubs serve alcohol, pork is sold in supermarkets, women can drive and nearly everyone speaks English.

Population

Dubai has the greatest population out of all the emirates, with an estimated population size of 3,355,900 individuals at the end of 2019; of whom 2,331,800 are males and 1,024,100 females.

The city of Dubai is a multicultural society; with only 5% of local Emiratis, the rest are expatriates from all over the world. The expatriate population comprises of mostly Asians, particularly Indians and other nationalities from various neighbouring Arabic countries. There is also a significant number of Iranians, who came in droves after the Islamic revolution in 1979 when the more wealthy and educated Iranians settled in Dubai. Furthermore, because of the high demand of workers primarily in the tourism sector, you'll find many people from the Philippines, China, Indonesia and Malaysia who have become residents in the city.

The higher proportion of males in Dubai community (229 males per 100 females) is attributed to the fact that the majority of expatriate workers are males who are not accompanied by their family members.

According to Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the estimated population of UAE nationals as of 2010 in the Emirate of Dubai was:

• Males: 84,245
• Females: 83,784
• Total: 168,029

Location and geography

The emirate is located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the southwest corner of the Arabian Gulf. It shares its boundaries with Abu Dhabi in the south and Sharjah in the northeast. It shares its international border with the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast. Dubai is roughly 52ft above sea level.

Dubai city is the capital of the Emirate. It is characterised by the historic creek, which divides the city into:

• Deira in the north
• Bur Dubai in the south

In 2016, a new addressing system was launched which involved dividing the Emirate into 14 districts.

Dubai has several sandy beaches on its western side, a mangrove at the eastern end of the creek, many deserts in the interior and western regions and wadis in the Hatta region.

Size has been synonymous with Dubai as it continues to push the boundaries of construction. Dubai has been building the first, largest and biggest structures in the world over the past few decades. Dubai's cityscape is always transient and ever-changing with its constant urge to construct bigger and better attractions than before.

One of the most fascinating geographical aspects of Dubai, is the Dubai Creek, which divides the city into two regions- Deira and Bur Dubai. Dubai Creek is a natural 15.2km inlet from the Persian Gulf, around which the city’s trade developed. The region north of the Creek is called Deira, and Bur Dubai refers to the south where a lot of the coastal tourist and residential developments of Jumeirah lie.

Economy

Dubai creek was a natural harbour; this helped Dubai to become a centre for fishing, pearling and sea trade. By the beginning of 20th century, Dubai had developed into a successful port city.

The discovery of oil in 1966 transformed the Emirate and its way of life. Dubai's first oil exports in 1969 were followed by a period of rapid development that laid the foundations for today's modern society.

Dubai was the first to establish Islamic banks worldwide with the opening of Dubai Islamic bank back in the 1970s, in addition to starting the Dubai Financial Market, which is the first global Shari'a compliant exchange.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dubai took a strategic decision to emerge as a major international-quality tourism destination.

Dubai's economy is no longer reliant on oil. It is now more diversified; relying heavily on trade, services and finance sectors, with a thriving business community. Dubai's GDP reached around US$102.67 billion as of 2018.

2014. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched Dubai Plan 2021 in 2014. The plan aims to reinforce Dubai's position as a key player in the global economy and one of the top five centres for trade, logistics, finance and tourism. This will help Dubai to keep its title of the second wealthiest Emirate in the UAE, after Abu Dhabi.

Tourism

Dubai boasts of world-class hotels, modern architecture, entertainment and dining venues, traditional markets, shopping centres and sporting events.

Some of the major tourist attractions in the emirate are the wadis of Hatta, the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, which is also the world's only seven-star hotel and Burj Khalifa, which is the world's tallest skyscraper.

Climate

The line of the Tropic of Cancer crosses through the UAE, making the weather in Dubai hot and sunny. In the winter the Emirate has an average daytime temperature of 25°C (77°F), 12-15°C (53-59°F) near the coast and 5°C (41°F) in the desert and mountains. Nights are relatively cooler and areas near the coasts experience an average of 50%-60% humidity.

In the summer, the weather in Dubai is very hot and humid, with temperatures touching mid 40’s. Even the temperature of the sea can reach 37°C (99°F), with humidity averaging over 90%. Rainfall in Dubai is infrequent and does not last for more than a few days. It mostly rains during the winter, with short gushes and the occasional thunderstorm. On average, Dubai experiences only five days of rainfall a year.