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{{nosources|date=November 2012}}
{{About|the city|the emirate|Emirate of Dubai|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Dubai
| official_name                  =
| native_name                    = <span style="line-height:150%">{{lang|ar|دبي}}</span>
| settlement_type                = [[Metropolis]]
| translit_lang1_type            = [[Arabic script|Arabic]]
| translit_lang1_info            = دبي
| image_skyline                  = DubaiCollage.jpg
| image_caption                  =
| image_size                      = 280px
| image_flag                      = Flag of Dubai.svg
| flag_size                      = 120px
| image_shield                    = Coat of arms of Dubai.svg
| shield_size                    = 80px
| pushpin_map                    = UAE#Persian Gulf#Asia
| pushpin_label_position          = left
| pushpin_relief                  = yes
| pushpin_mapsize                =
| pushpin_map_caption            = Location within the United Arab Emirates##Location within the Persian Gulf
| coordinates                    = {{coord|25|15|47|N|55|17|50|E|type:adm1st_region:AE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type1              = Country
| subdivision_type2              = [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|Emirate]]
| subdivision_name1              = {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| subdivision_name2              = [[Emirate of Dubai|Dubai]]
| founder                        = [[Al Maktoum|Ubaid bin Saeed and Maktum bin Butti Al Maktoum]]
| parts_type                      = Subdivisions
| parts                          = Towns & villages
| p1                              = [[Jebel Ali]]
| p2                              = [[Al Aweer]]
| p3                              = Al Lusayli
| p4                              = Marqab
| p5                              = [[Al Faqa]]'<ref name="DSC 2015">{{cite web |publisher=Dubai Statistics Center, [[Government of Dubai]] |title=Population Bulletin |url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Publication/Population%20Bulletin%20Emirate%20of%20Dubai%202015.pdf |year=2015 |access-date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407161314/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Publication/Population%2520Bulletin%2520Emirate%2520of%2520Dubai%25202015.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
| p6                              = Ud al-Bayda
| p7                              = Urqub Juwayza
| government_type                = [[Absolute monarchy]]
| leader_title                    = Director General of Dubai Municipality
| leader_name                    = Dawoud Al Hajri
| area_footnotes                  = <ref>[https://www.dubai.com/v/geography/ Dubai Geography] page from dubai.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.</ref>
| area_magnitude                  =
| area_total_km2                  = 35
| population_total                = 3,331,420
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="dsc.gov.ae">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/en-us/DSC-News/Pages/Dubai-Population-Are-3.3-Million-by-Q3-19.aspx|title=Dubai Population Are 3.3 Million by Q3-19|website=www.dsc.gov.ae|access-date=15 December 2019}}</ref>
| population_as_of                = Q3 2019
| population_metro                = ~4,000,000
| population_metro_footnotes      =
| population_demonym              = [[wikt:Dubaian|Dubaian]]
| website                        = {{Official website|https://u.ae/#/}}
| footnotes                      =
| blank_name                      = Nominal GDP
| blank_info                      = 2016 estimate
| blank1_name                    = Total
| blank1_info                    = [[United States dollar|USD]]$108 billion<ref>{{cite web|title=Gross Domestic Product at Current Prices 2016 – Emirate of Dubai|url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20at%20Currents%20Prices%202016.pdf|access-date=26 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818173014/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20at%20Currents%20Prices%202016.pdf|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| utc_offset                      = +04:00
| timezone                        = [[Time in the United Arab Emirates|UAE Standard Time]]
}}
'''Dubai''' ({{IPAc-en|d|uː|ˈ|b|aɪ}} {{respell|doo|BY}}; {{lang-ar|دبي|translit=Dubayy}} {{IPA-ar|dʊˈbajj|}}, {{IPA-afb|dəˈbaj}}) is the [[List of cities in the United Arab Emirates#Major cities|most populous]] [[city]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) and the capital of the [[Emirate of Dubai]].<ref name=dxbpopulation>{{cite web|url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-12&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&va=&pt=a |title=United Arab Emirates: metropolitan areas |publisher=World-gazetteer.com |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825164936/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-12&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&va=&pt=a |archive-date=25 August 2009}}</ref><ref name=dxbshj>The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa. D Long, B Reich. p.157</ref><ref name="FSC">{{cite web|title=Federal Supreme Council|url=https://uaecabinet.ae/en/federal-supreme-council|website=uaecabinet.ae|access-date=25 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709020734/https://uaecabinet.ae/en/federal-supreme-council|archive-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> Established in the 18th century as a small fishing village, the city grew rapidly in the early 21st century into a cosmopolitan [[metropolis]] with a focus on tourism and hospitality. Dubai is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dubai Remains One Of The World's Most Visited Cities: Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index 2019|url=https://newsroom.mastercard.com/mea/press-releases/dubai-remains-one-of-the-worlds-most-visited-cities-mastercard-global-destination-cities-index-2019/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=MasterCard Social Newsroom|language=en-US}}</ref> with the second most [[five-star hotel]]s in the world,<ref>{{Cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Niall|title=The Cities With The Most Five Star Hotels [Infographic]|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/03/13/the-cities-with-the-most-five-star-hotels-infographic/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> and the [[tallest building in the world]], the [[Burj Khalifa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://amp.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/28-of-dubai-s-most-famous-buildings-from-burj-khalifa-to-museum-of-the-future-1.1245833#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s|title =28 of Dubai's most famous buildings: from Burj Khalifa to Museum of the Future|website =thenationalnews.com|access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref>


{{about|the city|the emirate|Dubai (emirate)}}
Located in the eastern part of the [[Arabian Peninsula]] on the coast of the [[Persian Gulf]], Dubai aims to be the business hub of [[Western Asia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thatsdubai.com/where-is-dubai.html |title=Where is Dubai and Dubai city? |publisher=Thatsdubai.com |date=14 June 2007 |access-date=12 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215234701/http://www.thatsdubai.com/where-is-dubai.html |archive-date=15 February 2013 }}</ref> It is also a major global transport hub for passengers and cargo.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = Sand to Silicon|last = Sampler & Eigner|publisher = Motivate|year = 2008|isbn = 9781860632549|location = UAE|page = 11}}</ref> Oil revenue helped accelerate the development of the city, which was already a major mercantile hub. A centre for regional and international trade since the early 20th century, [[Economy of Dubai|Dubai's economy]] relies on revenues from trade, tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services.<ref name="oilrev">[http://www.ameinfo.com/122863.html Oil share dips in Dubai GDP] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926033757/http://www.ameinfo.com/122863.html |date=26 September 2013 }} ''[[AMEInfo]]'' (9 June 2007) Retrieved on 15 October 2007.</ref><ref name="ArBusEcon">[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-economy-set-treble-by-2015-149721.html Dubai economy set to treble by 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103174940/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-economy-set-treble-by-2015-149721.html |date=3 November 2014 }} ArabianBusiness.com (3 February 2007) Retrieved on 15 October 2007.</ref><ref name="Ddooo">{{cite web|title=Dubai diversifies out of oil |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/66981.html |publisher=[[AMEInfo]] |date=7 September 2005 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219030604/http://www.ameinfo.com/66981.html |archive-date=19 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/economy/dubai-must-tap-booming-halal-travel-industry|title=Dubai must tap booming halal travel industry – Khaleej Times|last=Cornock|first=Oliver|publisher=khaleejtimes.com|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220134336/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/economy/dubai-must-tap-booming-halal-travel-industry|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Oil production contributed to less than 1 percent of the emirate's GDP in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-01-14/dubai-s-the-very-model-of-a-modern-mideast-economy|title = Dubai's the Very Model of a Modern Mideast Economy|last = Winkler|first = Matthew A.|date = 14 January 2018|work = Bloomberg|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180317113009/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-01-14/dubai-s-the-very-model-of-a-modern-mideast-economy|archive-date = 17 March 2018|df = dmy-all}}</ref> According to government data, the population of Dubai is estimated at around 3,400,800 as of 8 September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/en-us/|title=Population Clock|website=www.dsc.gov.ae|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/uae-population-statistics|title=Population Tracker UAE|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref>
[[Image:Flag of Dubai.svg|right|250px]]
[[Image:Coat of arms of Dubai.svg|right|200px]]
The city of '''Dubai''' is the largest and most [[Populated place|populated]] city in the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) and the capital city of the [[emirate]] of [[Dubai (emirate)|Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]. The city is sometimes called "Dubai City" to prevent it from being mixed up with the emirate.
[[File:Dubai from the plane.jpg|thumb|right|Dubai City]]


== History ==
==Etymology==
There are records of the town of Dubai from [[1799]]. The city was a dependent of [[Abu Dhabi]] until [[1833]]. The town of Dubai was an important [[Harbour|port]] of call for foreign tradesmen (chiefly [[India]]ns), who settled in the town. Until the [[1930s]], the town was known for its [[pearl]]s.
Many theories have been proposed as to origin of the word "Dubai". One theory suggests the word used to be the ''[[souq]]'' in Ba.<ref name=jundi>{{cite journal|last=Alyazya |date=July 2011 |script-title=ar:مسميات مناطق دبي قديماً |trans-title=Old names areas of Dubai |language=ar |journal=Al Jundi |volume=444|page=76}}</ref> An Arabic proverb says "''Daba Dubai''" ({{lang-ar|دبا دبي}}), meaning "They came with a lot of money."<ref name=MBR>{{cite web|url=http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=13d94c8631cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD |title=Old Dubai |access-date=24 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203194320/http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=13d94c8631cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD |archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref> According to Fedel Handhal, a scholar on the UAE's history and culture, the word Dubai may have come from the word ''daba'' ({{lang-ar|دبا}}) (a past tense derivative of ''yadub'' ({{lang-ar|يدب}}), which means "to creep"), referring to the slow flow of [[Dubai Creek]] inland. The poet and scholar [[Ahmad Mohammad Obaid]] traces it to the same word, but to its alternative meaning of "baby [[locust]]" ({{lang-ar|جراد}}) due to the abundance of locusts in the area before settlement.<ref name=UAEI>{{cite web |url = http://www.uaeinteract.com/news/rss-news.asp?ID=24335 |title = How Did Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Cities Get Their Names? Experts Reveal All |date = 30 March 2007 |website = UAE Interact |access-date = 24 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140407043402/http://www.uaeinteract.com/news/rss-news.asp?ID=24335 |archive-date = 7 April 2014 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>


== Famous Places ==
==History==
* [[Burj Khalifa]] [[File:Panoramic of Dubai - Nov 2009.JPG|thumb|[[Burj Khalifa]]|200x200px]]
{{Main|History of Dubai|Timeline of Dubai}}
* [[Burj al-Arab]]
[[File:Bronze & Iron Dagger, Saruq Al Hadid.jpg|thumb|upright=0.47|Bronze and iron alloy dagger, [[Saruq Al Hadid]] archaeological site (1100 BC)]]
* [[Palm Jumeirah]]
The history of human settlement in the area now defined by the United Arab Emirates is rich and complex, and points to extensive trading links between the civilisations of the [[Indus Valley Civilisation|Indus Valley]] and [[Mesopotamia]], but also as far afield as the [[Levant]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Weeks|first1=Lloyd|last2=Cable|first2=Charlotte|last3=Franke|first3=Kristina|last4=Newton|first4=Claire|last5=Karacic|first5=Steven|last6=Roberts|first6=James|last7=Stepanov|first7=Ivan|last8=David-Cuny|first8=Hélène|last9=Price|first9=David|date=26 April 2017|title=Recent archaeological research at Saruq al-Hadid, Dubai, UAE|journal=Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy|language=en|volume=28|issue=1|pages=39|doi=10.1111/aae.12082|issn=0905-7196|doi-access=free}}</ref> Archaeological finds in the emirate of Dubai, particularly at [[Al-Ashoosh]], [[Al Sufouh]] and the notably rich trove from [[Saruq Al Hadid]]<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/brushing-off-sands-of-time-at-the-archaeological-site-of-saruq-al-hadid-1.150378|title=Brushing off sands of time at the archaeological site of Saruq al-Hadid|work=The National|access-date=6 September 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081526/https://www.thenational.ae/uae/brushing-off-sands-of-time-at-the-archaeological-site-of-saruq-al-hadid-1.150378|archive-date=29 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> show settlement through the [[Ubaid period|Ubaid]] and [[Hafit period|Hafit]] periods, the [[Umm al-Nar culture|Umm Al Nar]] and [[Wadi Suq culture|Wadi Suq]] periods and the three [[Iron Age]]s in the UAE. The area was known to the [[Sumer]]ians as ''Magan'', and was a source for metallic goods, notably copper and bronze.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blog.une.edu.au/uneresearch/sharp-the-saruq-al-hadid-archaeological-research-project/|title=SHARP – the Saruq al-Hadid Archaeological Research Project|date=3 September 2017|work=Research Plus|access-date=29 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081611/https://blog.une.edu.au/uneresearch/sharp-the-saruq-al-hadid-archaeological-research-project/|archive-date=29 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Dubai International Airport]], is located in the middle of the city.
* [[Dubai Mall]], is one of the largest malls in the world.
* The World (archipelago)
* Atlantis, The Palm
*Dubai Miracle Garden, world's largest natural flowergarden


== Climate ==
The area was covered with sand about 5,000 years ago as the coast retreated inland, becoming part of the city's present coastline.<ref name="hist_trad">{{cite web |url=http://uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf_2006/English_2006/eyb4.pdf |title=History and Traditions of the UAE |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326030609/http://uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf_2006/English_2006/eyb4.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2009 }}</ref> Pre-Islamic ceramics have been found from the 3rd and 4th centuries.<ref name="preislam" /> Prior to the introduction of Islam to the area, the people in this region worshiped ''[[Bajir]]'' (or ''Bajar'').<ref name="preislam">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&pg=PA79 |title=United Arab Emirates: A perspective|last=Ibrahim Al Abed, Peter Hellyer|year=2001|publisher=Trident Press |access-date=31 July 2009|isbn=978-1-900724-47-0}}</ref> After the spread of Islam in the region, the [[Umayyad]] [[Caliph]] of the eastern Islamic world invaded south-east [[Arabia]] and drove out the [[Sassanians]]. Excavations by the [[Dubai Museum]] in the region of ''Al-Jumayra'' ([[Jumeirah]]) found several artefacts from the Umayyad period.<ref name="balbi">{{cite web |url=http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/03.pdf |title=The Coming of Islam and the Islamic Period in the UAE. King, Geoffrey R. |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116151947/http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/03.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}</ref>
Dubai has a hot desert climate. Summers are extremely hot, windy, and humid. The highest recorded temperature in the UAE is 52.1&nbsp;°C (126&nbsp;°F), recorded in July 2002.  


According to the UN, about 14 percent of the world population will face water scarcity by the year 2025. This shortage of water is expected to be worse in arid countries like the UAE. The UAE cloud seeding initiative is part of the government’s attempt to deal with the existing and future water needs of the country’s growing population.
An early mention of Dubai is in 1095 in the ''Book of Geography'' by the [[Al-Andalus|Andalusian]]-[[Arab]] [[geographer]] [[Abu Abdullah al-Bakri]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} The [[Venice|Venetian]] pearl merchant [[Gasparo Balbi]] visited the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (''Dibei'') for its [[pearl hunting|pearling]] industry.<ref name=balbi/>


== Specific rules ==
=== Establishment of modern Dubai ===
Dubai has [[strict]] rules like:
[[File:Al Fahidi-Fort.jpg|thumb|Al Fahidi fort in the 1950s]]
Dubai is thought to have been established as a fishing village in the early 18th century<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates|last=Heard-Bey|first=Frauke|publisher=Longman|year=1990|isbn=978-0582277281|location=UK|pages=238}}</ref> and was, by 1822, a town of some 700–800 members of the [[Bani Yas]] tribe and subject to the rule of [[Tahnun bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan|Sheikh Tahnun bin Shakhbut]] of [[Emirate of Abu Dhabi|Abu Dhabi]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Islands and Maritime Boundaries of the Gulf 1798–1960|last = Schofield|first = R|publisher = Archive Editions|year = 1990|isbn = 9781852072759|location = UK|page = 545}}</ref>


* The drinking age is 21. Drinking in public or being drunk in public are not tolerated.
In 1833, following tribal feuding, members of the [[House of Al Falasi|Al Bu Falasah]] tribe seceded from Abu Dhabi and established themselves in Dubai. The exodus from Abu Dhabi was led by [[Obeid bin Said bin Rashid|Obeid bin Saeed]] and [[Maktoum bin Butti bin Suhail|Maktoum bin Butti]], who became joint leaders of Dubai until Ubaid died in 1836, leaving Maktum to establish the [[Al Maktoum|Maktoum dynasty]].<ref name=":0"/>
* Offensive language, spitting, aggressive behaviour and smoking outside designated areas are not tolerated.
* Public displays of affection such as holding hands or kissing are not tolerated.
* Men should avoid staring at local women or attempting to make eye contact.
* During [[Ramadan]] while [[Muslim]]s are fasting from sunrise to sunset, non-Muslims can only eat and drink in screened-off areas.


== Other websites ==
Dubai signed the [[General Maritime Treaty of 1820]] with the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] along with other [[Trucial States|Trucial State]]s, following the [[Persian Gulf campaign of 1819|British campaign in 1819]] against the [[Ras Al Khaimah]]. This led to the 1853 [[Perpetual Maritime Truce]]. Dubai also – like its neighbours on the [[Trucial States|Trucial Coast]] – entered into an exclusivity agreement in which the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] took responsibility for the emirate's security [[Trucial States#Treaty of 1892|in 1892]].


* [http://www.dubai.ae/en/Pages/default.aspx www.dubai.ae] – The Official Portal of Dubai Government
[[File:Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort.jpg|thumb|left|[[Al Fahidi Fort]], built-in 1787, houses the Dubai Museum]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171017165519/http://www.dm.gov.ae/wps/portal/home www.dm.gov.ae] – Dubai Municipality website
<br>


{{asia-stub}}
In 1841, a [[smallpox]] epidemic broke out in the [[Bur Dubai]] locality, forcing residents to relocate east to [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]].<ref name="hist_karim">{{cite web |url=http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm |title=Modernity and tradition in Dubai architecture. Karim, Luiza |publisher=Alshindagah.com |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930191053/http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm |archive-date=30 September 2009 }}</ref> In 1896, fire broke out in Dubai, a disastrous occurrence in a town where many family homes were still constructed from ''barasti'' – palm fronds. The conflagration consumed half the houses of Bur Dubai, while the district of Deira was said to have been totally destroyed. The following year, more fires broke out. A female slave was caught in the act of starting one such blaze and was subsequently put to death.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf|last=Lorimer|first=John|publisher=British Government, Bombay|year=1915|pages=750}}</ref>
{{geo-stub}}


[[Category:Dubai| ]]
[[File:A Round Watchtower (Name Unknown).jpg|thumb|upright|A watchtower in [[Bur Dubai]], c. 19th century]]
In 1901, [[Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum]] established Dubai as a free port with no taxation on imports or exports and also gave merchants parcels of land and guarantees of protection and tolerance. These policies saw a movement of merchants not only directly from Lingeh,<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf|last=Lorimer|first=John|publisher=British Government, Bombay|year=1915|pages=2236}}</ref> but also those who had settled in [[Ras Al Khaimah]] and Sharjah (which had historical links with Lingeh through the [[Al-Qasimi|Al Qawasim]] tribe) to Dubai. An indicator of the growing importance of the port of Dubai can be gained from the movements of the steamer of the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Company, which from 1899 to 1901 paid five visits annually to Dubai. In 1902 the company's vessels made 21 visits to Dubai and from 1904 on,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf|last=Lorimer|first=John|publisher=British Government, Bombay|year=1915|pages=743}}</ref> the steamers called fortnightly – in 1906, trading seventy thousand tonnes of cargo.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Father of Dubai|last=Wilson|first=Graeme|publisher=Media Prima|year=1999|pages=34}}</ref> The frequency of these vessels only helped to accelerate Dubai's role as an emerging port and trading hub of preference. Lorimer notes the transfer from Lingeh 'bids fair to become complete and permanent',<ref name=":12" /> and also that the town had by 1906 supplanted Lingeh as the chief entrepôt of the Trucial States.<ref name="Lorimer 1915 454">{{Cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf Vol II|last=Lorimer|first=John|publisher=British Government, Bombay|year=1915|pages=454}}</ref>


{{simple-Wikipedia}}
The 'great storm' of 1908 struck the pearling boats of Dubai and the coastal emirates towards the end of the pearling season that year, resulting in the loss of a dozen boats and over 100 men. The disaster was a major setback for Dubai, with many families losing their breadwinner and merchants facing financial ruin. These losses came at a time when the tribes of the interior were also experiencing poverty. In a letter to the Sultan of [[Muscat]] in 1911, Butti laments, 'Misery and poverty are raging among them, with the result that they are struggling, looting and killing among themselves.'<ref>{{Cite book|title=Father of Dubai|last=Wilson|first=Graeme|publisher=Media Prima|year=1999|pages=39}}</ref>
 
In 1910, in the [[The Hyacinth incident|Hyacinth incident]] the town was bombarded by [[HMS Hyacinth (1898)|HMS ''Hyacinth'']], with the loss of 37 killed.
 
===Pre-oil Dubai===
Dubai's geographical proximity to [[Iran]] made it an important trade location. The town of Dubai was an important port of call for foreign tradesmen, chiefly those from Iran, many of whom eventually settled in the town. By the beginning of the 20th century, it was an important port.<ref name="britannica"/> At that time, Dubai consisted of the town of Dubai and the nearby village of [[Jumeirah]], a collection of some 45 ''areesh'' (palm leaf) huts.<ref name="Lorimer 1915 454"/> Dubai was known for its [[pearl]] exports until the 1930s; the pearl trade was damaged irreparably by the 1929 [[Great Depression]] and the innovation of [[cultured pearls]]. With the collapse of the pearling industry, Dubai fell into a deep depression and many residents lived in poverty or migrated to other parts of the Persian Gulf.<ref name="hist_trad"/>
 
In the early days since its inception, Dubai was constantly at odds with [[Abu Dhabi]]. In 1947, a border dispute between Dubai and Abu Dhabi on the northern sector of their mutual border escalated into war.<ref name=dxbadconflict>{{cite web |url=http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/titledetails.asp?tid=120 |title=The UAE: Internal Boundaries And The Boundary With Oman. Archived Editions. Walker, J |publisher=Archiveeditions.co.uk |date=18 February 1969 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505121549/http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/titledetails.asp?tid=120 |archive-date=5 May 2013 }}</ref> Arbitration by the British government resulted in a cessation of hostilities.<ref name=rashasian>The Middle East and North Africa. Schofield, C. p 175</ref>
 
{{multiple image
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Despite a lack of oil, Dubai's ruler from 1958, [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum|Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]], used revenue from trading activities to build infrastructure. Private companies were established to build and operate infrastructure, including electricity, telephone services and both the ports and airport operators.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates|last=Heard-Bey|first=Frauke|publisher=Longman|year=1996|isbn=978-0582277281|location=London|pages=260}}</ref> An airport of sorts (a runway built on salt flats) was established in Dubai in the 1950s and, in 1959, the emirate's first hotel, the Airlines Hotel, was constructed. This was followed by the Ambassador and Carlton Hotels in 1968.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title = Father of Dubai|last = Wilson|first = Graeme|publisher = Media Prima|year = 1999|isbn = 9789948856450|location = UAE|page = 126}}</ref>
 
Sheikh Rashid commissioned John Harris from Halcrow, a British architecture firm, to create the city's first master plan in 1959. Harris imagined a Dubai that would rise from the historic centre on Dubai Creek, with an extensive road system, organised zones, and a town centre, all of which could feasibly be built with the limited financial resources at the time.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Elshestawy |first1=Yasser |title=Planning Middle Eastern Cities: An Urban Kaleidoscope |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1134410107}}</ref>
 
1959 saw the establishment of Dubai's first telephone company, 51% owned by IAL (International Aeradio Ltd) and 49% by Sheikh Rashid and local businessmen and in 1961 both the electricity company and telephone company had rolled out operational networks.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=The Trucial States|last=Donald.|first=Hawley|date=1970|publisher=Allen & Unwin|isbn=978-0049530058|location=London|pages=245|oclc=152680}}</ref> The water company (Sheikh Rashid was Chairman and majority shareholder) constructed a pipeline from wells at Awir and a series of storage tanks and, by 1968, Dubai had a reliable supply of piped water.<ref name=":5" />
 
On 7 April 1961, the Dubai-based MV [[MV Dara|''Dara'']], a five thousand ton British flagged vessel that plied the route between [[Basra]] (Iraq), [[Kuwait]] and [[Bombay]] (India), was caught in unusually high winds off Dubai. Early the next morning in heavy seas off Umm al-Quwain, an explosion tore out the second class cabins and started fires. The captain gave the order to abandon ship but two lifeboats capsized and a second explosion occurred. A flotilla of small boats from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al-Quwain picked up survivors, but 238 of the 819 persons on board were lost in the disaster.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/fifty-years-on-the-tragedy-of-vessel-mv-dara-lingers-1.789262|title=Fifty years on, the tragedy of vessel MV Dara lingers|last=Reporter|first=Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff|date=9 April 2011|newspaper=Gulf News|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203075924/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/fifty-years-on-the-tragedy-of-vessel-mv-dara-lingers-1.789262|archive-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
 
The construction of Dubai's first airport was started on the Northern edge of the town in 1959 and the terminal building opened for business in September 1960. The airport was initially serviced by Gulf Aviation (flying Dakotas, Herons and Viscounts) but Iran Air commenced services to Shiraz in 1961.<ref name=":5" />
 
In 1962 the British [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] noted that "Many new houses and blocks of offices and flats are being built... the Ruler is determined, against advice [from the British authorities] to press on with the construction of a jet airport... More and more European and Arab firms are opening up and the future looks bright."<ref name=":2"/>
 
In 1962, with expenditure on infrastructure projects already approaching levels some thought imprudent, Sheikh Rashid approached his brother in law, the Ruler of Qatar, for a loan to build the first bridge crossing Dubai's creek. This crossing was finished in May 1963 and was paid for by a toll levied on the crossing from the Dubai side of the creek to the Deira side.<ref name=":4" />
 
BOAC was originally reluctant to start regular flights between Bombay and Dubai, fearing a lack of demand for seats. However, by the time the asphalt runway of Dubai Airport was constructed in 1965, opening Dubai to both regional and long haul traffic, a number of foreign airlines were competing for landing rights.<ref name=":4" /> In 1970 a new airport terminal building was constructed which included Dubai's first [[duty-free shop]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Fly Buy Dubai|last = Wilson|first = Graeme|publisher = Media Prima|year = 2008|isbn = 9789948859437|location = UAE|page = 58}}</ref>
 
Throughout the 1960s Dubai was the centre of a lively [[gold]] trade, with 1968 imports of gold at some £56 million. This gold was, in the vast majority, re-exported - mainly to customers who took delivery in international waters off [[India]]. The import of gold to India had been banned and so the trade was characterised as smuggling, although Dubai's merchants were quick to point out that they were making legal deliveries of gold and that it was up to the customer where they took it.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Gold smuggling boosts Dubai economy|last=Thomas|first=Anthony|date=3 March 1969|work=The Times}}</ref>
 
In 1966, more gold was shipped from London to Dubai than almost anywhere else in the world (only France and Switzerland took more), at 4 million ounces. Dubai also took delivery of over $15 million-worth of watches and over 5 million ounces of silver. The 1967 price of gold was $35 an ounce but its market price in India was $68 an ounce – a healthy markup. Estimates at the time put the volume of gold imports from Dubai to India at around 75% of the total market.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Trucial States|first=Donald|last=Hawley|date=1970|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=London|pages=204|oclc=152680|isbn=<!--978-0049530058-->0049530054}}</ref>
 
===Oil era===
[[File:Dubai Water Canal Business Bay.jpg|thumb|View of [[Business Bay]]]]
After years of exploration following large finds in neighbouring [[Abu Dhabi]], oil was eventually discovered in territorial waters off Dubai in 1966, albeit in far smaller quantities. The first field was named 'Fateh' or 'good fortune'. This led to an acceleration of Sheikh Rashid's infrastructure development plans and a construction boom that brought a massive influx of foreign workers, mainly Asians and Middle easterners. Between 1968 and 1975 the city's population grew by over 300%.<ref name="pop7">{{cite web |url=http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AB00H5001.pdf |title=Historic population statistics |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326030537/http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AB00H5001.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2009 }}</ref>
 
As part of the infrastructure for pumping and transporting oil from the Fateh field, located offshore of the Jebel Ali area of Dubai, two 500,000 gallon storage tanks were built, known locally as 'Kazzans',<ref>{{cite web|url = http://dubaiasitusedtobe.com/pagesnew/ChicagoBeachDubai.shtm|title = How Chicago Beach got its name...then lost it!|access-date = 20 August 2016|website = Dubai As It Used To Be|last = Chapman|first = Len|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160709050015/http://www.dubaiasitusedtobe.com/pagesnew/ChicagoBeachDubai.shtm|archive-date = 9 July 2016|df = dmy-all}}</ref> by welding them together on the beach and then digging them out and floating them to drop onto the seabed at the Fateh field. These were constructed by the [[Chicago Bridge & Iron Company|Chicago Bridge and Iron Company]], which gave the beach its local name (Chicago Beach), which was transferred to the Chicago Beach Hotel, which was demolished and replaced by the [[Jumeirah Beach Hotel]] in the late 1990s. The Kazzans were an innovative oil storage solution which meant supertankers could moor offshore even in bad weather and avoided the need to pipe oil onshore from Fateh, which is some 60 miles out to sea.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Trucial States|last=Donald.|first=Hawley|date=1970|publisher=Allen & Unwin|isbn=978-0049530058|location=London|pages=222|oclc=152680}}</ref>
 
Dubai had already embarked on a period of infrastructural development and expansion. Oil revenue, flowing from 1969 onwards supported a period of growth with Sheikh Rashid embarking on a policy of building infrastructure and a diversified trading economy before the emirate's limited reserves were depleted. Oil accounted for 24% of GDP in 1990, but had reduced to 7% of GDP by 2004.<ref name=":1"/>
 
Critically, one of the first major projects Sheikh Rashid embarked upon when oil revenue started to flow was the construction of [[Port Rashid]], a deep water free port constructed by British company [[Halcrow Group|Halcrow]]. Originally intended to be a four-berth port, it was extended to sixteen berths as construction was ongoing. The project was an outstanding success, with shipping queuing to access the new facilities. The port was inaugurated on 5 October 1972, although its berths were each pressed into use as soon as they had been built. Port Rashid was to be further expanded in 1975 to add a further 35 berths before the larger port of Jebel Ali was constructed.<ref name=":1"/>
 
Port Rashid was the first of a swath of projects designed to create a modern trading infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Father of Dubai|last = Wilson|first = Graeme|publisher = Media Prima|year = 1999|isbn = 9789948856450|location = UAE|page = 151}}</ref>
 
===Reaching the UAE's Act of Union===
[[File:Adi with the three rulers of Dubai.jpg|thumb|left|[[Adi Bitar]] in a meeting with Sheiks [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum|Rashid Al Maktoum]], [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Mohammad Al Maktoum]] and [[Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Maktoum Al Maktoum]] in Dubai, 1968]]
Dubai and the other '[[Trucial States]]' had long been a [[British protectorate]] where the British government took care of foreign policy and defence, as well as arbitrating between the rulers of the Eastern Gulf, the result of a treaty signed in 1892 named the 'Exclusive Agreement'. This was to change with PM [[Harold Wilson]]'s announcement, on 16 January 1968, that all British troops were to be withdrawn from 'East of Aden'. The decision was to pitch the coastal emirates, together with [[Qatar]] and [[Bahrain]], into fevered negotiations to fill the political vacuum that the British withdrawal would leave behind.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Spirit of the Union|last = Al Maktoum|first = Mohammed bin Rashid|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 9781860633300|location = UAE|pages = 27–39}}</ref>
 
The principle of union was first agreed upon between the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh [[Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan]], and Sheikh Rashid of Dubai on 18 February 1968 meeting in an encampment at Argoub Al Sedirah, near Al Semeih, a desert stop between the two emirates.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Spirit of the Union|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed bin Rashid|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 9781860633300|location = UAE|page = 30}}</ref> The two agreed to work towards bringing the other emirates, including Qatar and Bahrain, into the union. Over the next two years, negotiations and meetings of the rulers followed -often stormy- as a form of union was thrashed out. The nine-state union was never to recover from the October 1969 meeting where heavy-handed British intervention resulted in a walk-out by Qatar and [[Ras Al Khaimah]].<ref name=":2"/> Bahrain and Qatar dropped out of talks, leaving six of the seven 'trucial' emirates to agree on union on 18 July 1971.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Abed|first1=Ibrahim|url=https://archive.org/details/unitedarabemirat00vine|title=United Arab Emirates : a new perspective|last2=Hellyer|first2=Peter|publisher=Trident Press|year=2001|isbn=978-1-900724-47-0|location=London|pages=129–133|url-access=limited}}</ref>
 
On 2 December 1971, Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi, [[Sharjah]], [[Ajman]], [[Umm al-Quwain]] and [[Fujairah]] joined in the Act of Union to form the [[United Arab Emirates]]. The seventh emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the UAE on 10 February 1972, following [[Iran]]'s annexation of the RAK-claimed [[Tunbs]] islands.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Islands and International Politics in the Persian Gulf: The Abu Musa and Tunbs in Strategic Context|url=https://archive.org/details/islandsinternati00ahma|url-access=limited|last=Ahmadi|first=Kourosh|publisher=Routledge|year=2008|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/islandsinternati00ahma/page/n106 96]}}</ref>
 
In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a uniform currency: the [[United Arab Emirates dirham|UAE dirham]].<ref name="britannica"/> In that same year, the prior [[monetary union]] with Qatar was dissolved and the UAE Dirham was introduced throughout the Emirates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centralbank.ae/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148&Itemid=106|title=Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203063733/http://www.centralbank.ae/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148&Itemid=106|archive-date=3 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
===Modern Dubai===
[[File:Dubai - Palm Jumeirah und Dubai Marina - النخلة جميرا ومرسى دبي - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Dubai Palm Jumeirah and Marina in 2011]]
During the 1970s, Dubai continued to grow from revenues generated from oil and trade, even as the city saw an influx of immigrants fleeing the [[Lebanese civil war]].<ref name="nyt2">"Beirut Showing Signs of Recovery From Wounds of War". ''The New York Times''. 26 May 1977. pg.2</ref> Border disputes between the emirates continued even after the formation of the UAE; it was only in 1979 that a formal compromise was reached that ended disagreements.<ref name="lonelyplanet">Dubai. Carter, T and Dunston, L. ''Lonely Planet Publications''</ref> The [[Jebel Ali]] port, a deep-water port that allowed larger ships to dock, was established in 1979. The port was not initially a success, so Sheikh Mohammed established the JAFZA ([[Jebel Ali Free Zone]]) around the port in 1985 to provide foreign companies unrestricted import of labour and export capital.<ref name="UAEFreeZones">{{cite web|url=http://www.uaefreezones.com/fz_jebel_ali.html|title=Free Zones in the UAE|publisher=uaefreezones.com|access-date=23 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225153052/http://www.uaefreezones.com/fz_jebel_ali.html|archive-date=25 February 2010}}</ref> Dubai airport and the aviation industry also continued to grow.
 
The [[Gulf War]] in early 1991 had a negative financial effect on the city, as depositors withdrew their money and traders withdrew their trade, but subsequently, the city recovered in a changing political climate and thrived. Later in the 1990s, many foreign trading communities—first from [[Kuwait]], during the Gulf War, and later from [[Bahrain]], during the [[Shia]] unrest—moved their businesses to Dubai.<ref name="asianaffairs">Davidson, Christopher, ''The Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Contrasting Roles in the International System''. March 2007.</ref> Dubai provided refuelling bases to allied forces at the Jebel Ali Free Zone during the Gulf War, and again during the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]]. Large increases in oil prices after the Gulf War encouraged Dubai to continue to focus on free trade and tourism.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Sand to Silicon: Going Global|last = Sampler & Eigner|publisher = Motivate|year = 2008|isbn = 9781860632549|location = UAE|page = 15}}</ref>
 
==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Dubai}}
{{See also|List of communities in Dubai}}
[[File:Dubai's Rapid Growth.ogv|thumb|This time-lapse video shows the rate of Dubai's growth at one frame per year from 2000 through 2011. In the false-colour satellite images making up the video, bare desert is tan, plant-covered land is red, water is black and urban areas are silver.]]
[[File:Dune bashing, Dubai, 2007 (08).JPG|thumb|Dune bashing in one of the deserts of Dubai]]
 
Dubai is situated on the [[Persian Gulf]] coast of the United Arab Emirates and is roughly at sea level ({{convert|16|m|abbr=on|disp=or}} above). The emirate of Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, [[Emirate of Sharjah|Sharjah]] in the northeast, and the [[Sultanate of Oman]] in the southeast. [[Hatta, United Arab Emirates|Hatta]], a minor [[exclave]] of the emirate, is surrounded on three sides by Oman and by the emirates of Ajman (in the west) and Ras Al Khaimah (in the north). The Persian Gulf borders the western coast of the emirate. Dubai is positioned at {{Coord|25.2697|N|55.3095|E}} and covers an area of {{convert|1588|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, which represents a significant expansion beyond its initial {{convert|1500|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} designation due to [[Land reclamation#Land amounts added|land reclamation from the sea]].{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
 
Dubai lies directly within the [[Arabian Desert]]. However, the topography of Dubai is significantly different from that of the southern portion of the UAE in that much of Dubai's landscape is highlighted by sandy desert patterns, while gravel deserts dominate much of the southern region of the country.<ref name=geo1>[http://uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/14.pdf Environmental Development and Protection in the UAE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172707/http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/14.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}. Aspinall, Simon</ref> The sand consists mostly of crushed shell and coral and is fine, clean and white. East of the city, the salt-crusted coastal plains, known as ''[[sabkha]]'', give way to a north-south running line of dunes. Farther east, the dunes grow larger and are tinged red with [[iron oxide]].<ref name=pop7/>
 
The flat sandy desert gives way to the Western [[Hajar Mountains]], which run alongside Dubai's border with Oman at Hatta. The Western Hajar chain has an arid, jagged and shattered landscape, whose mountains rise to about {{convert|1300|m|0|abbr=off}} in some places. Dubai has no natural river bodies or oases; however, Dubai does have a natural inlet, [[Dubai Creek]], which has been dredged to make it deep enough for large vessels to pass through. Dubai also has multiple gorges and waterholes, which dot the base of the Western Al Hajar mountains. A vast sea of sand dunes covers much of southern Dubai and eventually leads into the desert known as [[The Empty Quarter]]. [[Seismic]]ally, Dubai is in a very stable zone—the nearest seismic fault line, the Zagros Fault, is {{convert|200|km|0|abbr=off}} from the UAE and is unlikely to have any seismic impact on Dubai.<ref name=seismic>[http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/science/a-straight-line-to-disaster Far enough from the fault lines.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727103103/http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/science/a-straight-line-to-disaster |date=27 July 2012 }} The National, 23 April 2008</ref> Experts also predict that the possibility of a [[tsunami]] in the region is minimal because the Persian Gulf waters are not deep enough to trigger a tsunami.<ref name=seismic/>
 
[[File:Dubai Creek Harbour 1.jpg|left|thumb|A view of the [[Dubai Creek]] from a harbour]]
The sandy desert surrounding the city supports wild grasses and occasional date palms. Desert hyacinths grow in the ''sabkha'' plains east of the city, while acacia and [[prosopis cineraria|ghaf]] trees grow in the flat plains within the proximity of the Western Al Hajar mountains. Several indigenous trees such as the date palm and [[neem]] as well as imported trees such as the [[eucalyptus]] grow in Dubai's natural parks. The [[houbara bustard]], [[striped hyena]], [[caracal]], [[fennec fox|desert fox]], falcon and [[Arabian oryx]] are common in Dubai's desert. Dubai is on the migration path between Europe, Asia and Africa, and more than 320 migratory bird species pass through the emirate in spring and autumn. The waters of Dubai are home to more than 300 species of fish, including the [[hammour]]. The typical marine life off the Dubai coast includes tropical fish, jellyfish, coral, [[dugong]], dolphins, whales and sharks. Various types of turtles can also be found in the area including the [[hawksbill|hawksbill turtle]] and [[green turtle]], which are listed as endangered species.<ref>[http://www.gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/articles/entertainment/events-and-festivals/Flora-fauna-of-Dubai-B0odU6b3Lu.html Flora and fauna of Dubai] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702064554/http://www.gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/articles/entertainment/events-and-festivals/Flora-fauna-of-Dubai-B0odU6b3Lu.html |date=2 July 2009 }} gowealthy.com</ref><ref>[http://www.uaeinteract.com/nature/default.asp Natural UAE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126010401/http://www.uaeinteract.com/nature/default.asp |date=26 January 2010 }} UAE Interact. Retrieved 29 April 2010</ref>
 
Dubai Creek runs northeast-southwest through the city. The eastern section of the city forms the locality of [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] and is flanked by the emirate of [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] in the east and the town of [[Al Aweer]] in the south. The [[Dubai International Airport]] is located south of Deira, while the [[Palm Deira#The Palm, Deira|Palm Deira]] is located north of Deira in the [[Persian Gulf]]. Much of Dubai's real-estate boom is concentrated to the west of Dubai Creek, on the [[Jumeirah]] coastal belt. [[Port Rashid]], [[Jebel Ali]], [[Burj Al Arab]], the [[Palm Jumeirah]] and theme-based free-zone clusters such as [[Business Bay]] are all located in this section.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justproperty.com/en/floorplans/ |title=Dubai Floor Plan & Area Map |access-date=16 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811183913/https://www.justproperty.com/en/floorplans/ |archive-date=11 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Dubai is notable for sculpted artificial island complexes including the [[Palm Islands]] and [[The World (archipelago)|The World]] archipelago.
{{clear}}
 
===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Dubai}}
Dubai has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] BWh). Summers in Dubai are extremely hot, prolonged, windy, and humid, with an average high around {{convert|40|°C|0|abbr=on}} and overnight lows around {{convert|30|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the hottest month, August. Most days are sunny throughout the year. Winters are comparatively cool, though mild to warm, with an average high of {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}} and overnight lows of {{convert|14|°C|0|abbr=on}} in January, the coolest month. Precipitation, however, has been increasing in the last few decades, with accumulated rain reaching {{convert|110.7|mm|2|abbr=on}} per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dubaiairport.com/dubaimet/MET/Climate.aspx |title=Climate in Dubai across the year. Dubai Meteorological office |publisher=Dubaiairport.com |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218070259/http://www.dubaiairport.com/DubaiMet/MET/Climate.aspx |archive-date=18 December 2010}}</ref> Dubai summers are also known for the very high humidity level, which can make it very uncomfortable for many with exceptionally high dew points in summer. [[Heat index]] values can reach over {{convert|60|°C|0|abbr=on}} at the height of summer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Al Serkal |first1=Mariam M. |title=64 degrees in Dubai – should you worry? |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/weather/64-degrees-in-dubai---should-you-worry-1.1862007 |website=Gulf News |access-date=17 July 2019 |location=Dubai |language=en |date=14 July 2016}}</ref> The highest recorded temperature in Dubai is {{cvt|48.8|C|F|abbr=}}.
 
{{Weather box
| location = Dubai (1977–2015 normals)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 31.8
| Feb record high C = 37.5
| Mar record high C = 41.3
| Apr record high C = 43.5
| May record high C = 47.0
| Jun record high C = 47.9
| Jul record high C = 48.5
| Aug record high C = 48.8
| Sep record high C = 45.1
| Oct record high C = 42.4
| Nov record high C = 38.0
| Dec record high C = 33.2
| Jan high C = 23.9
| Feb high C = 25.4
| Mar high C = 28.9
| Apr high C = 33.3
| May high C = 37.7
| Jun high C = 39.8
| Jul high C = 40.9
| Aug high C = 41.3
| Sep high C = 38.9
| Oct high C = 35.4
| Nov high C = 30.6
| Dec high C = 26.2
| Jan mean C = 19.1
| Feb mean C = 20.5
| Mar mean C = 23.6
| Apr mean C = 27.5
| May mean C = 31.4
| Jun mean C = 33.4
| Jul mean C = 35.5
| Aug mean C = 35.9
| Sep mean C = 33.3
| Oct mean C = 29.8
| Nov mean C = 25.4
| Dec mean C = 21.2
| Jan low C = 14.3
| Feb low C = 15.5
| Mar low C = 18.3
| Apr low C = 21.7
| May low C = 25.1
| Jun low C = 27.3
| Jul low C = 30.0
| Aug low C = 30.4
| Sep low C = 27.7
| Oct low C = 24.1
| Nov low C = 20.1
| Dec low C = 16.3
| Jan record low C = 7.7
| Feb record low C = 7.4
| Mar record low C = 11.0
| Apr record low C = 13.7
| May record low C = 15.7
| Jun record low C = 21.3
| Jul record low C = 24.1
| Aug record low C = 24.0
| Sep record low C = 22.0
| Oct record low C = 15.0
| Nov record low C = 10.8
| Dec record low C = 8.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 18.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 25.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 22.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 7.2
| May precipitation mm = 0.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 1.1
| Nov precipitation mm = 2.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 16.2
| Jan precipitation days = 5.5
| Feb precipitation days = 4.7
| Mar precipitation days = 5.8
| Apr precipitation days = 2.6
| May precipitation days = 0.3
| Jun precipitation days = 0.0
| Jul precipitation days = 0.5
| Aug precipitation days = 0.5
| Sep precipitation days = 0.1
| Oct precipitation days = 0.2
| Nov precipitation days = 1.3
| Dec precipitation days = 3.8
| Jan sun = 251
| Feb sun = 241
| Mar sun = 270
| Apr sun = 306
| May sun = 350
| Jun sun = 345
| Jul sun = 332
| Aug sun = 326
| Sep sun = 309
| Oct sun = 307
| Nov sun = 279
| Dec sun = 254
| Jand sun = 8.1
| Febd sun = 8.6
| Mard sun = 8.7
| Aprd sun = 10.2
| Mayd sun = 11.3
| Jund sun = 11.5
| Juld sun = 10.7
| Augd sun = 10.5
| Sepd sun = 10.3
| Octd sun = 9.9
| Novd sun = 9.3
| Decd sun = 8.2
| source 1 = Dubai Meteorological Office<ref name="weather">
{{cite web
| url = https://services.dubaiairports.ae/dubaimet/MET/Climate.aspx
| title = Climate (Average Temperatures:1977–2015;Precipitation:1967-2009)
| access-date = 14 February 2019 | publisher = Dubai Meteorological Office
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223556/https://services.dubaiairports.ae/dubaimet/MET/Climate.aspx
| archive-date = 4 October 2013 | url-status=dead
| df = dmy-all
}}
</ref>
| source 2 = UAE National Center of Meteorology<ref name="UAE NCM Climate">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.ncm.ae/en/climate-reports-yearly.html?id=8803
| title = Climate Yearly Report 2003-2018
| access-date = 14 February 2019 | publisher = UAE National Center of Meteorology NCM
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050649/http://www.ncm.ae/en/climate-reports-yearly.html?id=8803
| archive-date = 15 February 2019 | url-status=live
| df = dmy-all
}}
</ref>
| source =
}}
 
==Government==
{{Main|Al Maktoum|Government of Dubai|Dubai Municipality|Politics of the United Arab Emirates}}
[[File:Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda 2008 2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai.]]
Dubai has been ruled by the [[Al Maktoum]] family since 1833; the emirate is a [[constitutional monarchy]]. Dubai citizens participate in the electoral college to vote representatives to the [[Federal National Council]] of the UAE. The ruler, His Highness Sheikh [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], is also the Vice-President and [[Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates]] and member of the Supreme Council of the Union (SCU). Dubai appoints 8 members in two-term periods to the [[Federal National Council]] (FNC) of the UAE, the supreme federal legislative body.<ref name=uaegovt>US Library of Congress – Legislative Branches</ref>
 
The [[Dubai Municipality]] (DM) was established by the then ruler of Dubai, [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]], in 1954 for purposes of city planning, citizen services and upkeep of local facilities.<ref name=dmhistory>Organizational Chart. Dubai Municipality</ref> DM is chaired by [[Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], deputy ruler of Dubai, and comprises several departments such as the Roads Department, Planning and Survey Department, Environment and Public Health Department and Financial Affairs Department. In 2001, Dubai Municipality embarked on an [[e-Government]] project with the intention of providing 40 of its city services through its web portal, [dubai.ae]. Thirteen such services were launched by October 2001, while several other services were expected to be operational in the future.<ref>Dubai Municipality's e-government initiative. Powerpoint. 2 December 2005</ref> Dubai Municipality is also in charge of the city's sanitation and sewage infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Julia |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7663883.stm |title=Raw sewage threat to booming Dubai |work=BBC News |date=13 October 2008 |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103172040/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7663883.stm |archive-date=3 January 2009 }}</ref>{{Definition|date=February 2021}}
 
The UAE has a Minister of Happiness, appointed by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE has also appointed a Minister of Tolerance to promote tolerance as a fundamental value of the UAE, a country filled with a diverse range of faiths and ethnicities,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatson.ae/dubai/2016/02/uae-going-get-minister-happiness/|title=The UAE now has a Minister of Happiness – What's On Dubai|website=What's On Dubai|access-date=27 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316124902/http://whatson.ae/dubai/2016/02/uae-going-get-minister-happiness/|archive-date=16 March 2016|date=11 February 2016}}</ref> and also a Minister for Youth Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uaecabinet.ae/en/details/cabinet-members/her-excellency-shamma-bint-suhail-faris-al-mazrui|title=Members Of The Cabinet|website=uaecabinet.ae|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202234722/https://uaecabinet.ae/en/details/cabinet-members/her-excellency-shamma-bint-suhail-faris-al-mazrui|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>
 
===Law enforcement===
The [[Dubai Police Force]], founded in 1956 in the locality of [[Naif]], has law enforcement jurisdiction over the emirate. The force is under direct command of Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.uae-embassy.org/services-resources/students/scholarship-programs/dubai-police|title=Dubai Police|date=|work=uae-embassy.org |access-date=2021-03-05|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Dubai Police at work (12385410394).jpg|thumb|Dubai Police operates a fleet of [[exotic car]]s]]
Dubai and [[Ras al Khaimah]] are the only emirates that do not conform to the federal judicial system of the United Arab Emirates.<ref>On the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Legal System. Gulf-Law.com</ref> The emirate's judicial courts comprise the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation. The Court of First Instance consists of the Civil Court, which hears all civil claims; the Criminal Court, which hears claims originating from police complaints; and [[Sharia|Sharia Court]], which is responsible for matters between Muslims. Non-Muslims do not appear before the Sharia Court. The Court of Cassation is the supreme court of the emirate and hears disputes on matters of law only.<ref name="judicial">UAE Consulate of the United States</ref>
 
===Alcohol laws===
Alcohol sale and consumption, though legal, is tightly regulated. Adult non-Muslims are allowed to consume alcohol in licensed venues, typically within hotels, or at home with the possession of an alcohol licence. Places other than hotels, clubs, and specially designated areas are typically not permitted to sell alcohol.<ref>{{Citation|title = Alcohol / liquor licence and laws in Dubai|url = https://www.guide2dubai.com/living/laws-and-regulations/alcohol-licence-in-dubai|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150224055416/https://www.guide2dubai.com/living/laws-and-regulations/alcohol-licence-in-dubai|archive-date = 24 February 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> As in other parts of the world, [[drinking and driving]] is illegal, with 21 being the [[legal drinking age]] in the [[Emirate of Dubai]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/law-gets-tough-on-drunk-drivers-in-dubai-1.627258|title=Law gets tough on drunk drivers in Dubai|last=Reporter|first=Bassam Za'za', Senior|date=16 May 2010|newspaper=Gulf News|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203081716/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/law-gets-tough-on-drunk-drivers-in-dubai-1.627258|archive-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
 
===Human rights===
{{Main|Human rights in Dubai}}
[[File:Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (II).jpg|thumb|170px|[[Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II)|Latifa]], daughter of [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Dubai's ruler]], escaped Dubai in February 2018 but was captured in the Indian Ocean<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/dubai-princess-missing-latest-sheikha-latifa-escape-uae-detained-sheikh-mohammed-a8339976.html|title=Dubai princess: UN asked to intervene over ruler's daughter 'detained against her will' after failed escape from UAE|last=Alabaster|first=Olivia|date=7 May 2018|work=The Independent}}</ref>]]
Companies in Dubai have in the past been criticised for human rights violations against labourers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last = Davis |first = Mike |author-link = Mike Davis (scholar) |title = Fear and money in Dubai |journal = [[New Left Review]] |volume = II |issue = 41 |pages = 47–68 |date = September–October 2006 |url = http://newleftreview.org/II/41/mike-davis-fear-and-money-in-dubai |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160220034223/http://newleftreview.org/II/41/mike-davis-fear-and-money-in-dubai |archive-date = 20 February 2016 |df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Propertywire.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.propertywire.com/news/middle-east/job-losses-property-decline-dubai-200812032193.html |title=Job losses hasten property decline in Dubai but medium-long term outlook upbeat |publisher=Propertywire.com |date=3 December 2008 |access-date=14 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119123812/http://www.propertywire.com/news/middle-east/job-losses-property-decline-dubai-200812032193.html |archive-date=19 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Mohammad Bin Rashid approves Dubai's budget for 2015|url = http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/mohammad-bin-rashid-approves-dubai-s-budget-for-2015-1.1435488|website = Gulf News|access-date = 25 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150512084427/http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/mohammad-bin-rashid-approves-dubai-s-budget-for-2015-1.1435488|archive-date = 12 May 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Some of the 250,000 foreign labourers in the city have been alleged to live in conditions described by [[Human Rights Watch]] as "less than humane".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/uae1106/|title=Human Rights Watch – Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates|access-date=4 October 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006124105/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/uae1106/|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/uae1106/uae1106web.pdf|author=Human Rights Watch|title=Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates|edition=PDF|access-date=12 February 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144614/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/uae1106/uae1106web.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=hrw>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4861540.stm |work=BBC News |title=UAE to allow construction unions |date=30 March 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060423122628/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4861540.stm |archive-date=23 April 2006 }}</ref><ref name="dubaifire">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6277613.stm |work=BBC News |title=Dubai fire investigation launched |date=19 January 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929224627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6277613.stm |archive-date=29 September 2009 }}</ref> The mistreatment of foreign workers was a subject of the difficult-to-make documentary, ''Slaves in Dubai'' (2009).<ref name="Slaves in Dubai documentary">{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/video/the-slaves-of-dubai |title=Slaves in Dubai documentary |publisher=VICE |year=2009 |access-date=18 February 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116012730/http://www.vice.com/video/the-slaves-of-dubai |archive-date=16 November 2014 }}</ref> The Dubai government has denied labour injustices and stated that the watchdog's (Human Rights Watch) accusations were "misguided". The filmmaker explained in interviews how it was necessary to go undercover to avoid discovery by the authorities, who impose high fines on reporters attempting to document human rights abuses, including the conditions of construction workers.
 
Towards the end of March 2006, the government had announced steps to allow construction unions. UAE labour minister Ali al-Kaabi said: "Labourers will be allowed to form unions."<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4861540.stm |access-date = 24 April 2006 |work = BBC News |title = UAE to allow construction unions |date = 30 March 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060423122628/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4861540.stm |archive-date = 23 April 2006 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> As of 2020, the federal public prosecution has clarified that "it is an offense when at least three public employees collectively leave work or one of the duties to achieve an unlawful purpose. Each employee will be punished with not less than 6 months in prison and not more than a year, as the imprisonment will be for leaving the job or duties that affect the health or the security of the people, or affect other public services of public benefit." Any act of spreading discord among employees will be punishable by imprisonment, and in all cases, foreigners will be deported.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/government/you-can-get-jailed-for-breaking-this-uae-work-law-video-warning-issued |access-date = 22 September 2020 |publisher = Khaleej Times |title = You can get jailed for breaking this UAE work law; video warning issued |date = 22 September 2020 }}</ref>
 
[[LGBT rights in the United Arab Emirates|Homosexual acts]] are illegal under UAE law.<ref>{{cite news |title=Homosexuality can still mean the death penalty in many countries |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/same-sex-rights-across-the-world-4222149-Sep2018/ |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |date=9 September 2018}}</ref> [[Freedom of speech]] in Dubai is limited, with both residents and citizens facing severe sanctions from the government for speaking out against the royal family or local laws and culture.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-ambassador-threatens-further-sanctions-against-qatar-918691291|title=UAE ambassador: 'We do not promote idea of press freedom'|work=Middle East Eye|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005345/http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-ambassador-threatens-further-sanctions-against-qatar-918691291|archive-date=12 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the low paid labourers are victims of human trafficking or forced labour while some women are even trafficked into the growing sex trade in Dubai, a centre of human trafficking and prostitution.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/dubai-in-united-arab-emirates-an-epicentre-of-human-trafficking-and-prostitution-20160115-gm6mdl.html|title=Dubai in United Arab Emirates a centre of human trafficking and prostitution|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120212511/http://www.smh.com.au/world/dubai-in-united-arab-emirates-an-epicentre-of-human-trafficking-and-prostitution-20160115-gm6mdl.html|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Defamation on social media is a punishable offence in Dubai with fines up to half a million dirhams and jail term for up to 2 years. In January 2020, three Sri Lankan ex-pats were fined AED 500,000 each for posting defamatory Facebook posts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yourdubaiguide.com/three-security-guards-in-dubai-fined-52-years-of-their-salary-for-defaming-islam-on-facebook/|title=Three Security Guards in Dubai fined 52 years of their salary for defaming Islam on Facebook|last=Editor|date=20 January 2020|website=Your Dubai Guide|language=en-US|access-date=20 January 2020}}</ref>
 
On 3 September 2020, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that hundreds of thousands of [[migrant workers]] lost their jobs and were left stranded in Dubai, due to oil price crash and [[COVID-19]]. Many were trapped in desperate situations in crowded labour camps with no salary or any other financial source. Those migrant workers had to rely on food donations and stayed hungry without the help of charities, while they waited for work and to get paid.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/03/i-am-starving-the-migrant-workers-abandoned-by-dubai-employers|title='I am starving': the migrant workers abandoned by Dubai employers|access-date=3 September 2020|website=The Guardian|date=3 September 2020}}</ref>
 
== Crime ==
Dubai has one of the world's lowest crime rates,<ref name="Agarib">{{Cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/dubai-among-worlds-safest-cities-as-serious-crimes-decline|title=Dubai among world's safest cities as serious crimes decline|last=Agarib|first=Amira|website=www.khaleejtimes.com|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606080556/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/dubai-among-worlds-safest-cities-as-serious-crimes-decline|archive-date=6 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2019 was ranked the seventh-safest city in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1142071/offbeat|title=Arab countries score low on crime, highest on safety in world survey|date=9 August 2017|work=Arab News|access-date=30 July 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416101505/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1142071/offbeat|archive-date=16 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Crime Index Rate |url=https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_current.jsp |website=Numbeo |access-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805204052/https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_current.jsp |archive-date=5 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Crime Index Rate |url=https://www.numbeo.com/crime/gmaps.jsp?indexToShow=safety |website=Numbeo |access-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805204118/https://www.numbeo.com/crime/gmaps.jsp?indexToShow=safety |archive-date=5 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The Security Industry Regulatory Agency classified the crimes into six categories.<ref name="Reporter">{{Cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/crime/revealed-top-crimes-committed-in-dubai-1.2169034|title=Revealed: Top crimes committed in Dubai|last=Reporter|first=Mariam M. Al Serkal, Senior Web|date=6 February 2018|work=GulfNews|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730140503/https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/crime/revealed-top-crimes-committed-in-dubai-1.2169034|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> These crimes include theft, forced robbery, domestic burglary, fraud, sexual assault and abuse, and criminal damages.<ref name="Reporter"/>
 
As per ''[[Gulf News]]'', Dubai Police stated that the crime in Dubai is reduced by fifteen per cent during 2017. However, the cases of drugs operation increased by eight per cent. Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, hailed the force which solved 86 per cent of criminal cases.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/emergencies/dubai-police-hailed-as-serious-crimes-rate-falls-by-15-1.2156360|title=Dubai Police hailed as serious crimes rate falls by 15%|last=Reporter|first=Ali Al Shouk, Staff|date=13 January 2018|work=GulfNews|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730140452/https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/emergencies/dubai-police-hailed-as-serious-crimes-rate-falls-by-15-1.2156360|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
The statistics also indicated that murder crimes dropped from 0.5 in 2016 to 0.3 in 2017 for every 100,000 population, while violent and aggressive crimes in the past 5 years went from 2.2 crimes per 100,000 and dropped to 1.2 by the end of 2017, pointed out Al Mansouri.<ref name="Agarib"/> General crimes have decreased since 2013, registering around 0.2 by the end of 2017. Robberies went from 3.8 in 2013 to 2.1 by the end of last year, while kidnapping cases also dropped from 0.2 in 2013 to 0.1 in 2017.
 
Vehicle thefts in 2013 were 3.8 per 100,000 population and fell to 1.7 in 2017. According to the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security, petty theft, pickpocketing, scams, and sexual harassment still occur although they are usually not violent and weapons are not involved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.internations.org/uae-expats/guide/29460-safety-security/common-crimes-and-laws-in-the-uae-18901|title=Common Crimes and Laws in the UAE|website=www.internations.org|language=en|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730140459/https://www.internations.org/uae-expats/guide/29460-safety-security/common-crimes-and-laws-in-the-uae-18901|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Dubai}}
{{Historical populations
|footnote = c-census; e-estimate
|1822<ref name="pophist1">{{cite web|url=http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm|title=Modernity and tradition in Dubai architecture by Luiza Karim|last=Karin|first=Luiza|date=September 1999|publisher=alshindagah.com|access-date=19 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503110831/http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm|archive-date=3 May 2010}}</ref>|1200
|1900<ref name="pophist2">{{cite web |url=http://cipa.icomos.org/fileadmin/papers/antalya/143.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624151835/http://cipa.icomos.org/fileadmin/papers/antalya/143.pdf |archive-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |title=3D Modelling and Visualisation OF Al Baskita in Dubai IN Dubai, United Arab Emerites |last=Hadjari |first=Karim |access-date=23 February 2017 }}</ref> |10000
|1930<ref name="pophist3">{{cite web|url=http://www.uae-embassy.de/DeutschHome/Tourismus/4DubaiGuide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050403184631/http://uae-embassy.de/DeutschHome/Tourismus/4DubaiGuide.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2005 |title=Tourism in Dubai |access-date=19 April 2010 }}</ref> |20000
|1940<ref name=pophist1/> |38000
|1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.populstat.info/Asia/unarabet.htm|title=The United Arab Emigrates – Historical demographical data of the urban centers|last=Lahmeyer|first=Jan|year=2001|publisher=.populstat|access-date=19 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809185417/http://www.populstat.info/Asia/unarabet.htm|archive-date=9 August 2010}}</ref> |40000
|1968<ref name="pophist5">{{cite web|url=http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/04.pdf|title=The Tribal Society of the UAE and its Traditional Economy|last=Heard-Bey|first=Frauke|publisher=uaeinteract.com|access-date=19 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428195649/http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/04.pdf|archive-date=28 April 2011}}</ref> |58971
|1975<ref name="pophist6">{{cite web|url=http://tedad.ae/english/about_census/background.html |title=Census 2005 U.A.E. |publisher=tedad.ae |access-date=19 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516221856/http://www.tedad.ae/english/about_census/background.html |archive-date=16 May 2010}}</ref> |183000
|1985<ref name="pophist7">{{cite web|url=http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AB00H5001.pdf|title=Roundabouts vs. Intersections: The Tale of Three UAE Cities|last=Younes|first=Bassem|publisher=ite.org|access-date=19 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225204033/http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AB00H5001.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2011}}</ref> |370800
|1995<ref name=pophist7/> |674000
|2005 |1204000
|2010<ref name="pophist8">{{cite web|url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/DSC_SYB_2014_01%20_%2001.pdf|title=Number of Population Estimated by Nationality- Emirate of Dubai|publisher=dsc.gov.ae|access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref>|1905476
|2015<ref name="pophist9">{{cite web|url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/Copy%20of%20DSC_SYB_2016_01%20_%2002.pdf|title=Number of Population Estimated by Nationality- Emirate of Dubai|publisher=dsc.gov.ae|access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref> |2446675
|2019<ref name="pophist10">{{cite web|url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/DSC_SYB_2019_01%20_%2003.pdf|title=Number of Population Estimated by Nationality- Emirate of Dubai|publisher=dsc.gov.ae|access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref>|3355900
}}
 
===Ethnicity and languages===
{{See also|Emirati people|Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates}}
{{As of|2019|September}}, the population is 3,331,420 – an annual increase of 177,020 people which represents a growth rate of 5.64%.<ref name="dsc.gov.ae" /> The region covers {{convert|497.1|mi2|1|abbr=out|order=flip}}. The population density is 408.18/km<sup>2</sup> – more than eight times that of the entire country. Dubai is the [[List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees|second most expensive city]] in the region and 20th most expensive city in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/features/cost_survey.html |title=Cost of living – The world's most expensive cities |publisher=City Mayors |access-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224033730/http://www.citymayors.com/features/cost_survey.html |archive-date=24 December 2008 }}</ref>
 
{{As of|2013}}, only about 15% of the population of the emirate was made up of [[Emirati people|UAE nationals]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dubai population jumps 4.8 per cent to 2.17m |url=http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/Dubai_population_jumps_4.8_per_cent_to_2.17m/56733.htm |publisher=UAE interact |access-date=4 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819034855/http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/Dubai_population_jumps_4.8_per_cent_to_2.17m/56733.htm |archive-date=19 August 2014 }}</ref> with the rest comprising expatriates, many of whom either have been in the country for generations or were born in the UAE.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-emirates-citizenship-feature-idUKBRE99904J20131010|title=Call to naturalise some expats stirs anxiety in the UAE|agency=Reuters UK|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171325/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/10/uk-emirates-citizenship-feature-idUKBRE99904J20131010|archive-date=14 July 2014|newspaper=Reuters|date=10 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfbusiness.com/2014/01/gcc-citizenship-debate-a-place-to-call-home/|title=GCC Citizenship Debate: A Place To Call Home|work=Gulf Business|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901125525/http://gulfbusiness.com/2014/01/gcc-citizenship-debate-a-place-to-call-home/|archive-date=1 September 2014|date=5 January 2014}}</ref> Approximately 85% of the [[Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates|expatriate population]] (and 71% of the emirate's total population) was Asian, chiefly [[Indians in the United Arab Emirates|Indian]] (51%) and [[Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates|Pakistani]] (16%); other significant Asian groups include [[Bangladeshis in the United Arab Emirates|Bangladesh]]is (9%) and [[Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates|Filipino]]s (3%).<ref name=migrationinformation>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/dataHub/GCMM/Dubaidatasheet.pdf "Country and Metropolitan Stats in Brief] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012143031/http://www.migrationinformation.org/dataHub/GCMM/Dubaidatasheet.pdf |date=12 October 2012 }}. MPI Data Hub</ref> A quarter of the population (local and foreign) reportedly [[Iranians in the United Arab Emirates|traces their origins to Iran]].<ref>{{cite news |author=HASSAN M. FATTAH; Nada El Sawy contributed reporting for this article. |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E1EF839550C778CDDAB0994DD404482 |title=Young Iranians Follow Dreams to Dubai |work=The New York Times |date=4 December 2005 |access-date=11 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012837/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E1EF839550C778CDDAB0994DD404482 |archive-date=5 October 2013 }}</ref> In addition, 16% of the population (or 288,000 persons) [[Labour force of the United Arab Emirates|living in collective labour]] accommodation were not identified by ethnicity or nationality, but were thought to be primarily Asian.<ref name="pop4">{{cite web|url=http://www.hsbc.com/1/PA_1_1_S5/content/assets/retirement/2006_for_report_world.pdf |title=HSBC Reveals "The Future of Retirement: What the World Wants" Survey Results |date=26 April 2006 |publisher=HSBC |access-date=19 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204224023/http://www.hsbc.com/1/PA_1_1_S5/content/assets/retirement/2006_for_report_world.pdf |archive-date=4 December 2008}}</ref> 461,000 [[Westerners]] live in the [[United Arab Emirates]], making up 5.1% of its total population.<ref name="web.archive.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bqdoha.com/2015/04/uae-population-by-nationality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711160839/http://www.bqdoha.com/2015/04/uae-population-by-nationality|archive-date=11 July 2015|title=A Breakdown of the United Arab Emirates Population by Nationality – BQ Doha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/the-other-special-relationship-the-uae-and-the-uk-1.549898|title = The other special relationship: The UAE and the UK|date = 21 November 2010}}</ref> There are over 100,000 British expatriates in Dubai, by far the largest group of Western expatriates in the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-leads-british-exodus-overseas-49627.html|title=Dubai leads British exodus overseas|work=Arabian Business|date=21 May 2008|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116232224/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-leads-british-exodus-overseas-49627.html|archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref> The median age in the emirate was about 27 years. In 2014, there were estimated to be 15.54 [[Birth rate|births]] and 1.99 [[Mortality rate|deaths]] per 1,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|title = United Arab Emirates Demographics Profile 2014|url = http://www.indexmundi.com/united_arab_emirates/demographics_profile.html|publisher = indexmundi.com|access-date = 21 December 2015|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151225154722/http://www.indexmundi.com/united_arab_emirates/demographics_profile.html|archive-date = 25 December 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> There are other Arab nationals, including [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]] nationals.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
 
[[Arabic language|Arabic]] is the national and official language of the United Arab Emirates. The [[Gulf Arabic|Gulf dialect]] of Arabic is spoken natively by the Emirati people.<ref>{{cite book|last=Christensen|first=Shane|title=Frommer's Dubai|year=2010|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-71178-1|page=174}}</ref> [[English language|English]] is used as a second language. Other major languages spoken in Dubai due to immigration are [[Malayalam]], [[Hindi]]-[[Urdu]] (or [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]), [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Balochi language|Balochi]], [[Tulu language|Tulu]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=186483|title=Nama Tuluveru all set to entertain UAE with Rangabhoomi's 'Kaala Chakra'|publisher=daijiworld.com|access-date=12 February 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045706/http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=186483|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> [[Kannada]], [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] and [[Chinese language|Chinese]], in addition to many other languages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.justlanded.com/english/Dubai/Dubai-Guide/Language/Languages |title=Languages spoken in Dubai |publisher=Justlanded.com |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627204329/http://www.justlanded.com/english/Dubai/Dubai-Guide/Language/Languages |archive-date=27 June 2013 }}</ref>
 
===Religion===
{{See also|Religion in the United Arab Emirates}}
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Article 7 of the UAE's Provisional Constitution declares [[Islam]] the official state religion of the UAE. The government subsidises almost 95% of mosques and employs all [[Imam]]s; approximately 5% of mosques are entirely private, and several large mosques have large private endowments.<ref name=loc_religion>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/UAE.pdf Country Profile: United Arab Emirates (UAE)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326030536/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/UAE.pdf |date=26 March 2009 }}. United States Library of Congress</ref> All mosques in Dubai are managed by the [[Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department]] also known as "Awqaf" under the Government of Dubai and all [[Imam]]s are appointed by the Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192911.htm|title=Report on International Religious Freedom|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref> The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates provides for [[freedom of religion]]. Expats held preaching [[Religious intolerance|religious hatred]] or promoting [[religious extremism]] are usually jailed and deported.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-to-deport-expats-abusing-religions-2015-07-22-1.597619|title=UAE to deport expats abusing religions|last=Staff|date=22 July 2015|work=Emirates 24{{!}}7|access-date=26 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525072642/http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-to-deport-expats-abusing-religions-2015-07-22-1.597619|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
 
Dubai has large [[Christians|Christian]], [[Hindu]], [[Sikh]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]], [[Buddhist]] and other religious communities residing in the city, as well as a small but growing [[Jewish]] community.<ref>[http://www.dubaidreams.net/465/about/religion-in-dubai/ Religion in Dubai] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424085123/http://www.dubaidreams.net/465/about/religion-in-dubai/ |date=24 April 2010 }}. Dubaidreams</ref>
 
Non-Muslim groups can own their own houses of worship, where they can practice their religion freely, by requesting a land grant and permission to build a compound. Groups that do not have their own buildings are allowed to use the facilities of other religious organisations or worship in private homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2007 – United Arab Emirates |date=14 September 2007 |publisher=State.gov |access-date=31 July 2009 }}</ref> Non-Muslim religious groups are also permitted to advertise group functions openly and distribute various religious literature. Catholics are served pastorally by the [[Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia]]. British preacher [[Andrew Thompson (priest)|Reverend Andrew Thompson]] claimed that the United Arab Emirates is one of the most tolerant places in the world towards Christians and that it is easier to be a Christian in the UAE than in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/it-s-easier-being-christian-in-abu-dhabi-than-in-uk-1.1330220 |title='It's easier being Christian in Abu Dhabi than in UK' |access-date=23 January 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004094524/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/it-s-easier-being-christian-in-abu-dhabi-than-in-uk-1.1330220 |archive-date=4 October 2016 }}</ref>
On 5 April 2020, the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] announced the building of one of their Temples in Dubai. As part of the announcement, church President Russell M. Nelson said that “The plan for a temple in Dubai comes in response to their gracious invitation, which we gratefully acknowledge.”
 
==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Dubai}}
One of the world's fastest growing economies,<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/dubai-enters-top-five-ranked-fastest-growing-economies|title = Dubai enters top five ranked fastest growing economies|last = Everington|first = John|date = 22 January 2015|work = The National|access-date = 24 March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150311081706/http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/dubai-enters-top-five-ranked-fastest-growing-economies|archive-date = 11 March 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Dubai's gross domestic product is projected at US$107.1 billion, with a growth rate of 6.1% in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.zawya.com/story/Dubai_GDP_growth_seen_at_61_in_2014-ZAWYA20140604041903/|title = Dubai's gross domestic product is expected to reach US$107.1 billion, posting a growth rate of 6.1% in 2014 and exceeding Dubai government's estimates of 5%, according to Citibank.|date = 14 June 2014|work = Zawya Thomson Reuters|access-date = 24 March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150331161429/http://www.zawya.com/story/Dubai_GDP_growth_seen_at_61_in_2014-ZAWYA20140604041903/|archive-date = 31 March 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Although a number of core elements of Dubai's trading infrastructure were built on the back of the oil industry,<ref name=oilgas2>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/marketplace/ibi/dubai.htm |title=Dubai – Overview |work=USA Today |access-date=22 July 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808211435/http://www.usatoday.com/marketplace/ibi/dubai.htm |archive-date=8 August 2007 }}</ref> revenues from oil and natural gas account for less than 5% of the emirate's revenues.<ref name="oilrev"/> It is estimated that Dubai produces {{convert|50000|to|70000|oilbbl}} of oil a day<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/dubais-oil-discoverydubais-debt_440035.html |title=Dubai's oil discovery and Dubai's debt |publisher=Moneycontrol.com |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530195048/http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/dubais-oil-discoverydubais-debt_440035.html |archive-date=30 May 2013 }}</ref> and substantial quantities of gas from offshore fields. The emirate's share in the UAE's total gas revenues is about 2%. Dubai's oil reserves have diminished significantly and are expected to be exhausted in 20 years.<ref name=oilgas>{{cite web|url=http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/oil_gas.htm#Dubai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705161411/http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/oil_gas.htm#Dubai|archive-date=5 July 2008 |title=UAE Oil and Gas |publisher=Uae.gov.ae |date=19 June 1999 |access-date=31 July 2009}}</ref> Real estate and construction (22.6%),<ref name="Ddooo"/> trade (16%), ''[[entrepôt]]'' (15%) and financial services (11%) are the largest contributors to Dubai's economy.<ref name=dubchamber>[http://www.dcci.gov.ae/content/Bulletin/Issue10/SectorMonEn_ISSUE10.pdf Prospects of Dubai Economic Sectors] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216052206/http://www.dcci.gov.ae/content/Bulletin/Issue10/SectorMonEn_ISSUE10.pdf |date=16 February 2008 }}. Dubai Chamber of Commerce. 2003</ref>
 
Dubai's non-oil foreign trade stood at $362 billion in 2014. Of the overall trade volumes, imports had the biggest share with a value of $230 billion while exports and re-exports to the emirate stood at $31 billion and $101 billion respectively.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url = http://www.emirates247.com/business/economy-finance/dubai-s-foreign-trade-steady-at-dh1-331-trillion-in-2014-2015-03-23-1.585144|title = Dubai's foreign trade steady at Dh1.331 trillion in 2014|date = 23 March 2015|work = Emirates 24{{!}}7|access-date = 24 March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150327014004/http://www.emirates247.com/business/economy-finance/dubai-s-foreign-trade-steady-at-dh1-331-trillion-in-2014-2015-03-23-1.585144|archive-date = 27 March 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>
 
By 2014, China had emerged as Dubai's largest international trading partner, with a total of $47.7 billion in trade flows, up 29% from 2013. India was second among Dubai's key trading partners with a trade of $29.7 billion, followed by the United States at $22.62 billion. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was Dubai's fourth trading partner globally and first in the GCC and Arab world with a total trade value of $14.2 billion. Trade with Germany in 2014 totalled $12.3, Switzerland and Japan both at $11.72 billion and UK trade totalled $10.9 billion.<ref name=":3"/>
 
[[File:Jebel Ali Port 2 Imresolt.jpg|thumb|[[Port of Jebel Ali]]]]
Historically, Dubai and its twin across Dubai Creek, Deira (independent of Dubai City at that time), were important ports of call for Western manufacturers. Most of the new city's banking and financial centres were headquartered in the port area. Dubai maintained its importance as a trade route through the 1970s and 1980s. Dubai has a free trade in gold and, until the 1990s, was the hub of a "brisk smuggling trade"<ref name="britannica">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130903094953/http://concise.britannica.com/dday/print?articleId=31319&fullArticle=true&tocId=9031319 "Dubayy"]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. 2008</ref> of gold [[ingot]]s to India, where gold import was restricted. Dubai's [[Jebel Ali]] port, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world and was ranked seventh globally for the volume of container traffic it supports.<ref name="jebelali">{{cite web |url=http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%2020081.pdf |title=World Port Rankings – 2008 |publisher=American Association of Port Authorities |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=5 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704163225/http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%2020081.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2010 }}</ref> Dubai is also a hub for service industries such as information technology and finance, with industry-specific [[free economic zone|free zones]] throughout the city.<ref name="Business-Dubai.com">{{cite web|url=http://business-dubai.com/services/business-setup/Dubai-Free-zones/|title=Free Zone Authorities in Dubai|publisher=Business-Dubai.com|access-date=15 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021420/http://business-dubai.com/services/business-setup/Dubai-Free-zones/|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> [[Dubai Internet City]], combined with [[Dubai Media City]] as part of TECOM (Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority), is one such enclave, whose members include IT firms such as [[Hewlett Packard Enterprise]], [[HP Inc.]], [[Google]], [[EMC Corporation]], [[Oracle Corporation]], [[Microsoft]], [[Dell]] and [[IBM]], and media organisations such as [[Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC]], [[CNN]], [[BBC]], [[Reuters]], [[Sky News]] and AP.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Community Directory of Companies|url=https://dic.ae/the-community/community-directory|access-date=2021-03-10|website=Dubai Internet City|language=en}}</ref> Various programmes, resources and value-added services support the growth of startups in Dubai and help them connect to new business opportunities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New report highlights Dubai's startup ecosystem|url=http://www.tradearabia.com/news/BANK_379387.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.tradearabia.com}}</ref>
 
[[File:Dubai Creek from Bur Dubai (5374118618).jpg|thumb|left|Dubai Creek, which separates [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] from [[Bur Dubai]], played a vital role in the economic development of the city]]
The government's decision to diversify from a trade-based, oil-reliant economy to one that is service- and tourism-oriented made [[real estate|property]] more valuable, resulting in the property appreciation from 2004 to 2006. A longer-term assessment of Dubai's property market, however, showed depreciation; some properties lost as much as 64% of their value from 2001 to November 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dubai's Palm Jumeirah sees prices fall as crunch moves in |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/3489393/Dubais-Palm-Jumeirah-sees-prices-fall-as-crunch-moves-in.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=20 November 2008 |access-date=20 November 2008 |first=Louise |last=Armitstead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201011113/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/3489393/Dubais-Palm-Jumeirah-sees-prices-fall-as-crunch-moves-in.html |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The large-scale real estate development projects have led to the construction of some of the tallest skyscrapers and largest projects in the world such as the [[Emirates Towers]], the [[Burj Khalifa]], the [[Palm Islands]] and the most expensive hotel, the [[Burj Al Arab]].<ref name=burjalarab>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/545499.stm |title=World's Tallest Hotel Opens Its Doors |work=BBC News |date=1 December 1999 |access-date=31 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619185856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/545499.stm |archive-date=19 June 2009 }}</ref> Dubai's property market experienced a major downturn in 2008<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=17 March 2012|title=Dubai: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly|url=http://drshem.com/2011/09/25/dubai-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418063228/http://drshem.com/2011/09/25/dubai-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/|archive-date=18 April 2012|access-date=17 March 2012|website=}}</ref> and 2009 as a result of the slowing economic climate.<ref name="Propertywire.com"/> By early 2009, the situation had worsened with the [[Great Recession]] taking a heavy toll on property values, construction and employment.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/middleeast/12dubai.html "Laid-Off Foreigners Flee as Dubai Spirals Down"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111092442/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/middleeast/12dubai.html |date=11 January 2017 }} article by Robert F. Worth in ''The New York Times'' 11 February 2009</ref> This has had a major impact on property investors in the region, some of whom were unable to release funds from investments made in property developments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/housing-property/jlt-owners-still-waiting-for-homes-promised-in-2007-1.526478|title=JLT owners still waiting for homes promised in 2007|date=12 November 2009|last=Hanif|first=Nadeem|work=Gulf News|access-date=10 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114053950/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/housing-property/jlt-owners-still-waiting-for-homes-promised-in-2007-1.526478|archive-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> {{as of|2009|February}}, Dubai's foreign debt was estimated at approximately $80 billion, although this is a tiny fraction of the sovereign debt worldwide.<ref>Warner, Jeremy (27 November 2009) [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jeremywarner/100002318/dubai-is-just-a-harbinger-of-things-to-come-for-sovereign-debt/ Dubai is just a harbinger of things to come for sovereign debt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330173433/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jeremywarner/100002318/dubai-is-just-a-harbinger-of-things-to-come-for-sovereign-debt/ |date=30 March 2010 }}. The Telegraph</ref>
 
[[File:National Bank of Dubai - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[National Bank of Dubai]]]]
The [[Dubai Financial Market]] (DFM) was established in March 2000 as a secondary market for trading securities and bonds, both local and foreign. As of the [[fourth quarter of a calendar year|fourth quarter]] 2006, its trading volume stood at about 400 billion shares, worth $95 billion in total. The DFM had a [[market capitalisation]] of about $87 billion.<ref name=pop4/> The other Dubai-based stock exchange is [[NASDAQ Dubai]], which is the international stock exchange in the Middle East. It enables a range of companies, including UAE and regional small and medium-sized enterprises, to trade on an exchange with an international brand name, with access by both regional and international investors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasdaqdubai.com/exchange/about-us/overview|title=Nasdaq Dubai {{!}} Exchange Overview|website=www.nasdaqdubai.com|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102172348/http://www.nasdaqdubai.com/exchange/about-us/overview|archive-date=2 January 2017}}</ref>
 
[[Dubai Multi Commodities Centre|DMCC]] (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) was established in 2002. It's the world's fastest-growing free zone and been nominated as "Global Free Zone of the Year 2016" by The Financial Times Magazine.
 
Dubai is also known as the City of Gold because a major part of the economy is based on gold trades, with Dubai's total gold trading volumes in H1 2011 reaching 580 tonnes, with an average price of US$1,455 per troy ounce.<ref>gold-dubai (22 February 2016) {{cite web |url=http://gold-dubai.com |title=Gold rate in Dubai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303031957/http://gold-dubai.com/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>
 
A ''City Mayors'' survey ranked Dubai 44th among the world's best financial cities in 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/economics/financial-cities.html |title=Citgy Mayors: World's best financial cities |publisher=Citymayors.com |date=10 June 2008 |access-date=26 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817144812/http://www.citymayors.com/economics/financial-cities.html |archive-date=17 August 2009 }}</ref> while another report by ''City Mayors'' indicated that Dubai was the world's 27th richest city in 2012, in terms of [[purchasing power parity]] (PPP).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/economics/usb-purchasing-power.html |title=World's richest cities by purchasing power |publisher=City Mayors |access-date=23 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506064245/http://www.citymayors.com/economics/usb-purchasing-power.html |archive-date=6 May 2008 }}</ref> Dubai is also an international [[financial centre]] (IFC) and has been ranked 37th within the top 50 global financial cities as surveyed by the MasterCard Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index (2007),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mastercard.com/us/company/en/wcoc/pdf/index_2007_us.pdf|title=Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index 2007|access-date=4 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325052433/http://www.mastercard.com/us/company/en/wcoc/pdf/index_2007_us.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and 1st within the Middle East. Since it opened in September 2004, the Dubai IFC has attracted, as a regional hub, leading international firms and set-up the NASDAQ Dubai which lists equity, derivatives, structured products, Islamic bonds ([[sukuk]]) and other bonds. The Dubai IFC model is an independent risk-based regulator with a legislative system consistent with English common law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.difc.ae/laws-regulations|title=Laws & Regulations {{!}} Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)|website=www.difc.ae|access-date=16 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226124125/https://www.difc.ae/laws-regulations|archive-date=26 December 2016}}</ref>
 
In 2012, the Global City Competitiveness Index by the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]] ranked Dubai at No. 40 with a total score of 55.9. According to its 2013 research report on the future competitiveness of cities, in 2025, Dubai will have moved up to 23rd place overall in the Index.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/07/02/hot-spots-2025-dubai-moves-up-to-23rd-place/ |title=Hot Spots 2025: Dubai Moves Up to 23rd Place Dubai Chronicle |publisher=Dubaichronicle.com |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=10 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017051658/http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/07/02/hot-spots-2025-dubai-moves-up-to-23rd-place/ |archive-date=17 October 2013 }}</ref> Indians, followed by Britons and Pakistanis are the top foreign investors in Dubai realty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/Indians-top-foreign-investors-in-Dubai-realty/articleshow/21504494.cms|title=Indians top foreign investors in Dubai realty|work=The Times of India|access-date=10 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923050205/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/Indians-top-foreign-investors-in-Dubai-realty/articleshow/21504494.cms|archive-date=23 September 2013}}</ref>
 
Dubai has launched several major projects to support its economy and develop different sectors. These include Dubai Fashion 2020,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/06/18/dubai-fashion-2020-to-be-unveiled-soon/ |title=Dubai Fashion 2020 To Be Unveiled Soon Dubai Chronicle |publisher=Dubaichronicle.com |date=18 June 2013 |access-date=10 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024055620/http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/06/18/dubai-fashion-2020-to-be-unveiled-soon/ |archive-date=24 October 2013 }}</ref> and [[Dubai Design District]], expected to become a home to leading local and international designers. The AED 4 billion first phase of the project was completed in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/06/09/construction-buildings-dubai-design-district/ |title=Construction of 10 buildings in Dubai Design District already underway |publisher=Dubaichronicle.com |date=9 June 2013 |access-date=10 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820024421/http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/06/09/construction-buildings-dubai-design-district/ |archive-date=20 August 2013 }}</ref>
 
In September 2019, Dubai's ruler Sheikh [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]] ordered to establish the Higher Committee for Real Estate Planning to study and evaluate future real estate construction projects, in ordered to achieve a balance between supply and demand,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mohammed bin Rashid issues directives to establish a committee to ensure balance between supply and demand in the real estate sector |url=http://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/media-center/news/2/9/2019/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9.aspx |website=www.mediaoffice.ae |access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref> which is seen as a move to curb the pace of construction projects following property prices fall.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Batrawy |first1=Aya |title=Dubai to curb pace of construction projects as prices fall |url=https://www.apnews.com/76375d175bc048baabe4056025be75dd |website=AP NEWS |access-date=7 September 2019 |date=2 September 2019}}</ref>
 
Since the economy of Dubai relies majorly on [[real estate]], [[transportation]] and [[tourism]], it was highly exposed to the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]]. In April 2020, the American business and financial services company, [[Moody's Corporation]] reported that the coronavirus outbreak is likely to pose acute “negative growth and fiscal implications” in Dubai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-28/moody-s-says-dubai-at-risk-as-virus-poses-shock-to-u-a-e-eonomy|title=Dubai at Risk as Coronavirus Poses Shock to U.A.E. Economy, Says Moody's|access-date=28 April 2020|website=Bloomberg}}</ref> It was reported that in order to bolster its finances and overcome the impact of coronavirus on its economy, Dubai was in talks to raise billions of dollars of debt privately, where it was seeking loans of 1 billion dirhams ($272 million) to 2 billion dirhams from each lender.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-27/dubai-opts-for-private-debt-over-eurobonds-to-bolster-finances|title=Dubai to Avoid Glare of Public Markets and Raise Bonds Privately|access-date=27 April 2020|website=Bloomberg}}</ref> On 6 May, Dubai's businessman from the hospitality sector, [[Mohammed Al Habtoor|Khalaf Al Habtoor]] stated that the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|coronavirus pandemic]] left the economy and his companies “bleeding”. The owner of seven hotels in the country, including the [[Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts|Waldorf Astoria]] on the man-made island [[Palm Jumeirah]], Habtoor stated that Dubai's economy cannot afford to wait for the vaccine, before resuming the major activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-06/dubai-hotel-mogul-says-bleeding-firms-need-economy-to-reopen|title=Dubai Hotel Mogul Says 'Bleeding' Firms Need Economy to Reopen|access-date=6 May 2020|website=Bloomberg}}</ref> In June 2020, the [[Moody's Investors Service]] cut down its ratings for eight of the biggest banks based in the UAE from stable to negative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/emirates-banks-moodys/moodys-revises-outlook-to-negative-on-eight-uae-banks-idUSL8N2DW3SR|title= Moody's revises outlook to negative on eight UAE banks |access-date=19 June 2020|website=Reuters}}</ref> In effect, the benchmark stock index of Dubai dropped the most among all the Gulf nations, where the [[Dubai Financial Market|DFM]] General Index lost as much as 1.3 per cent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/dubai-stocks-sink-after-moody-s-lowers-outlook-for-uae-banks-1.1453887|title=Dubai Stocks Sink After Moody's Lowers Outlook for UAE Banks|access-date=21 June 2020|website=BNN Bloomberg}}</ref>
 
In July 2020, a report released by an NGO, Swissaid, denounced the [[gold]] trade between Dubai and [[Switzerland]]. The documents revealed that Dubai firms, including Kaloti Jewellery International Group and Trust One Financial Services (T1FS), have been obtaining gold from poor [[Africa]]n countries like [[Sudan]]. Between 2012 and 2018, 95 per cent of gold from Sudan ended up in the [[UAE]]. The gold imported from Sudan by Kaloti was from the mines controlled by [[militias]] responsible for [[war crimes]] and [[human rights]] violations in the country. World's largest refinery in Switzerland, [[Valcambi]], was denounced by Swissaid for importing extensive gold from these Dubai firms. In 2018 and 2019, Valcambi received 83 tonnes of gold from the two companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.letemps.ch/economie/lor-douteux-dubai-prise-suisse|title=L'or douteux de Dubaï est prisé en Suisse |access-date=16 July 2020|website=Le Temps}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://swissaid.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SWISSAID-Goldstudie-EN_final-web.pdf|title=GOLDEN DETOUR: The hidden face of the gold trade between the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland|access-date=16 July 2020|website=Swissaid}}</ref>
 
===Tourism and retail===
{{See also|Tourism in Dubai|List of tourist attractions in Dubai}}
[[File:Dubai Marina The Beach.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.35|Dubai Marina beach in the [[Jumeirah Beach Residence]] (JBR)]]
Tourism is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign cash into the emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping,<ref>{{cite web | title=Bargain-hunting Fashionistas Descend onto Dubai | url=http://drshem.com/2012/01/05/bargain-hunting-fashionistas-descend-onto-dubai/ | date=17 March 2012 | access-date=17 March 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418063828/http://drshem.com/2012/01/05/bargain-hunting-fashionistas-descend-onto-dubai/ | archive-date=18 April 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Shopping in Dubai |url=http://www.gateway-dubai.com/lifestyle-dubai/shopping/shopping-in-dubai/ |work=Shopping Galore in Dubai |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017113310/http://www.gateway-dubai.com/lifestyle-dubai/shopping/shopping-in-dubai/ |archive-date=17 October 2013 }}</ref> but also on its possession of other ancient and modern attractions.<ref>{{cite web |title=104 Attractions in Dubai |url=https://www.holidayfactors.com/travel-blog/places-to-visit-in-dubai/ |date=25 September 2017 |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161851/https://www.holidayfactors.com/travel-blog/places-to-visit-in-dubai/ |archive-date=6 July 2018 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> As of 2018, Dubai is the fourth most-visited city in the world based on the number of international visitors and the fastest growing, increasing by a 10.7% rate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/most-visited-cities-in-the-world-2018-9|title=The 20 most visited cities around the world in 2018|last=Murray|first=Tom|website=Business Insider|access-date=17 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174322/https://www.businessinsider.com/most-visited-cities-in-the-world-2018-9|archive-date=19 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The city hosted 14.9 million overnight visitors in 2016, and is expected to reach 20 million tourists by 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=14.9 million overnight visitors for Dubai in 2016|url=http://gulfnews.com/business/sectors/tourism/14-9-million-overnight-visitors-for-dubai-in-2016-1.1974824|work=Gulf News|access-date=29 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529062634/http://gulfnews.com/business/sectors/tourism/14-9-million-overnight-visitors-for-dubai-in-2016-1.1974824|archive-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>
 
[[File:Burj Khalifa lake - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|left|[[The Dubai Fountain]] in Burj Khalifa lake, Downtown Dubai]]
Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/efik45ljkd/most-visited-cities-in-the-world-2012-8/ |title=Most Visited Cities In The World 2012 |work=forbes |access-date=2 December 2013 |first=Deborah L. |last=Jacobs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011132/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efik45ljkd/most-visited-cities-in-the-world-2012-8/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> Dubai alone has more than 70 shopping centres, including the world's largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall. Dubai is also known for the historical [[souk]] districts located on either side of its creek. Traditionally, [[dhow]]s from East Asia, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargo and the goods would be bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks. Dubai Creek played a vital role in sustaining the life of the community in the city and was the resource which originally drove the economic boom in Dubai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubai.ae/en/aboutdubai/Pages/DubaiHistory.aspx |title=Dubai History |publisher=dubai.ae |access-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013549/http://www.dubai.ae/en/aboutdubai/Pages/DubaiHistory.aspx |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> {{as of|2013|September}}, Dubai creek has been proposed as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2013/September/nationgeneral_September157.xml&section=nationgeneral |title=Dubai Creek for World Heritage List |work=Khaleej Times |access-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004340/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data%2Fnationgeneral%2F2013%2FSeptember%2Fnationgeneral_September157.xml&section=nationgeneral |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> Many boutiques and jewellery stores are also found in the city. Dubai is also referred to as "the City of Gold" as the [[Dubai Gold Souk|Gold Souk]] in Deira houses nearly 250 gold retail shops.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krane|first=Jim|title=City of Gold: Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism|publisher=St. Martin's Press|date=September 2009|isbn=978-0-312-53574-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/cityofgolddubaid0000kran}}</ref>
 
[[File:View of the Palm Jumeirah-dubai-2011 (2).jpg|thumb|View of the Palm Jumeirah and [[Burj Al Arab]]]]
Dubai Creek Park in Dubai Creek also plays a vital role in Dubai tourism as it showcase some of the most famous [[tourist attractions in Dubai]] such as Dolphinarium, Cable Car, Camel Ride, Horse Carriage and Exotic Birds Shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capturedubai.com/dubai-creek-park/ |title=Dubai Creek Park |work=Capture Dubai |access-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220210017/http://www.capturedubai.com/dubai-creek-park/ |archive-date=20 February 2016 }}</ref>
 
Dubai has a wide range of parks like Safa park, Mushrif park, Hamriya park, etc. Each park is uniquely distinct from the other. Mushrif park showcases different houses around the world. A visitor can check out the architectural features of the outside as well as the inside of each house.
 
Some of the most popular beaches in Dubai are Umm Suqeim Beach, Al Mamzar Beach Park, JBR Open Beach, Kite Beach, Black Palace Beach and Royal Island Beach Club.
 
[[Mastercard|Mastercard's]] Global Destination Cities Index 2019 found that tourists spend more in Dubai than in any other country. In 2018, the country topped the list for the fourth year in a row with a total spend of $30.82 billion. The average spend per day was found to be $553.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.consultancy-me.com/news/2314/at-30-billion-dubai-takes-in-the-most-global-tourist-dollars-by-far|title=At $30 billion, Dubai takes in the most global tourist dollars by far|access-date=6 September 2019|website=Consultancy-ME}}</ref>
 
In October 2019, Dubai loosened its liquor laws for the first time, under which it allowed tourists to purchase alcohol from state-controlled stores. Previously, alcohol was accessible only for locals with special licences. The crucial policy shift came as the [[United Arab Emirates]] witnessed a severe economic crisis that led to a drop in alcohol sales by volume.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hotworldreport.com/world-news/dubai-loosens-liquor-laws-as-uae-alcohol-sales-slump/|title=Dubai loosens liquor laws as UAE alcohol sales slump|access-date=24 October 2019|website=Hot World Report}}</ref>
 
In 2020, a Customs investigation highlighted that an [[India]]n native and a major [[hawala]] dealer, Rabins Hameed, financed [[smuggling]] of [[gold]] through diplomatic channels and other smuggling networks from Dubai. He was also involved in the 2015 [[Nedumbassery]] gold smuggling case, where 1,500&nbsp;kg of gold was smuggled in two years. A Non-Bailable [[Warrant (law)|Warrant]] (NBW) was issued against Rabins and one of his partners, Faisal. Besides, [[INTERPOL]] was also being approached for [[extradition]] of the two accused, who were operating from the [[UAE]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/jul/29/rabins-hameed-a-hawala-dealer-financed-smuggling-networks-from-uae-2176095.html|title=Rabins Hameed a hawala dealer, financed smuggling networks from UAE|access-date=29 July 2020|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
 
===Expo 2020===
{{See also|Expo 2020}}
On 2 November 2011, four cities had their bids for Expo 2020 already lodged, with Dubai making a last-minute entry. The delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions, which visited Dubai in February 2013 to examine the Emirate's readiness for the largest exposition, was impressed by the infrastructure and the level of national support. In May 2013, Dubai Expo 2020 Master Plan was revealed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/05/22/dubai-expo-2020-master-plan/ |title=Dubai Expo 2020 Master Plan |publisher=dubaichronicle.com |date=22 May 2013 |access-date=23 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622152423/http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2013/05/22/dubai-expo-2020-master-plan/ |archive-date=22 June 2013 }}</ref> Dubai then won the right to host Expo 2020 on 27 November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kerr|first=Simeon|title=Jubilant Dubai wins bid to host 2020 World Expo|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/648e8632-5781-11e3-b615-00144feabdc0.html|work=Financial Times|access-date=7 March 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219082238/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/648e8632-5781-11e3-b615-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=19 February 2014}}</ref>
 
The main site of Dubai Expo 2020 was planned to be a 438-hectare area (1,083 acres), part of the new ''Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali'' urban development, located midway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inexhibit.com/case-studies/expo-dubai-2020-a-preview/ |title=EXPO Dubai 2020 – a preview |work=Inexhibit magazine |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217022200/http://www.inexhibit.com/seed/expo-dubai-2020-a-preview |archive-date=17 February 2016}}</ref> Moreover, the Expo 2020 also created various social enlistment projects and monetary boons to the city targeting the year 2020, such as initiating the world's largest solar power project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfbusiness.com/dewa-launches-worlds-largest-concentrated-solar-power-project/|title=Dubai launches world's largest concentrated solar power project – Gulf Business|date=2 June 2016|publisher=gulfbusiness.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602184917/http://gulfbusiness.com/dewa-launches-worlds-largest-concentrated-solar-power-project/|archive-date=2 June 2016}}</ref>
 
The Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled to take place from 20 October 2020 until 10 April 2021 for 173 days where there would be 192 country pavilions featuring narratives from every part of the globe, have different thematic districts that would promote learning the wildlife in the forest exhibit too many other experiences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maintenance.expo2020dubai.com/|title=Expo 2020, Maintenance Page|website=maintenance.expo2020dubai.com|access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref>
 
Due to the impact of [[COVID-19]] the organisers of Expo 2020 postponed the Expo by one year to begin in 2021 (the new dates are 1&nbsp;October 2021&nbsp;&ndash; 31&nbsp;March 2022).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/444082-expo-2020-dubai-set-to-be-postponed-by-one-year-report|title=Expo 2020 Dubai to seek one-year postponement|website=ArabianBusiness.com|language=en|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Abbas|first=Waheed|title=Dubai Expo confirms new dates: Oct 1, 2021 until Mar 31, 2022|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus-pandemic/expo-2020-dubai-dates-set-to-be-postponed|access-date=15 January 2021|website=Khaleej Times|language=en}}</ref>
 
Dubai has targets to build an inclusive, barrier-free and disabled-friendly city. The city has already brought in changes by introducing wheelchair friendly taxis, pavements with slopes and tactile indicators on the floor for the visually impaired at all the metro stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/dubai-inches-closer-to-becoming-worlds-best-city-for-the-disabled-1|title=Dubai inches closer to becoming world's best city for the disabled|access-date=3 August 2019|work=Khaleej Times}}</ref>
 
==Architecture==
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Dubai|Developments in Dubai}}
[[File:Dubai skyline 2015 (crop).jpg|thumb|Skyline of Downtown Dubai from a helicopter in 2015.]]
[[File:Burj Khalifa.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Burj Khalifa]], the world's tallest man-made structure]]
[[File:Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Unsplash pyX20r3Z-1Y).jpg|thumb|Interior of a [[Dubai Metro]] station]]
 
Dubai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various [[architectural styles]]. Many modern interpretations of [[Islamic architecture]] can be found here, due to a boom in construction and architectural innovation in the Arab World in general, and in Dubai in particular, supported not only by top Arab or international architectural and engineering design firms such as [[Al Hashemi]] and [[Aedas]], but also by top firms of New York and Chicago.<ref>Karim, Luiza [http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm Modernity and tradition in Dubai architecture] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930191053/http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm |date=30 September 2009 }}. AlShindagah, 1999</ref> As a result of this boom, modern Islamic – and world – architecture has literally been taken to new levels in skyscraper building design and technology. Dubai now has more completed or topped-out skyscrapers higher than {{convert|2/3|km|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1/3|km|ft|abbr=on}}, or {{convert|1/4|km|ft|abbr=on}} [[List of cities with most skyscrapers|than any other city]]. A culmination point was reached in 2010 with the completion of the [[Burj Khalifa]] (Khalifa Tower), now by far the world's tallest building at {{convert|829.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The Burj Khalifa's design is derived from the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, with the triple-lobed footprint of the building based on an abstracted version of the desert flower [[hymenocallis]] which is native to the Dubai region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/language/en-us/the-tower/design.aspx |title=Design of Burj Khalifa |publisher=Burjkhalifa.ae |access-date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228235427/http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/language/en-us/the-tower/design.aspx |archive-date= 28 February 2011}}</ref>
 
The completion of the Khalifa Tower, following the construction boom that began in the 1980s, accelerated in the 1990s, and took on a rapid pace of construction during the decade of the 2000s, leaves Dubai with the world's tallest skyline {{as of|2010|January|4|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=World's Ten Tallest Cities In 2012, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai opened and is the World's tallest hotel, standing at 72 stories (1,165 ft).|work=Ultrapolis Project|access-date=3 November 2010|url=http://www.ultrapolisproject.com/ultrapolis_world_tallest_skylines_cities.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609163127/http://www.ultrapolisproject.com/ultrapolis_world_tallest_skylines_cities.htm|archive-date=9 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultrapolisproject.com/Tallest_25_Skylines_Cities.htm |title=Calculated Average Height of the Twenty-five Tallest (CAHTT) |publisher=Ultrapolisproject.com |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502130623/http://ultrapolisproject.com/Tallest_25_Skylines_Cities.htm |archive-date=2 May 2013 }}</ref> At the top, Burj Khalifa, the world's second highest observatory deck after the [[Shanghai Tower]] with an outdoor terrace is one of Dubai's most popular tourist attractions, with over 1.87 million visitors in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Burj Khalifa records over 1.87 million visitors in 2013 |url=http://khaleejtimes.com/business/local/burj-khalifa-records-over-1.87-million-visitors-in-2013 |publisher=khaleejtimes.com |access-date=23 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224053154/http://khaleejtimes.com/business/local/burj-khalifa-records-over-1.87-million-visitors-in-2013 |archive-date=24 February 2017 }}</ref>
{{clear}}
 
===Burj Al Arab===
{{Main|Burj Al Arab}}
The Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب, ''Tower of the Arabs''), a [[luxury resort|luxury]] [[hotel]], is frequently described as "the world's only [[hotel rating|7-star]]", though its management has never made that claim but has claimed to be a “five-star deluxe property.” The term "7-star hotel" was coined by a British journalist to describe their initial experience of the hotel.<ref name="NationalBAA">{{Cite web|last=Rebecca|first=Bundhun|date=14 July 2009|title=Hotel star ratings standards long overdue|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/travel-and-tourism/hotel-star-ratings-standards-long-overdue-1.491056|access-date=31 January 2021|website=The National|language=en}}</ref> A Jumeirah Group spokesperson is quoted as saying: "There's not a lot we can do to stop it. We're not encouraging the use of the term. We've never used it in our advertising."<ref name="NationalBAA" /> The hotel opened in December 1999.
 
===Burj Khalifa===
{{Main|Burj Khalifa}}
[[File:Dubai Police Agusta A-109K-2 in flight at sunset.jpg|thumb|Dubai Police Agusta A-109K-2 in flight near Burj Khalifa]]
Burj Khalifa, known as the Burj Dubai before its inauguration, is a {{convert|828|m|ft}} high<ref>[http://www.go-gulf.ae/blog/dubai-numbers/ "Dubai In Number"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404074223/http://www.go-gulf.ae/blog/dubai-numbers/ |date=4 April 2015 }}, go-gulf.ae, 23 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015</ref> skyscraper in Dubai, and the tallest building in the world. The tower was inspired by the structure of the desert flower ''[[Hymenocallis]]''. It was constructed by more than 30 contracting companies around the world with workers of a hundred nationalities. It is an architectural icon. The building opened on 4 January 2010.<ref>[http://www.capturedubai.com/burj-khalifa/ "Iosif Stalin-2"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411003129/http://www.capturedubai.com/burj-khalifa/ |date=11 April 2015 }}, capturedubai.com, 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.</ref>
 
===Palm Jumeirah===
{{Main|Palm Jumeirah}}
[[File:Dubai Wingsuit Flying Trip (7623566780).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|The [[Palm Jumeirah]]]]
The Palm Jumeirah is an [[Artificial island|artificial]] [[archipelago]], created using [[land reclamation]] by [[Nakheel]], a company owned by the Dubai government, and designed and developed by Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects, Inc. It is one of three planned islands called the [[Palm Islands]] which extend into the [[Persian Gulf]]. The Palm Jumeirah is the smallest and the original of three Palm Islands, and it is located on the [[Jumeirah]] coastal area of Dubai. It was built between 2001 and 2006.<ref name="thepalmae">{{cite web|url=http://www.thepalm.ae/ |publisher=Nakheel |title=The Palm Jumeirah |year=2006 |access-date=11 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217094653/http://thepalm.ae/ |archive-date=17 February 2007 }}</ref>
 
===The World Islands===
{{Main|The World (archipelago)}}
The World or The World Islands is an [[archipelago]] of small artificial islands constructed in the shape of a world map, located in the waters of the Persian Gulf, 4.0 kilometres (2.5&nbsp;mi) off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=4 October 2007|title=Dubai's Palm and World Islands - progress update|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/133896.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011022845/http://www.ameinfo.com/133896.html|archive-date=11 October 2007|access-date=|website=}}</ref> The World islands are composed mainly of sand dredged from Dubai's shallow coastal waters, and are one of several artificial island developments in Dubai.
 
===Dubai Miracle Garden===
{{Main|Dubai Miracle Garden}}
On 14 February 2013, the Dubai Miracle Garden, a {{convert|72,000|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off}} flower garden, opened in [[Dubailand]]. It is the world's largest flower garden. The garden displays more than 50 million flowers with more than 70 species of flowering plants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miraclegardenblog.com/50-million-flowers-dubai-miracle-garden|title=50 Million Flowers at Dubai Miracle Garden|last=Masood|first=Usman|website=www.miraclegardenblog.com|language=en|access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref> The garden uses retreated waste water from city's municipality and utilises drip irrigation method for watering the plants. During the summer seasons from late May to September when the climate can get extremely hot with an average high of about {{convert|40|°C|0|abbr=on}}, the garden stays closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/travel/dubai-miracle-garden-20130305 |title=World's Largest Natural Flower Garden Opens in Dubai |date=13 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308110534/http://www.weather.com/travel/dubai-miracle-garden-20130305 |archive-date=8 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The World's most beautiful garden-In Dubai|url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/the-world-s-most-beautiful-garden-in-dubai-1.1148995|publisher=Xpress|date=20 February 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105043136/http://gulfnews.com/xpress/the-world-s-most-beautiful-garden-in-dubai-1.1148995|archive-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>
 
=== Dubai Marina ===
{{Main|Dubai Marina}}
'''Dubai Marina''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: مرسى دبي‎) is a district in Dubai, [[United Arab Emirates]]. It is an artificial canal city, built along a 3-kilometre (2&nbsp;mi) stretch of [[Persian Gulf]] shoreline. As of 2018, it has a population of 55,052.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UAE: Division of Dubai (Sectors and Communities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uae/dubai/admin/}}</ref>
 
=== Address Beach Resort and Address Beach Residences ===
The structure is a set of two towers connected at the bottom and with a sky bridge at the top which connects the 63rd through to the 77th levels. The sky bridge houses luxury apartments on the world's highest occupiable sky bridge floor, at 294.36 metres. Known as Jumeirah Gate, it opened in December 2020 and is situated along the beach. The towers have the world's highest [[infinity pool]] in a building, on the roof, at a height of 293.906 metres.<ref>{{Cite web|author=By Maureen O'Hare|title=Address Beach Resort: The world's highest infinity pool has opened in Dubai|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/dubai-infinity-pool-highest/index.html|access-date=2021-05-18|website=CNN|language=en}}</ref>
 
==Transportation==
{{Main|Transportation in Dubai}}
{{Multiple image
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|alt1            = Bus stop in Dubai
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|alt2            = [[Dubai Metro]], Opening Day
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|image3          = Dubai Metro photographed from Dubai Marina station in Dubai United Arab Emirages.png
|width3          = 240
|alt3            = Dubai Metro
|caption3        = [[Dubai Metro]] is the first kind of rail transportation in the UAE, and is the Arabian Peninsula's first urban train network<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
|image4          = Palm Jumeirah monoral at dusk in Dubai United Arab Emirates.jpg
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|alt4            = Dubai Monorail
|caption4        = [[Palm Jumeirah Monorail]]
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|width5          = 240
|alt5            = Dubai – International Airport
|caption5        = [[Dubai International Airport]] is the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2018/04/09/ACI-World-releases-preliminary-2017-world-airport-traffic-rankings--Passenger-traffic-Indian-and-Chinese-airports-major-contributors-to-growth---Air-cargo-Volumes-surge-at-major-hubs-as-trade-wars-threaten-|title=ACI World releases preliminary 2017 world airport traffic rankings Passenger traffic: Indian and Chinese airports major contributors to growth Air cargo: Volumes surge at major hubs as trade wars threaten|website=www.aci.aero|date=9 April 2018|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814121026/http://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2018/04/09/ACI-World-releases-preliminary-2017-world-airport-traffic-rankings--Passenger-traffic-Indian-and-Chinese-airports-major-contributors-to-growth---Air-cargo-Volumes-surge-at-major-hubs-as-trade-wars-threaten-|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|image6          =UAE Dubai Marina img2 asv2018-01.jpg
|width6          =240
|alt6            =Dubai Tram
|caption6        =[[Dubai Tram]] is one of the first completely [[Ground-level power supply]]-based tram networks in the world<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highways.today/2017/01/12/systra-aecom-win-dubai-tram-extension/|title=SYSTRA and AECOM win the Dubai Tram extension|date=12 January 2017|website=Highways Today|language=en-GB|access-date=13 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113232247/https://www.highways.today/2017/01/12/systra-aecom-win-dubai-tram-extension/|archive-date=13 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|image7          = Madinat Jumeirah dhow (3050971546).jpg
|width7          = 240
|alt7            = Abra on Dubai Creek
|caption7        = ''[[Abra (boat)|Abras]]'' and ''[[dhows]]'' are traditional modes of waterway transport
|image8          = Dubai Bus on 26 December 2007 Pict 4.jpg
|width8          = 240
|alt8            = Dubai Bus
|caption8        = Dubai Bus in [[Dubai Marina]]
|image9          =Sheikh Zayed Road on 28 December 2007.jpg
|width9          =240
|alt9            =Dubai Tram
|caption9        =[[E 11 road (United Arab Emirates)|E 11 Road]]
}}
 
Transport in Dubai is controlled by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), an agency of the government of Dubai, formed by royal decree in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rta.ae/ |title=RTA Portal - Home |access-date=18 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419010523/http://www.rta.ae/ |archive-date=19 April 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The public transport network has in the past faced congestion and reliability issues which a large investment programme has addressed, including over AED 70 billion of improvements planned for completion by 2020, when the population of the city is projected to exceed 3.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/14/10174695.html |title=Gulfnews: Dubai traffic woes inflict losses of Dh4.6b a year |work=Gulf News |access-date=14 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825202355/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/14/10174695.html |archive-date=25 August 2009 }}</ref> In 2009, according to Dubai Municipality statistics, there were an estimated 1,021,880 cars in Dubai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/public-transport-regains-allure-as-car-free-day-gets-under-way-1.584210 |title=Gulfnews: Public transport regains allure as Car-free Day gets under way |work=Gulf News |date=17 February 2010 |access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref> In January 2010, the number of Dubai residents who use public transport stood at 6%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/rta-wants-30-of-dubai-residents-on-public-transport-1.571138 |title=Gulfnews: Rta wants 30 of dubai residents on public transport |work=Gulf News |date=21 January 2010 |access-date=29 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124073635/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/rta-wants-30-of-dubai-residents-on-public-transport-1.571138 |archive-date=24 January 2010 }}</ref>
 
===Road===
{{See also|List of roads in Dubai|Dubai route numbering system|List of bridges and tunnels in Dubai}}
Five main routes – [[E 11 (UAE)|E 11]] (Sheikh Zayed Road), [[E 311 (UAE)|E 311]] (Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road), [[E 44 road (United Arab Emirates)|E 44]] (Dubai-Hatta Highway), [[E 77 (UAE)|E 77]] (Dubai-Al Habab Road) and [[E 66 road (United Arab Emirates)|E 66]] (Oud Metha Road, Dubai-[[Al Ain]] Road, or Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan Road)<ref name="GulfNews 11-2018">{{cite news |work=[[Emirates News Agency|WAM]] |title=Dubai-Al Ain Road renamed |publisher=[[Gulf News]] |url=https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-al-ain-road-renamed-1.2296992 |location=[[Al Ain]] |date=2 November 2018 |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104020335/https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-al-ain-road-renamed-1.2296992 |archive-date=4 November 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> – run through Dubai, connecting the city to other towns and emirates. Additionally, several important intra-city routes, such as [[D 89 road (United Arab Emirates)|D 89]] (Al Maktoum Road/Airport Road), [[D 85 road (United Arab Emirates)|D 85]] (Baniyas Road), [[D 75 road (United Arab Emirates)|D 75]] (Sheikh Rashid Road), [[D 73 road (United Arab Emirates)|D 73]] (Al Dhiyafa Road now named as 2 December street), [[D 94 road (United Arab Emirates)|D 94]] (Jumeirah Road) and [[D 92 road (United Arab Emirates)|D 92]] (Al Khaleej/Al Wasl Road) connect the various localities in the city. The eastern and western sections of the city are connected by [[Al Maktoum Bridge]], [[Al Garhoud Bridge]], [[Al Shindagha Tunnel]], [[Business Bay Crossing]] and [[Floating Bridge, Dubai|Floating Bridge]].<ref>[http://www.rta.ae/wpsv5/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4g3NvMASYGZJkb6kWhijggRX4_83FT9IH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHR0UA8kPctg!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82XzBfMzZJ Completed projects] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625002211/http://www.rta.ae/wpsv5/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4g3NvMASYGZJkb6kWhijggRX4_83FT9IH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHR0UA8kPctg!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82XzBfMzZJ |date=25 June 2010 }}. RTA Dubai</ref>
 
The Public Bus Transport system in Dubai is run by the RTA. The bus system services 140 routes and transported over 109 million people in 2008. By the end of 2010, there will be 2,100 buses in service across the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-buses-may-be-privatised |title=Dubai buses may be privatised – The National Newspaper |work=The National|location=Abu Dhabi |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=14 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118040754/http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-buses-may-be-privatised |archive-date=18 January 2012 }}</ref> In 2006, the Transport authority announced the construction of 500 air-conditioned (A/C ) Passenger Bus Shelters, and planned for 1,000 more across the emirates in a move to encourage the use of public buses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/air-conditioned-bus-shelters-for-dubai-1.195356|title=Gulfnews: Air-conditioned bus shelters for Dubai|work=Gulf News|date=6 March 2010|access-date=10 March 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830071033/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/air-conditioned-bus-shelters-for-dubai-1.195356|archive-date=30 August 2011}}</ref>
 
All taxi services are licensed by the RTA. Dubai licensed taxis are easily identifiable by their cream bodywork colour and varied roof colours identifying the operator. Dubai Taxi Corporation, a division of the RTA, is the largest operator and has taxis with red roofs. There are five private operators: Metro Taxis (orange roofs); Network Taxis (yellow roofs); Cars Taxis (blue roofs); Arabia Taxis (green roofs); and City Taxis (purple roof). In addition, there is a Ladies and Families taxi service (pink roofs) with female drivers, which caters exclusively for women and children. There are more than 3000 taxis operating within the emirate making an average of 192,000 trips every day, carrying about 385,000 persons. In 2009 taxi trips exceeded 70 million trips serving around 140.45 million passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/dubai-metro-gives-boost-to-public-transport-in-city-1.592986|title=Gulfnews: Dubai Metro gives boost to public transport in city|work=Gulf News|date=6 March 2010|access-date=29 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412193111/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/dubai-metro-gives-boost-to-public-transport-in-city-1.592986|archive-date=12 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dtc.dubai.ae/ |title=Dubai Taxi Corporation |publisher=Dtc.dubai.ae |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=31 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112164616/http://dtc.dubai.ae/ |archive-date=12 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubai.com/v/cityinfo/#block_1686 |title=Getting Around in Dubai |publisher=dubai.com/ |access-date=14 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924043220/http://www.dubai.com/v/cityinfo/#block_1686 |archive-date=24 September 2011 }}</ref>
 
===Air===
[[Dubai International Airport]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: DXB), the hub for [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]], serves the city of Dubai and other emirates in the country. The airport is the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|third-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic]] and the [[List of busiest airports by international passenger traffic|world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Annual Report |publisher=Dubai Airport |year=2009 |url=http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080429/BUSINESS/400804065 |access-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111173544/http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080429/BUSINESS/400804065 |archive-date=11 January 2010}}</ref> In addition to being an important passenger traffic hub, the airport is the [[World's busiest airports by cargo traffic|sixth-busiest cargo airport in world]], handling 2.37 million tons of cargo in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dubaiairports.ae/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/detail/dxb-takes-over-top-spot-for-international-passenger-traffic |title=DXB Takes Over Top Spot for International Passenger Traffic |work=dubaiairports.ae |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429044632/http://www.dubaiairports.ae/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/detail/dxb-takes-over-top-spot-for-international-passenger-traffic |archive-date=29 April 2015 }}</ref> Emirates is the national airline of Dubai. {{As of|2018}}, it operated internationally serving over 150 destinations in over 70 countries across six continents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emirates.com/us/english/destinations_offers/destinations_and_offers.aspx|title=Our Destinations|work=Emirates|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512221204/http://www.emirates.com/english/destinations_offers/destinations/alldestinations.aspx|archive-date=12 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
The development of [[Al Maktoum International Airport]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: DWC) was announced in 2004. The first phase of the airport, featuring one A380 capable runway, 64 remote stands, one cargo terminal with an annual capacity for 250,000 tonnes of cargo and a passenger terminal building designed to accommodate five million passengers per year, has been opened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/al-maktoum-international-airport-begins-operations-1.646783|title=Al Maktoum International airport begins operations|date=27 June 2010|work=Gulf News|access-date=28 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630085531/http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/al-maktoum-international-airport-begins-operations-1.646783|archive-date=30 June 2010}}</ref> When completed, Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will be the largest airport in the world with five runways, four terminal buildings and capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/al-maktoum-international-airport-receives-first-flight-1.644057|title=Al Maktoum International airport receives first flight|date=21 June 2010|work=Gulf News|access-date=21 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623030828/http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/al-maktoum-international-airport-receives-first-flight-1.644057|archive-date=23 June 2010}}</ref>
 
===Metro rail===
[[Dubai Metro]] consists of two lines (Red line and Green line) which run through the financial and residential areas of the city. It was opened in September 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dubai RTA – Dubai Metro – Blue Line |date=11 September 2009 |publisher=zawya |url=http://www.zawya.com/projects/project.cfm/pid151106013921?cc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617052450/http://www.zawya.com/projects/project.cfm/pid151106013921?cc |archive-date=17 June 2011 }}</ref> UK-based international service company [[Serco]] is responsible for operating the metro.
 
The [[Red Line (Dubai Metro)|Red Line]], which has 29 stations (4 underground, 24 elevated and 1 at ground level) running from Rashidiya Station to UAE Xchange Station in Jebel Ali, is the major backbone line. The [[Green Line (Dubai Metro)|Green Line]], running from the Etisalat Station to the Creek Station, has 20 stations (8 underground, 12 elevated). An extension to the Red Line connecting the EXPO 2020 site is due to open in April 2020. A [[Blue Line (Dubai Metro)|Blue]] and a [[Purple Line (Dubai Metro)|Purple Line]] have also been planned. The Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the [[Arabian Peninsula]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8247330.stm|title=Will metro change Dubai car culture?|date=11 September 2009|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916041627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8247330.stm|archive-date=16 September 2009}}</ref> The trains are fully automated and driverless.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
 
===Palm Jumeirah Monorail===
{{main|Palm Jumeirah Monorail}}
A [[monorail]] line connecting the Palm Jumeirah to the mainland opened on 30 April 2009.<ref name="timeout">{{cite web |title=Palm monorail tried and tested |url=http://www.timeoutdubai.com/knowledge/news/8723-palm-monorail-tried-and-tested |publisher=Timeoutdubai |date=6 May 2009 |access-date=29 August 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115001910/http://www.timeoutdubai.com/knowledge/news/8723-palm-monorail-tried-and-tested |archive-date=15 January 2010 }}</ref> It is the first monorail in the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aeconline.ae/13/pdcnewsitem/01/69/09/index_13.html|title=First Monorail system in the Middle East takes first paying passengers.|newspaper=AEC Online|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203075322/http://www.aeconline.ae/13/pdcnewsitem/01/69/09/index_13.html|archive-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> An extension to connect to the [[Red Line (Dubai Metro)|Red Line]] of the [[Dubai Metro]] is planned.<ref name="gn">{{cite web|title=Middle East's first monorail to start services in Palm Jumeirah by April |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/08/07/10235187.html |work=[[Gulf News]] |date=7 August 2008 |access-date=11 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716225656/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/08/07/10235187.html |archive-date=16 July 2009 }}</ref>
 
===Tram===
{{main|Dubai Tram}}
A tramway located in Al Sufouh, will run for {{convert|14.5|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} along Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina to the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of the Emirates with two interchanges with Dubai Metro's Red Line. The first section, a {{convert|10.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} long tram line which serves 11 stations, was opened in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thedubaitram.com/about/|title=About|work=The Dubai Tram|access-date=12 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215035242/http://thedubaitram.com/about/|archive-date=15 February 2016}}</ref>
 
===High speed rail===
Dubai has announced it will complete a link of the UAE high-speed rail system which will eventually hook up with the whole GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council, also known as [[Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf]]) and then possibly Europe. The High-Speed Rail will serve passengers and cargo.<ref>{{cite web|title=GCC Rail Network |url=http://www.zawya.com/projects/project.cfm/pid190607012406 |publisher=zawya projects |date=14 April 2010 |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617080242/http://www.zawya.com/projects/project.cfm/pid190607012406 |archive-date=17 June 2011 }}</ref>
 
===Waterways===
There are two major commercial ports in Dubai, [[Port Rashid]] and [[Jebel Ali|Port Jebel Ali]]. Port Jebel Ali is the world's largest man-made harbour, the biggest port in the Middle East,<ref>{{cite web |title=Port of Jebel Ali |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/ARE_Port_of_Jebel_Ali_1423.php |publisher=worldportsource.com |date=14 August 2008 |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416070712/http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/ARE_Port_of_Jebel_Ali_1423.php |archive-date=16 April 2010 }}</ref> and the 7th-busiest port in the world.<ref name=jebelali/> One of the more traditional methods of getting across [[Bur Dubai]] to [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] is by ''[[abra (boat)|abras]]'', small boats that ferry passengers across the [[Dubai Creek]], between abra stations in Bastakiya and [[Baniyas Road]].<ref>[http://www.dubai-online.com/blog/video-dubai-souk-abra-station/ Abra-services] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817012451/http://www.dubai-online.com/blog/video-dubai-souk-abra-station/ |date=17 August 2010 }} dubai-online</ref> The Marine Transport Agency has also implemented the Dubai Water Bus System. Water bus is a fully air conditioned boat service across selected destinations across the creek. One can also avail oneself of the tourist water bus facility in Dubai. Latest addition to the water transport system is the Water Taxi.<ref>{{cite web|title=RTA launches Water Bus System on Dubai Creek |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/129309.html |publisher=AMEinfo |date=16 July 2007 |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602074607/http://www.ameinfo.com/129309.html |archive-date=2 June 2010}}</ref>
 
Dubai is increasingly activating its logistics and ports in order to participate in trade between Europe and China or Africa in addition to oil transport. For this purpose, ports such as Port of Jebel Ali or Mina Rashid are rapidly expanded and investments are made in their technology. The country is historically and currently, part of the Maritime [[Silk Road]] that runs from the Chinese coast to the south via the southern tip of [[India]] to [[Mombasa]], from there through the Red Sea via the [[Suez Canal]] to the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region to the northern Italian hub of [[Trieste]] with its rail connections to [[Central Europe]], Eastern Europe and the [[North Sea]].<ref>[https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/asia/china-invest-34bn-dubai-warehousing-and-trading China to invest $3.4bn in Dubai warehousing and trading]</ref><ref>[https://www.porttechnology.org/news/what-are-the-top-ports-in-the-middle-east/ What are the top ports in the Middle East?]</ref><ref>[https://www.business.hsbc.ae/en-gb/ae/article/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-beacons-new-trade-in-menat China's Belt and Road Initiative beacons new trade-in MENAT]</ref>
 
==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Dubai}}
{{further|Culture of the United Arab Emirates}}
[[File:Vibrant Spices.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|Traditional Middle Eastern spices at the [[Dubai Spice Souk]] in Deira, Old Dubai]]
The UAE culture mainly revolves around traditional Arab culture. The influence of Arab and Islamic culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle is very prominent as well. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the [[minaret]]s of mosques that are scattered around the country. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday and Saturday, as a compromise between Friday's holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday and Sunday.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathan Sheikh-Miller |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/95027.html |title=UAE Weekend Switchover |publisher=AMEinfo |access-date=22 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212191741/http://www.ameinfo.com/95027.html |archive-date=12 February 2011}}</ref> Prior to 2006, the weekend was Thursday-Friday.
 
Because of the touristic approach of many Dubaites in the entrepreneurial sector and the high standard of living, Dubai's culture has gradually evolved towards one of luxury, opulence, and lavishness with a high regard for leisure-related extravagance.<ref>Luxury Fashion Branding: Trends, Tactics, Techniques – Page 80, Uché Okonkwo – 2007</ref><ref>Dubai – Page 100, Terry Carter – 2009</ref><ref>Introduction to Sociology – Page 14, George Ritzer – 2012</ref> Annual entertainment events such as the [[Dubai Shopping Festival]]<ref>[http://www.traveldealsfinder.com/travel-packages/dubai-shopping-festival Dubai Shopping Festival 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106131951/http://www.traveldealsfinder.com/travel-packages/dubai-shopping-festival |date=6 January 2011 }} More Details</ref> (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) attract over 4 million visitors from across the region and generate revenues in excess of $2.7 billion.<ref name=dsf>[http://www.dubaicityguide.com/site/dsf/milestones.asp DSF Milestones] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317124602/http://dubaicityguide.com/site/dsf/milestones.asp |date=17 March 2010 }}. Dubaicityguide</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/in-focus/dubai-shopping-festival/sales-will-account-for-8-of-dubai-s-gdp-1.269917 |title=Sales will account for 8% of Dubai's GDP |work=Gulf News |date=3 May 2009 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508235712/http://gulfnews.com/in-focus/dubai-shopping-festival/sales-will-account-for-8-of-dubai-s-gdp-1.269917 |archive-date=8 May 2013}}</ref>
 
[[File:Meydan Beach Club, Dubai (8668492594).jpg|thumb|Meydan Beach Club, Jumeirah]]
Dubai is known for its nightlife. Clubs and bars are found mostly in hotels because of liquor laws. ''[[The New York Times]]'' described Dubai as "the kind of city where you might run into [[Michael Jordan]] at the Buddha Bar or stumble across [[Naomi Campbell]] celebrating her birthday with a multiday bash".<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09party.html|title=Clubs Bloom in the Desert|last=Sherwood|first=Seth|date=9 December 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=23 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017084536/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09party.html|archive-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>
 
The city's cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogeneous pearling community was changed with the arrival of other ethnic groups and nationals—first by the Iranians in the early 1900s, and later by Indians and Pakistanis in the 1960s. In 2005, 84% of the population of metropolitan Dubai was foreign-born, about half of them from India.<ref name=migrationinformation/>
 
Major holidays in Dubai include [[Eid al Fitr]], which marks the end of [[Ramadan]], and [[National Day]] (2 December), which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/guides/life/community/how-the-uae-was-born-1.1610731|title=Gulf News Community|website=gulfnews.com|access-date=11 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220102503/http://gulfnews.com/guides/life/community/how-the-uae-was-born-1.1610731|archive-date=20 December 2016}}</ref>
 
The [[International Festivals and Events Association|International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA)]], the world's leading events trade association, has crowned Dubai as ''IFEA World Festival and Event City, 2012'' in the cities category with a population of more than one million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=/data/nationgeneral/2012/September/nationgeneral_September341.xml&section=nationgeneral|title=Dubai is world's festival city|date=23 September 2012|publisher=khaleejtimes.com|access-date=30 September 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924032330/http://khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=%2Fdata%2Fnationgeneral%2F2012%2FSeptember%2Fnationgeneral_September341.xml&section=nationgeneral|archive-date=24 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.definitelydubai.com/2012/09/23/dubai-crowned-world-festival-and-event-city-by-ifea/|title=Dubai crowned World Festival and Event City by IFEA|date=23 September 2012|publisher=news.definitelydubai.com|access-date=30 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928152914/http://news.definitelydubai.com/2012/09/23/dubai-crowned-world-festival-and-event-city-by-ifea/|archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> Large shopping malls in the city, such as [[Deira City Centre]], [[Mirdiff City Centre]], [[BurJuman]], [[Mall of the Emirates]], [[Dubai Mall]] (the world's largest) and [[Ibn Battuta Mall]] as well as traditional [[Dubai Gold Souk]] and other ''souks'' attract shoppers from the region.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livingindubai.org/top-7-places-to-go-shopping-in-dubai/|title=Top 7 Places to go Shopping in Dubai – Dubai Expats Guide|date=29 September 2013|newspaper=Dubai Expats Guide|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202234802/http://www.livingindubai.org/top-7-places-to-go-shopping-in-dubai/|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>
 
===Cuisine===
{{See also|Emirati cuisine}}
[[Arab cuisine|Arabic cuisine]] is very popular and is available everywhere in the city, from the small ''[[shawarma]]'' diners in [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] and [[Al Karama, Dubai|Al Karama]] to the restaurants in Dubai's hotels. Fast food, South Asian, and Chinese cuisines are also very popular and are widely available. The sale and consumption of pork is regulated and is sold only to non-Muslims, in designated areas of supermarkets and airports.<ref name=pork>[http://www.stat-usa.gov/agworld.nsf/505c55d16b88351a852567010058449b/898e8206171d628385256d02006df0d7/$FILE/TC3003.PDF Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226222518/http://www.stat-usa.gov/agworld.nsf/505c55d16b88351a852567010058449b/898e8206171d628385256d02006df0d7/%24FILE/TC3003.PDF |date=26 February 2008 }}. ''GAIN Report''. United States Department of Agriculture</ref> Similarly, the sale of alcoholic beverages is regulated. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is available in bars and restaurants within hotels.<ref name="Dubai Culture">[http://www.dubai-livethedream.com/dubai-culture.html Dubai Culture] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306150956/http://www.dubai-livethedream.com/dubai-culture.html |date=6 March 2010 }} dubai-livethedream.com</ref> ''[[Hookah|Shisha]]'' and ''[[coffee|qahwa]]'' boutiques are also popular in Dubai. [[Biryani]] is also a popular cuisine across Dubai with being the most popular among Indians and Pakistanis present in Dubai.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zomato.com/dubai/best-biryani-restaurants |title=Biryani in Dubai |publisher=zomato.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207234027/https://www.zomato.com/dubai/best-biryani-restaurants |archive-date=7 February 2016 }}</ref>
 
The inaugural Dubai Food Festival was held between 21 February to 15 March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dubaifoodfestival.com/dff-2015/ |title=Dubai Food Festival |publisher=Dubai Food Festival |access-date=20 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115191601/http://www.dubaifoodfestival.com/dff-2015/ |archive-date=15 November 2014}}</ref> According to ''[[Vision (magazine)|Vision]]'' magazine, the event was aimed at enhancing and celebrating Dubai's position as the gastronomic capital of the region. The festival was designed to showcase the variety of flavours and cuisines on offer in Dubai featuring the cuisines of over 200 nationalities at the festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vision.ae/en/articles/taste_of_culture_dubai_food_festival |title=Taste of culture: Dubai Food Festival |publisher=Vision.ae |date=February 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014 |author=East, Ben |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030181910/http://vision.ae/en/articles/taste_of_culture_dubai_food_festival |archive-date=30 October 2014 }}</ref> The next food festival was held between 23 February 2017 to 11 March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitdubai.com/en/events/dubai-food-festival-2017|title=Dubai Food Festival 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010012413/http://www.visitdubai.com/en/events/dubai-food-festival-2017|archive-date=10 October 2016}}</ref>
 
===Entertainment===
{{See also|Music of the United Arab Emirates}}Dubai Opera opened its door on 31 August 2016 in Downtown Dubai with a performance by [[Plácido Domingo]]. The venue is a 2000-seat, multifunctional performing arts centre able to host not only theatrical shows, concerts and operas, but also weddings, gala dinners, banquets and conferences.  [[File:DubaiOpera.jpg|thumb|[[Dubai Opera]]]]
Arabic movies are popular in Dubai and the UAE. Since 2004, the city has hosted the annual [[Dubai International Film Festival]] which serves as a showcase for Arab and Middle Eastern film making talent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/en/about-diff/what-is-diff.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822190629/http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/en/about-diff/what-is-diff.html|archive-date=22 August 2008|title=About Dubai Film Festival (DFF)|publisher=7th Dubai International Film Festival|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The [[Dubai Desert Rock Festival]] was also another major festival consisting of heavy metal and rock artists but is no longer held in Dubai.
 
One of the lesser-known sides of Dubai is the importance of its young contemporary art gallery scene. Since 2008, the leading contemporary art galleries such as Carbon 12 Dubai,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://carbon12dubai.com/ |title=Carbon 12's website |publisher=Carbon12dubai.com |date=18 January 2013 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331144906/http://carbon12dubai.com/ |archive-date=31 March 2013 }}</ref> Green Art, gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, and The Third Line have brought the city onto the international art map. [[Art Dubai]], the growing and reputable art fair of the region is as well a major contributor of the contemporary art scene's development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/art-dubai-adds-artist-residencies|title=Art Dubai to show international artists' vision of the UAE|date=15 March 2018|website=The Art Newspaper}}</ref>
 
===Media===
{{Main|Dubai Media Incorporated}}
{{See also|List of media outlets in Dubai Media City|Radio and television channels of Dubai}}
Many international news agencies such as [[Reuters]], [[Associated Press Television News|APTN]], [[Bloomberg L.P.]] and [[Middle East Broadcasting Center]] (MBC) operate in Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. Additionally, several local network television channels such as [[Dubai One]] (formerly Channel 33), and [[Dubai TV]] (EDTV) provide programming in English and Arabic respectively. Dubai is also the headquarters for several print media outlets. ''[[Dar Al Khaleej]]'', ''[[Al Bayan (newspaper)|Al Bayan]]'' and ''[[Al-Ittihad (Emirati newspaper)|Al Ittihad]]'' are the city's largest circulating Arabic language newspapers,<ref name=alkhaleej>[http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/New_Chart.pdf Largest-Circulation Arabic Newspapers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614232009/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/New_Chart.pdf |date=14 June 2011 }}. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. ''Arab Reform Bulletin'', December 2004</ref> while ''[[Gulf News]]'', ''[[Khaleej Times]], Khaleej Mag'' and ''[[7days]]'' are the largest circulating English newspapers.<ref name=gulfnewskhaleejtimes>[https://archive.today/20130210023747/http://www.zawya.com/pdfstory.cfm?storyid=GN_03022010_040214&l=000000100204 Gulf News continues to lead the way]. zawya. February 2010</ref>
 
[[Etisalat]], the government-owned telecommunications provider, held a virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Dubai prior to the establishment of other, smaller telecommunications companies such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC—better known as Du) in 2006. Internet was introduced into the UAE (and therefore Dubai) in 1995. The network has an Internet bandwidth of 7.5 Gbit/s with capacity of 49 STM1 links.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/etisalat-ramps-up-uae-bandwidth-62960.html|title=Etisalat ramps up UAE bandwidth|date=11 June 2006|publisher=arabianbusiness.com|access-date=3 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812064751/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/etisalat-ramps-up-uae-bandwidth-62960.html|archive-date=12 August 2011}}</ref> Dubai houses two of four Domain Name System (DNS) data centres in the country (DXBNIC1, DXBNIC2).<ref name="dxbittopology">{{cite web|url=http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/inet/05/hashim.pdf|title=UAEnicat a Glance|last=Hashim|first=Abdulla|date=5 May 2005|publisher=isoc.org|access-date=21 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311050524/https://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/inet/05/hashim.pdf|archive-date=11 March 2010}}</ref> Censorship is common in Dubai and used by the government to control content that it believes violates the cultural and political sensitivities of Emirates.<ref name=etisalatmon>[http://opennet.net/sites/opennet.net/files/united_arab_emirates.pdf United Arab Emirates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909194905/http://opennet.net/sites/opennet.net/files/united_arab_emirates.pdf |date=9 September 2008 }}. OpenNet Interactive. 2008</ref> Homosexuality, drugs, and the theory of evolution are generally considered taboo.<ref name="Dubai Culture"/><ref name="Bedell">{{Cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5741679.ece|title=Geraldine Bedell's novel banned in Dubai because of gay character|last=Jack|first=Malvern|date=16 February 2009|work=The Times |location=UK |access-date=22 April 2010}}</ref>
 
Internet content is regulated in Dubai. Etisalat uses a proxy server to filter Internet content that the government deems to be inconsistent with the values of the country, such as sites that provide information on how to bypass the proxy; sites pertaining to dating, gay and lesbian networks, and pornography; and previously, sites originating from [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://opennet.net/studies/uae|title=Internet Filtering in the United Arab Emirates in 2004–2005: A Country Study|date=5 May 2005|publisher=OpenNet Initiative|access-date=9 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611125850/http://opennet.net/studies/uae|archive-date=11 June 2010}}</ref> Emirates Media and Internet (a division of Etisalat) notes that {{as of|2002|lc=y}}, 76% of Internet users are male. About 60% of Internet users were Asian, while 25% of users were Arab. Dubai enacted an Electronic Transactions and Commerce Law in 2002 which deals with digital signatures and electronic registers. It prohibits Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from disclosing information gathered in providing services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tecom.ae/law/law_2.htm |title=Electronic Transactions and Commerce Law No.2/2002 |publisher=Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority |access-date=9 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531152539/http://www.tecom.ae/law/law_2.htm |archive-date=31 May 2011}}</ref> The penal code contains official provisions that prohibit digital access to pornography; however, it does not address cyber crime or data protection.<ref name=privacy>{{cite web|url=http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-103788 |title=Silenced – United Arab Emirates |publisher=Privacyinternational.org |date=21 September 2003 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903044652/http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-103788 |archive-date=3 September 2010 }}</ref>
 
===Sports===
{{Main|List of sports venues in Dubai}}
{{See also|Traditional sports in the United Arab Emirates}}
[[File:DTC1.jpg|thumb|[[Aviation Club Tennis Centre|Dubai Tennis Stadium]]]]
[[Association football|Football]] and [[cricket]] are the most popular sports in Dubai. Three football teams ([[Al Wasl FC]], [[Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC]] and [[Al Nasr SC (Dubai)|Al Nasr SC]]) represent Dubai in [[UAE Pro-League]].<ref name="Dubai Culture"/> Al-Wasl have the second-most championships in the UAE League, after [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]. Dubai also hosts both the annual [[Dubai Tennis Championships]] and [[The Legends Rock Dubai]] tennis tournaments, as well as the [[Dubai Desert Classic]] golf tournament and the [[DP World Tour Championship, Dubai|DP World Tour Championship]], all of which attract sports stars from around the world. The [[Dubai World Cup]], a [[thoroughbred]] horse race, is held annually at the [[Meydan Racecourse]]. Dubai also hosts the traditional [[rugby union]] tournament [[Dubai Sevens]], part of the [[Sevens World Series]] Event pictures of Rugby 7 Dubai 2015. In 2009, Dubai hosted the [[2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens]]. Auto racing is also a big sport in Dubai, the [[Dubai Autodrome]] is home to many auto racing events throughout the year. It also features a state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor [http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/kartdrome-main/racing/ Kartdrome], popular among racing enthusiasts and recreational riders. The Indian Premier League cricket competition was held in UAE in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
===Dress code===
The Emirati attire is typical of several countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Women usually wear the "[[abaya]]", a long black robe with a [[hijab]] (the head-scarf which covers the neck and part of the head-all of the hair and ears). Some women may add a [[niqāb|niqab]] which cover the mouth and nose and only leaves the eyes exposed. Men wear the "[[thawb|kandurah]]" also referred to as "dishdasha" or even "thawb" (long white robe) and the headscarf ([[keffiyeh|ghotrah]]). The UAE traditional [[ghutrah]] is white and is held in place by an accessory called "[[Agal (accessory)|egal]]", which resembles a black cord. The younger Emiratis prefer to wear red and white ghutrah and tie it around their head like a turban.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
 
The above dress code is never compulsory and many people wear western or other eastern clothing without any problems, but prohibitions on wearing "indecent clothing" or revealing too much skin are aspects of the UAE to which Dubai's visitors are expected to conform, and are encoded in Dubai's criminal law.<ref name="Criminal Law of Dubai">{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersuae.com/court-cases/criminal-law-of-dubai|title=Criminal Law of Dubai|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095228/http://www.lawyersuae.com/court-cases/criminal-law-of-dubai|archive-date=6 October 2014|date=23 October 2012}}</ref> The UAE has enforced decency regulations in most public places, aside from waterparks, beaches, clubs, and bars.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-laws-you-must-know-to-stay-out-of-trouble-2012-02-28-1.445519|title=UAE laws you must know to stay out of trouble|last=Leijen|first=Majorie van|newspaper=Emirates 24{{!}}7|access-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228163649/http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-laws-you-must-know-to-stay-out-of-trouble-2012-02-28-1.445519|archive-date=28 December 2016}}</ref>
 
==Education==
{{Main|Education in Dubai}}
{{See also|List of universities and colleges in Dubai}}
The school system in Dubai follows that of the United Arab Emirates. {{As of|2009}}, there are 79 public schools run by the Ministry of Education that serve Emiratis and expatriate Arab people as well as 207 private schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dubai Private School Directory |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?city%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=1&school_phase%5B%5D=2&school_phase%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=5&school_phase%5B%5D=6&school_phase%5B%5D=7 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> The medium of instruction in public schools is Arabic with emphasis on English as a second language, while most of the private schools use English as their medium of instruction. Currently only the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai claims to offer parallel streams in different languages -  bi-lingual English/French or English/ German.<ref>{{cite web |title=Review, Swiss International Scientific School |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-review/swiss-international-scientific-school-dubai |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com}}</ref> Most private schools cater to one or more expatriate communities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mansell |first=Warwick |title=Expat guide to the UAE: schools |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/expateducation/7635831/Expat-guide-to-the-UAE-schools.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=30 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925001208/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/expateducation/7635831/Expat-guide-to-the-UAE-schools.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref>
 
Some 36 schools offer an international education using the one or more of the four International Baccalaureate Programmes for students aged 3–19.<ref>{{cite web |title=IB Schools in Dubai |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?city%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=1&school_phase%5B%5D=2&school_phase%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=5&school_phase%5B%5D=6&school_phase%5B%5D=7&cur%5B%5D=5&cur%5B%5D=55&cur%5B%5D=6&cur%5B%5D=27&cur%5B%5D=7 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |ref=Dubai IB School Directory}}</ref> Currently, 15 schools<ref>{{cite web |title=Schools offering the IB CP in Dubai |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?cur%5B%5D=55 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com}}</ref> have introduced the IB Career-related Programme that can be combined with a vocational qualification such as a BTEC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/about-us/qualification-brands/btec.html|title=Welcome to BTEC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507104945/http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/about-us/qualification-brands/btec.html|archive-date=7 May 2015}}</ref>
 
While there are more UK curriculum based schools in Dubai than any other, more students attend an Indian curriculum school, which tend to be considerably larger, and lower cost. There are 34 Indian curriculum schools in the emirate,<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian curriculum schools in Dubai |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?city%5B%5D=4&cur%5B%5D=2&cur%5B%5D=44 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> most of which offer the CBSE, and just a handful the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Indian syllabus. Examples of Indian curriculum schools include [[The Indian High School, Dubai|IHS]], [[Delhi Private School, Dubai|DPS]], [[Dubai Modern High School, Dubai|DMHS]]. There are a small number of Pakistani schools offering FBISE curriculum for expatriate children in Dubai.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
 
A total of 18 schools offer British primary education up to the age of eleven.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?city%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=4&cur%5B%5D=12&cur%5B%5D=68&cur%5B%5D=42&cur%5B%5D=84&cur%5B%5D=10&cur%5B%5D=11&cur%5B%5D=82&cur%5B%5D=73&cur%5B%5D=1 |title=UAE School Reviews - In-depth reviews, fees, admissions and contact information |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> There are 64 schools that offer a variation of a UK curriculum style secondary education,<ref>{{cite web |title=Schools offering some level of a British education in Dubai |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?city%5B%5D=4&cur%5B%5D=12&cur%5B%5D=68&cur%5B%5D=42&cur%5B%5D=10&cur%5B%5D=11&cur%5B%5D=82 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> either a pure GCSE and A-Level offering, or increasingly I/GCSE up to 16, and then the IB Diploma post-16. Currently, no school in the UAE offers the choice of IB or A-Level at 16, but several schools have said they will do in the future. British style eleven-to-eighteen secondary schools offering General Certificate of Secondary Education and A-Levels include [[Dubai Gem Private School]], [[Dubai British School]], [[English Language School, Dubai|English Language School Pvt.]] Some schools, such as The [[American School of Dubai]], also offer the curriculum of the United States.<ref name=schlist>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaifaqs.com/schools-dubai.php |title=List of schools in Dubai, Dubai school finder |publisher=Dubaifaqs.com |date=5 June 2012 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428081000/http://www.dubaifaqs.com/schools-dubai.php |archive-date=28 April 2013 }}</ref>
 
Dubai has a very active education regulator, the KHDA, which is best known for its school ratings, but actually has a wide mandate<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the KHDA, and what does it do for Dubai parents? |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/guides/what-is-the-khda-and-what-does-it-do-2 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> when it comes to school improvement in the emirate. Its inspections truly matter, and there is no doubt that school quality has improved as a result of its implementation. A total of 17 schools are currently rated Outstanding (2020), and a further 40 rated Very Good. Parents in general rate schools highly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Highest rated schools, by parents, in Dubai |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/best-schools/60/best-schools-in-dubai |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |publisher=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref>
 
The most well-known universities in Dubai are [[American University in Dubai]], [[Hult International Business School]], [[Al Ghurair University]], The American College of Dubai, [[University of Wollongong in Dubai]], [[British University in Dubai]], [[Murdoch University Dubai]] offering courses in Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture and Interior Design. American University in Dubai is one of the six UAE universities featured in QS World University Rankings 2014/2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=QS World University Rankings® 2014/15 |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search= |publisher=topuniversities.com |access-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205025004/http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search= |archive-date=5 February 2016 |date=11 September 2014 }}</ref> In 2013 [[Synergy University Dubai Campus]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://synergy.university/|title=Synergy University Dubai Campus – Home Page|author=Synergy University Dubai Campus|work=Synergy University Dubai Campus|access-date=12 February 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220053929/http://synergy.university/|archive-date=20 February 2016}}</ref> opened its campus in [[Jumeirah Lakes Towers]] being a first University in Dubai to be located outside of Educational Zones (Knowledge Village or Academic City).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaieducationguide.com/upage.asp?uiid=244 |title=Synergy University, Dubai Educational Guide |author=DEG |access-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025904/http://www.dubaieducationguide.com/upage.asp?uiid=244 |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>
 
==Healthcare==
{{Main|Dubai Health Authority|List of hospitals in Dubai}}
Healthcare in Dubai can be divided into two different sectors: public and private. Each Emirate is able to dictate healthcare standards according to their internal laws, although the standards and regulations rarely have extreme differences. Public hospitals in Dubai were first built in the late 1950s and continued to grow with public health initiatives. There are now 28 hospitals in Dubai, 6 public and 22 private, with 3 more major hospitals scheduled to be built by 2025.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-expo-2020-bid-in-good-health-dubai-gets-new-hospitals-2013-08-19-1.518053 |title=UAE Expo 2020 bid in good health: Dubai gets new hospitals |date=19 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623003659/http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-expo-2020-bid-in-good-health-dubai-gets-new-hospitals-2013-08-19-1.518053 |archive-date=23 June 2015 }}</ref>
 
By the end of 2012, there were also a total of 1,348 medical clinics, 97% of which are operated privately.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dubai Healthcare Overview|url=http://www.colliers.com/-/media/83E76364901E465986CBF44594578C2A.ashx?la=en-GB|work=Colliers|access-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623013727/http://www.colliers.com/-/media/83E76364901E465986CBF44594578C2A.ashx?la=en-GB|archive-date=23 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Dubai phased in mandatory health insurance for all inhabitants, thereby leading to increased demand for medical services.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dubai's mandatory health insurance law comes into force|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/dubais-mandatory-health-insurance-law-comes-into-force|work=The National|date=15 February 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623010249/http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/dubais-mandatory-health-insurance-law-comes-into-force|archive-date=23 June 2015}}</ref>
 
==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Asia#United Arab Emirates .28UAE.29|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in UAE}}
Dubai is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=توأمة بين مدينتي دبي وكيب تاون|url=https://www.ajmannews.ae/news.php?id=39961&cat_id=2|website=ajmannews.ae|publisher=Ajman News|language=ar|date=2019-12-16|access-date=2021-02-27}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Amman]], Jordan
*{{flagicon|LBN}} [[Beirut]], Lebanon
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Busan]], South Korea (2006)
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Cape Town]], South Africa
*{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Casablanca]], Morocco
*{{flagicon|SYR}} [[Damascus]], Syria
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Detroit]], United States (2003)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Frankfurt|Frankfurt am Main]], Germany (2005)
*{{flagicon|PSE}} [[Gaza City]], Palestine<ref>{{cite web |title=عون الشوا من الفترة ما بين 1994 وحتى 2001|url=https://www.gaza-city.org/index.php?page=Vm14YVlXRnJOVlpOVm1oVVltdEtVMWxyV2t0aU1WWnhVV3h3YkdKSFVsaFZiRkp6VlZaV1ZVMUVhejA9|website=gaza-city.org|publisher=Gaza City|language=ar|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[City of Gold Coast|Gold Coast]], Australia (2001)
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou]], China<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister Cities|url=http://www.eguangzhou.gov.cn/2018-06/05/c_253291.htm|website=eguangzhou.gov.cn|publisher=Guangzhou|access-date=2021-02-27}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1997)
*{{flagicon|MYS}} [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia (2010)<ref>{{cite web |title=6 Bandar Di Malaysia Yang Berkembar Dengan Bandar Lain di Seluruh Dunia|url=https://iluminasi.com/bm/5-bandar-kembar-di-negara-lain-yang-mempunyai-hubungan.html|website=iluminasi.com|publisher=Iluminasi|language=ms|date=2018-04-24|access-date=2021-02-27}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Moscow]], Russia<ref>{{cite web |title=بحضور عمدة مدينة فرانكفورت إزاحة الستار عن النصب التذكاري|url=https://www.moccae.gov.ae/ar/media-center/news/9/3/2014/%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%83%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A.aspx|website=moccae.gov.ae|publisher=Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of United Arab Emirates|language=ar|date=2014-03-09|access-date=2021-02-27}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|PRK}} [[Pyongyang]], North Korea<ref>{{cite book|last=Corfield|first=Justin|title=Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a46gFDWr3aMC&pg=PA196|year=2013|publisher=Anthem Press|location=London|isbn=978-0-85728-234-7|page=196|chapter=Sister Cities}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SLV}} [[San Salvador]], El Salvador
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China
<!--rest - not twinning and/or twinnning ended-->
{{div col end}}
 
==See also==
{{portal|United Arab Emirates}}
*[[Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates]]
*[[Al Sufouh Archaeological Site]]
* [[Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve]]
* [[List of buildings in Dubai]]
* [[List of people from Dubai]]
* [[Sustainability in Dubai]]
* [[Outline of Dubai]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
==Further reading==
* Syed Ali. ''Dubai: Gilded Cage'' (Yale University Press; 2010) 240 pages. Focuses on the Arab emirate's treatment of foreign workers.
* Heiko Schmid: ''Economy of Fascination: Dubai and Chicago as Themed Urban Landscapes'', Berlin, Stuttgart 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-443-37014-5}}.
* John M. Smith: ''Dubai The Maktoum Story'', Norderstedt 2007, {{ISBN|3-8334-4660-9}}.
 
==External links==
{{Sister project links|Dubai}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Dubai}}
* [http://xn--ngbn6f.xn--mgbaam7a8h/en/Pages/default.aspx دبي.امارات] – The Official Portal of Dubai Government
* [https://www.dm.gov.ae www.dm.gov.ae] – Dubai Municipality website
 
{{Geographic location
|Centre=Dubai
|North =
|Northeast=
|East =[[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]]
|Southeast=
|South =[[Abu Dhabi (emirate)|Abu Dhabi]]
|Southwest=
|West =
|Northwest=''[[Persian Gulf]]''
}}
 
{{Dubai topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Neighborhoods in Dubai}}
{{Dubai landmarks}}
{{Developments in Dubai}}
{{Rulers of Dubai}}{{UAE cities}}
 
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Dubai| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Port cities in the Arabian Peninsula]]
[[Category:18th-century establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 18th century]]
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