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{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{distinguish |Duba, Saudi Arabia}}
{{About|the city|the emirate|Emirate of Dubai|||other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Dubai
| native_name = {{lang|ar|دبي}}
| other_name = Dubayy
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| translit_lang1_type = [[Arabic script|Arabic]]
| translit_lang1_info = دبي
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| total_width = 300
| border = infobox
| perrow = 1/2/2
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Dubai Skyline mit Burj Khalifa (cropped).jpg
| caption1 = [[Dubai's skyline]]
| image2 = Burj_Khalifa_2021.jpg
| caption2 = [[Burj Khalifa]] and [[Downtown Dubai|Downtown]]
| image3 = The_view_of_Dubai_Creek.jpg
| caption3 = [[Dubai Creek]]
| image4 = Dubai Marina Skyline.jpg
| caption4 = [[Dubai Marina]]
| image5 = Artificial Archipelagos, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ISS022-E-024940 lrg.jpg
| caption5 = [[Palm Jumeirah]] and [[The World (archipelago)|The World Islands]]
| image6 = Burj_Al_Arab_@_Madinat_Jumeirah_@_Dubai_(15851725086).jpg
| caption6 = [[Burj Al Arab]]
| image7 = Dubai_Highrise.jpg
| caption7 = [[Sheikh Zayed Road]]
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Dubai.svg
| pushpin_map = UAE#Persian Gulf#Middle East#Asia
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the United Arab Emirates
| coordinates = {{coord|25|12|17|N|55|16|15|E|type:adm1st_region:AE-DU|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|Emirate]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Dubai}}
| established_title = First mentioned
| established_date = 1095
| established_title1 = First established
| established_date1 = 1822
| founder = [[Al Maktoum|Obeid bin Said & Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum]]
| p2 = [[Al Aweer]]
| p3 = Al Lusayli
| p4 = Marqab
| p5 = [[Al Faqa|Al-Faqaʿ]]<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]]
| governing_body = Dubai Executive Council
| leader_title = [[Dubai Municipality|Director General of Dubai Municipality]]
| leader_name = Marwan Bin Ghalita<ref>{{Cite web |title=Director General |url=https://www.dm.gov.ae/about-dubai-municipality/director-general/ |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=Dubai Municipality |language=en-US}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = [[Ruler of Dubai]]
| leader_name1 = [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]]
| area_total_km2 = 544 <!-- 170*3.2 -->
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan {{!}} The Official Portal of the UAE Government |url=https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/transport-and-infrastructure/dubai-2040-urban-master-plan |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=u.ae |language=en}}</ref>
| area_urban_km2 = 1507
| area_urban_footnotes = <ref name=Demographia/>
| area_metro_km2 =
| population_total = 3,944,751
| population_footnotes = <ref name=DSC/>
| population_as_of = 2025
| population_urban = 4,945,000
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name=Demographia/>
| population_metro = 6359527
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name=DSC/>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = [[wikt:Dubaian|Dubaian]]
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web|url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_are.pdf|publisher=Tellusant|title=TelluBase—UAE Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)|access-date=2024-01-11|archive-date=12 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112133106/https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_are.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = [[City]]
| demographics2_info1 = US$ 134.6 billion (2023)
| demographics2_title2 = Metro
| demographics2_info2 = US$ 202.8 billion (2023)
| demographics2_title4 = Per capita
| website = {{URL|https://tec.gov.ae/en/web/tec/home}}
| utc_offset = +04:00
| timezone = [[Time in the United Arab Emirates|UAE Standard Time]]
| image_seal = Coat of Arms of Dubai (2024).svg
| image_blank_emblem = Dubai official logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type = [[Wordmark]]
| nickname = ''[[DXB]], Dar Al-Hay, The Pearl of the Gulf,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://u.ae/ar-AE/about-the-uae/the-seven-emirates/dubai|title=إمارة دبي | البوابة الرسمية لحكومة الإمارات العربية المتحدة|website=u.ae}}</ref> The Venice of the Gulf,<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.albayan.ae/opinions/2009-12-18-1.503429|title=ستبقى دبي داراً للحي|website=www.albayan.ae}}</ref> The City of the World,<ref name="auto"/> [[The City of Gold]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2013/01/05/dubai-trying-to-live-up-to-its-nickname-city-of-gold/ |title=Dubai trying to live up to its nickname "City of Gold" |date=5 January 2013 }}</ref>''
}}
'''Dubai'''{{efn|[[Help:IPA/English|/duːˈbaɪ/]] [[Help:Pronunciation respelling key|''doo-BYE'']]; [[Modern Standard Arabic|<small>M</small><small>odern Standard Arabic</small>]]: {{langx|ar|دُبَيّ}}; [[Emirati Arabic|<small>E</small><small>mirati Arabic</small>]]: {{langx|ar|دِبَيّ}}, <small>[[Romanization of Arabic|romanised]]:</small> [[Help:IPA/English|/diˈbej/]]}} is the [[List of cities in the United Arab Emirates#Major cities|most populous city]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]] 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/20071001064703/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=1 October 2007}}</ref> It is located on a [[Dubai Creek|creek]] on the south-eastern coast of the [[Persian Gulf]]. As of 2025, the city population stands at 4 million<!-- This is for the Emirate, there are no sources for the city proper. -->,<ref name=DSC>{{cite web |title=Dubai Statistics Center, Population Clock |url=https://www.dsc.gov.ae/en-us/Pages/default.aspx |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=dsc.gov.ae}}</ref> 92% of whom are [[Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates|expatriates]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP |url=https://cdn.occrp.org/projects/dubai-unlocked/en/ |website=How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP |language=en |access-date=14 May 2024 |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516021738/https://cdn.occrp.org/projects/dubai-unlocked/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The wider [[urban area]] includes [[Sharjah]] and has a population of 5 million people as of 2023,<ref name=Demographia>{{Cite web|url=https://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf|title=Demographia World Urban Areas 19th Annual: 202308|work=Demographia|date=2023-08-31|access-date=2025-07-25}}</ref> while the [[Dubai–Sharjah–Ajman metropolitan area]] counts 6 million inhabitants.
Founded in the early 18th century as a [[Cultured pearl|pearling]] and fishing settlement, Dubai became a regional trade hub in the 20th century after declaring itself a [[free port]] (1901) and extending the Creek (1961).<ref name=":11" /> Modest oil revenue helped accelerate Dubai's development from the 1960s to the 1990s when the city started to diversify its economy.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=Dubai - Trade, Tourism, Oil {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Dubai-United-Arab-Emirates/Economy |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, oil production contributed less than 1% to the emirate's GDP.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winkler |first=Matthew A. |date=14 January 2018 |title=Dubai's the Very Model of a Modern Mideast Economy |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-01-14/dubai-s-the-very-model-of-a-modern-mideast-economy |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 |work=Bloomberg |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Rapid construction since the 1990s has produced one of the world's densest skylines,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities by Number of 150m+ Buildings - The Skyscraper Center |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/cities |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.skyscrapercenter.com}}</ref> including the [[tallest building in the world|world's tallest building]], the [[Burj Khalifa]]. Extensive [[Land reclamation|land-reclamation]] projects have added more than {{convert|300|km}} of artificial coastline. The city has a large real estate market, especially in the luxury segment.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/dubai-luxury-property-boom-hit-new-record-before-tariff-turmoil Dubai Luxury Property Boom Hit New Record Before Tariff Turmoil], ''Bloomberg'', 22 May 2025</ref>
[[Economy of Dubai|Dubai's economy]] centres on trade, [[Tourism in Dubai|tourism]], aviation, [[financial services]], and real estate.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Traffic |title=Dubai's GDP expands by 3.1% in the first nine months of 2024 to reach AED339.4 billion |url=https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/february/06-02/over-aed-339-billion-of-dubai-total-gdp-for-9-months-of-2024 |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Government of Dubai Media Office |language=en}}</ref> The [[Dubai International Financial Centre]] (DIFC) is [[Global Financial Centres Index|one of the world's major financial centres]]. In 2024, Dubai was the seventh [[List of cities by international visitors|most-visited city globally]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=Euromonitor International reveals world's Top 100 City… |url=https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/december-2024/euromonitor-international-reveals-worlds-top-100-city-destinations-for-2024 |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Euromonitor |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Dubai International Airport]] (DXB) is the [[List of busiest airports by international passenger traffic|world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic]], handling over 92 million passengers in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kamel |first=Deena |title=Dubai airport's passenger traffic hit record 92.3 million last year |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2025/01/30/dubai-airports-passenger-traffic-hits-record-92-million-in-2024/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref>
== Etymology==
Many theories have been proposed about the 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> Others, that the word comes from 'money', a reference to the prosperity of the trading centre or that the word refers to 'two brothers', those being Deira and Bur Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Dubai |url=http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=13d94c8631cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203194320/http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=13d94c8631cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD |archive-date=2014-02-03 |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=www.sheikhmohammed.ae}}</ref>
The poet and scholar Ahmad Mohammad Obaid traces it to the same word, but to its alternative meaning of "baby [[locust]]" ({{lang|ar|[[wikt:جراد|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>
==History==
{{Main|History of Dubai}}
{{For timeline}}
[[File:Bronze & Iron Dagger, Saruq Al Hadid.jpg|thumb|upright=0.47|left|Bronze and iron alloy dagger, [[Saruq Al Hadid]] archaeological site (1100 BC)]]
The history of human settlement in the area now defined by the United Arab Emirates is complex and extensive. It points to extensive trading links between the civilisations of the [[Indus Valley Civilisation|Indus Valley]] and [[Mesopotamia]], and even 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|volume=28|issue=1|page=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|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 (civilization)|Magan]] and was a source of 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|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>
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|archive-date=10 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710101126/https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&pg=PA79|url-status=live}}</ref> After the spread of Islam in the region, the [[Umayyad]] [[Caliph]] of the eastern Islamic world conquered 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>
An early mention of Dubai in 1095 is in the ''Book of Geography'' by the [[Al-Andalus|Andalusian]]-[[Arab]] [[geographer]] [[Abu Abdullah al-Bakri]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dubai Rich History: Unveiling the Past |url=https://www.palmmonorail.com/blog/a-timeless-tale-unveiling-dubais-rich-history-and-enchanting-palm-jumeirah/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Palm Monorail |language=en}}</ref> The [[Venice|Venetian]] pearl merchant [[Gasparo Balbi]] visited the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (as ''Dibei'') for its [[pearl hunting|pearling]] industry.<ref name=balbi />
===Establishment of modern Dubai===
[[File:Al Fahidi-Fort.jpg|thumb|left|Al Fahidi fort in the 1950s]]
Dubai is thought to have been established as a pearling and 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=978-0-582-27728-1|___location=UK|page=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 = 978-1-85207-275-9|___location = UK|page = 545}}</ref> In 1822, a British naval surveyor noted that Dubai was at that time populated with a thousand people living in an oval-shaped town surrounded by a mud wall, scattered with goats and camels. The main footpath out of the village led to a reedy creek while another trailed off into the desert and merged into caravan routes.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Krane |first=Jim |url=http://archive.org/details/dubaistoryofworl0000kran |title=Dubai: The Story of the World's Fastest City |publisher=Atlantic |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-84887-009-3 |___location=London, England |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=17}}
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 Maktoum to establish the [[Al Maktoum|Maktoum dynasty]].<ref name=":0" />
Dubai signed the [[General Maritime Treaty of 1820]] with the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] along with other [[Trucial States]], following the [[Persian Gulf campaign of 1819|British campaign in 1819]] against [[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–United Kingdom Treaty of 1892|in 1892]].
[[File:Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort.jpg|thumb|left|[[Al Fahidi Fort]] houses the Dubai Museum.]]
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 |last1=Karim |first1=Luiza |publisher=Al Shindagah Magazine |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 of Bur Dubai's houses, while the Deira district 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|page=750}}</ref>
[[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, 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.<ref name=":72">{{Cite book |last=McNabb |first=Alexander |title=Children of the Seven Sands |publisher=Motivate Media Group |year=2025 |isbn=9781860635120 |___location=Dubai |pages=251}}</ref> 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|page=743}}</ref> the steamers called fortnightly – in 1906, trading 70,000 tones of cargo.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Father of Dubai|last=Wilson|first=Graeme|publisher=Media Prima|year=1999|page=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">{{Cite book |last=Lorimer |first=John |title=Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf |publisher=British Government, Bombay |year=1915 |page=2236}}</ref> 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|page=454}}</ref>
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 breadwinners 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|page=39}}</ref>
In 1910, in the [[The Hyacinth incident|Hyacinth incident]], the town was bombarded by [[HMS Hyacinth (1898)|HMS ''Hyacinth'']], with 37 people killed.
===Pre-oil Dubai===
As well as undergoing growth and expansion in its regional trade links, Dubai was also an important regional centre for the collection, sale, and trade of pearls. The collapse of the pearling industry saw the city fall into a deep depression and many residents lived in poverty or migrated to other parts of the Persian Gulf.<ref name="hist_trad" />
In 1937 an oil exploration contract was signed which guaranteed [[Royalty payment|royalty]] rights for Dubai and concessionary payments to Sheikh [[Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum|Saeed bin Maktoum]]. However, due to [[World War II]], oil would not be struck until 1966.<ref name=":03"/>{{Rp|page=|pages=36–37}}
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>
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Despite a lack of oil, Dubai's ruler from 1958, Sheikh [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]], used revenue from trading activities to build infrastructure and initially from loans raised through local merchants and the ruler of Kuwait. 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=978-0-582-27728-1|___location=London|page=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>
Throughout the late 1950s, the British political agent had urged Sheikh Rashid to agree to creation of a town plan as a means to manage an already burgeoning real estate market. In 1959, through the correspondence of the British political agent, Sheikh Rashid invited architect John Harris to Dubai to discuss the parameters of a town plan. In May 1960, Harris returned to Dubai with the plan. Harris, who ran his own architectural practice, had a matter of weeks to create the plan upon receiving aerial photography of the city that Spring. No later than 1961, the British engineering firm [[Halcrow Group|Halcrow]] was already marking the street system throughout the city, as drawn in the plan, and hardening designated ways with asphalt. The plan continued to function as a guide for further extensions of Dubai’s street system as municipal funding became available. Harris’s plan made minimal suggestions to disrupt the commercial and social lives in the existing areas of Bur Dubai and Deira. Therefore, new development was proposed outside these areas, further inland from the Gulf. While the town plan of 1960 envisioned a very low-rise city, which was not realised, its proposed road system was largely executed as planned. Harris’s firm acted independently of Halcrow; however, the plan’s accurate representation of ongoing land reclamation and the future Maktoum Bridge, which had not yet been proposed to the municipality, suggests that the two firms kept an open line of communication. The master plan’s road system also lent the municipality a guide for designating utility easements, as these became increasingly necessary.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reisz |first=Todd |title=Showpiece city: how architecture made Dubai |date=2021 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-1-5036-0988-4 |series=Stanford studies in Middle Eastern and Islamic societies and cultures |___location=Stanford, California}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Elshestawy |first1=Yasser |title=Planning Middle Eastern Cities: An Urban Kaleidoscope |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1-134-41010-7}}</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=978-0-04-953005-8|___location=London|page=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" /> The same year, a sand [[tax]] was briefly imposed by ruling Sheikh [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]], in an effort to boost trade by monetising the Emirate's most abundant resource. The tax was lifted after 11 days, making it the shortest lived tax in the region's history.<ref>{{cite book |last=Miniaoui |first=Héla |title=Economic Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries |publisher=Springer Nature |publication-place=Singapore |date=2020-10-26 |isbn=978-981-15-6058-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Alfaki |first1=Ibrahim |last2=Ahmed |first2=Allam |title=From Oil to Knowledge |publisher=Routledge |publication-place=London |date=2017-09-08 |isbn=978-1-351-28502-5 }}</ref>
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]] (Mumbai, 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 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Dakotas]], Herons, and [[Vickers Viscount|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, [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum|Sheikh Rashid]] approached his brother-in-law, [[Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani|the Ruler of Qatar]], for a loan to build the first bridge crossing [[Dubai 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 [[Mumbai|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, several 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 [[Coinage of India|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|page=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]], 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=978-0-04-953005-8|___location=London|page=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 fallen to 7% of GDP by 2004.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Sampler & Eigner |title=Sand to Silicon |publisher=Motivate |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-86063-254-9 |___location=UAE |page=11}}</ref>
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. Originally intended to be a four-berth port, it was extended to sixteen berths as construction was ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Port Rashid: A Brief History 1959-2008 |url=https://www.dubaiasitusedtobe.net/PortRashid1959-2008.shtml |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.dubaiasitusedtobe.net |archive-date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216035911/https://www.dubaiasitusedtobe.net/PortRashid1959-2008.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 Prime Minister [[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 = 978-1-86063-330-0|___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 = 978-1-86063-330-0|___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 British intervention against aggressive activities by two of the Emirates resulted in a walk-out by Bahrain and Qatar. They dropped out of talks, leaving six of the seven "trucial" emirates to agree on a 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:Vereinigte Arabische Emirate - Dubai - Palm Jumeirah und Dubai Marina - im Vordergrund das Hotel Atlantis - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Dubai Palm Jumeirah and Marina in 2011]]
Throughout the 1970s, Dubai experienced continued growth fueled by revenues generated from oil and trade, even as the city witnessed 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 persisted even after the formation of the UAE; it was only in 1979 that a formal compromise was reached, putting an end to disagreements.<ref name="lonelyplanet">Dubai. Carter, T and Dunston, L. ''Lonely Planet Publications''</ref> In 1979, the establishment of the [[Jebel Ali]] port, a deep-water port accommodating larger ships, marked a significant development. Initially facing challenges, Sheikh Mohammed initiated the JAFZA ([[Jebel Ali Free Zone]]) around the port in 1985, facilitating the unrestricted import of labour and export of capital for foreign companies.<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> Simultaneously, Dubai airport and the aviation industry continued their expansion.
The [[Gulf War]] in early 1991 had a negative financial impact on the city, with depositors and traders withdrawing money and trade. However, Dubai rebounded in a changing political climate and prospered. In the late 1990s, various foreign trading communities—initially from [[Kuwait]], during the Gulf War, and later from [[Bahrain]], amidst the [[Shia]] unrest—relocated 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 served as a refuelling base for allied forces at the Jebel Ali Free Zone during the Gulf War and again during the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]]. Subsequent significant increases in [[price of oil|oil prices]] prompted Dubai to maintain its focus on free trade and tourism.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Sand to Silicon: Going Global|last = Sampler & Eigner|publisher = Motivate|year = 2008|isbn = 978-1-86063-254-9|___location = UAE|page = 15}}</ref>
In the early 2000s, the construction of artificial islands on the coast of Dubai, known as the [[Palm Islands]] and [[The World (archipelago)|The World Islands]], began. The [[Burj Khalifa]] was opened in Dubai in 2010, surpassing the [[Taipei 101]] and officially becoming the [[List of tallest structures|tallest skyscraper in the world]].
Dubai's smart city initiatives, which include smart tourism, play a key role in advancing the city's growth ambitions, primarily through its Smart Dubai project.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=M. |last2=Woo |first2=Mina |last3=Nam |first3=Kichan |last4=Chathoth |first4=Prakash |date=2017-12-08 |title=Smart City and Smart Tourism: A Case of Dubai |journal=Sustainability |language=en |volume=9 |issue=12 |pages=2279 |doi=10.3390/su9122279 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2017Sust....9.2279K |issn=2071-1050}}</ref> In 2016, the world's first functioning 3D-printed office building was opened in Dubai,<ref name="Office of the Future">{{Cite web |date=2017-07-25 |title=Office of the Future |url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/office-of-the-future_o |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Architect |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420105248/https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/office-of-the-future_o |url-status=live }}</ref> having taken 17 days to build.<ref name="Office of the Future"/> Its architect, [[Killa Design]], was the same architect that designed the [[Museum of the Future]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Office of the Future |url=https://www.killadesign.com/portfolio/office-of-the-future/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Killa Design |language=en-GB}}</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, the 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]]
[[File:Dubai by Copernicus Sentinel-2 in false-colour.jpg|thumb|Dubai by Copernicus [[Sentinel-2]] satellite in false-colour in 2024]]
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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palm Jumeirah {{!}} History, Description, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palm-Jumeirah |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519193947/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palm-Jumeirah |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Subraelu |first1=P. |last2=Ebraheem |first2=Abdel Azim |last3=Sherif |first3=Mohsen |last4=Sefelnasr |first4=Ahmed |last5=Yagoub |first5=M. M. |last6=Rao |first6=Kakani Nageswara |date=2022-11-12 |title=Land in Water: The Study of Land Reclamation and Artificial Islands Formation in the UAE Coastal Zone: A Remote Sensing and GIS Perspective |journal=Land |language=en |volume=11 |issue=11 |pages=2024 |doi=10.3390/land11112024 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022Land...11.2024S |issn=2073-445X}}</ref>
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 shells 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 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 />
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]] and [[jacaranda]] grow in Dubai's natural parks. The [[MacQueen's 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]] 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>
===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Dubai}}
Dubai features 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 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.
Dubai summers are also known for the very high humidity level, which can make it very uncomfortable for many with exceptionally high dew points, which can exceed {{convert|30|°C|0}} 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 |date=14 July 2016 |archive-date=17 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717230446/https://gulfnews.com/uae/weather/64-degrees-in-dubai---should-you-worry-1.1862007 |url-status=live}}</ref> The highest recorded temperature in Dubai is {{cvt|49.0|C|F|abbr=}}.
Very dry, Dubai's average annual precipitation is {{convert|79.2|mm|2|abbr=on}}. However, precipitation 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> Record-setting [[flooding]] inundated Dubai in April 2024, demonstrating a lack of appropriate [[drainage]] to deal with the immense challenges precipitated by [[climate change]].<ref name=DubaiTorrentialFlooding>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-20/dubai-floods-expose-weakness-to-climate-change-after-uae-heavy-rains|title=Dubai Floods Expose Weaknesses to a Rapidly Changing Climate|author=Zainab Fattah, Laura Millan, and Coco Liu|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=April 20, 2024|access-date=May 11, 2024|quote=Extreme rains brought to a halt one of the hottest and driest cities on Earth.|archive-date=20 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420083803/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-20/dubai-floods-expose-weakness-to-climate-change-after-uae-heavy-rains|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| ___location = Dubai (1991–2020)
| 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 = 44.6
| May record high C = 47.0
| Jun record high C = 47.9
| Jul record high C = 49.0
| Aug record high C = 48.8
| Sep record high C = 45.1
| Oct record high C = 42.4
| Nov record high C = 38.1
| 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 = 26.9
| 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 = 19.6
| 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 = 20.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 9.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 21.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 3.3
| May precipitation mm = 0.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.02
| Jul precipitation mm = 1.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.003
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.04
| Oct precipitation mm = 1.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 5.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 14.8
|year precipitation mm = 79.2
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 2.8
| Feb precipitation days = 2.4
| Mar precipitation days = 3.4
| Apr precipitation days = 1.5
| May precipitation days = 0.4
| Jun precipitation days = 0.1
| Jul precipitation days = 0.5
| Aug precipitation days = 0.5
| Sep precipitation days = 0.2
| Oct precipitation days = 0.3
| Nov precipitation days = 1.3
| Dec precipitation days = 3.8
|Jan humidity = 65
|Feb humidity = 64
|Mar humidity = 61
|Apr humidity = 54
|May humidity = 50
|Jun humidity = 55
|Jul humidity = 55
|Aug humidity = 53
|Sep humidity = 59
|Oct humidity = 60
|Nov humidity = 61
|Dec humidity = 65
|year humidity = 58.7
| Jan sun = 253.1
| Feb sun = 250.8
| Mar sun = 288.0
| Apr sun = 315.6
| May sun = 350.0
| Jun sun = 344.5
| Jul sun = 340.3
| Aug sun = 333.9
| Sep sun = 307.8
| Oct sun = 300.0
| Nov sun = 268.1
| Dec sun = 256.9
| year sun = 3608.9
| 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
| Jan uv = 5
| Feb uv = 7
| Mar uv = 9
| Apr uv = 11
| May uv = 12
| Jun uv = 12
| Jul uv = 12
| Aug uv = 12
| Sep uv = 11
| Oct uv = 9
| Nov uv = 6
| Dec uv = 5
| source 1 = [[NOAA]] (humidity 1981-2010),<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web |title=Climate Normals for Dubai |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/UAE/CSV/DubaiIntlAirport_41194.csv |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=10 February 2013 |archive-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231041043/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/UAE/CSV/DubaiIntlAirport_41194.csv |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=WMO>{{cite web |title=Climate Normals 1981-2010 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/normals-old/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/UnitedArabEmirates/WMO_Normals_Excel_Dubai%20International%20Airport_UAE.XLS|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] | access-date=26 October 2024}}</ref> Dubai Meteorological Office (daily sun 1974-2009)<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 =
}}
[[File:Dubai desert - panoramio.jpg | thumb|right | alt=View of desert near Dubai | Dubai desert]]
==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 and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai]]
Dubai has been ruled by the [[Al Maktoum]] family since 1833; the emirate is an [[absolute 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 a 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> It has since then evolved into an autonomous subnational authority, collectively known as the [[Government of Dubai]] which is responsible for both the city of Dubai and the greater emirate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The local governments of the seven emirates |publisher=[[United Arab Emirates government|UAE Government]] |url=https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/the-local-governments-of-the-seven-emirates |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=u.ae |archive-date=24 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924212140/https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/the-local-governments-of-the-seven-emirates |url-status=live }}</ref> The Government of Dubai has over 58 governmental departments responsible for security, economic policy, education, transportation, immigration, and is one of only three emirates to have a separate judicial system independent from the federal judiciary of the UAE.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kingsley |first1=Jeremy J. |last2=Heap |first2=Melinda |date=2019-07-01 |title=DUBAI: CREATING A GLOBAL LEGAL PLATFORM? |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=14448602&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA656362888&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |journal=Melbourne Journal of International Law |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=1C}}</ref> The [[Ruler of Dubai]] is the [[head of government]] and [[emir]] (head of state) and laws, decrees, and court judgments are issued in his name, however, since 2003, executive authority of managing and overseeing Dubai Governmental agencies has been delegated to the [[Government of Dubai#Dubai Executive Council|Dubai Executive Council]], led by the [[Crown prince of Dubai|Crown Prince of Dubai]] [[Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum]]. Although no legislative assembly exists, the traditional [[Majlis|open majlis]] (council) where citizens and representatives of the Ruler meet are often used for feedback on certain domestic issues.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Salem |first=Fadi |date=2007-06-25 |title=Enhancing Trust in E-Voting Through Knowledge Management: The Case of the UAE |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1498505 |___location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=1498505}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=United Arab Emirates: a new perspective |date=2001 |publisher=Trident Press |others=Ibrahim Abed, Peter Hellyer |isbn=1-900724-47-2 |___location=London |oclc=47140175 }}</ref>
==Law enforcement and crime==
[[File:Dubai_Police_at_work_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Dubai Police operates a fleet of [[exotic car]]s in addition to the normal cars.]]
The [[Dubai Police Force]], founded in 1956 in the locality of [[Naif]], has law enforcement jurisdiction over the emirate. The force is under the 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|archive-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307002931/https://www.uae-embassy.org/services-resources/students/scholarship-programs/dubai-police|url-status=live}}</ref> 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]] 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 sale and consumption, though legal, is regulated. Adult non-Muslims are allowed to consume alcohol in licensed venues, typically within hotels or at home with the possession of an alcohol license. 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> In 2024, Dubai authorities charged an Irish woman for consuming alcohol.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Tori Towey: Irish PM says travel ban lifted for woman held in UAE |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c897jlr9274o |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Tori Towey: Irish woman charged with attempting suicide in Dubai after alleged attack |url=https://news.sky.com/story/tori-towey-irish-woman-charged-with-attempting-suicide-in-dubai-13175687 |website=Sky News |language=en |access-date=10 July 2024 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710131458/https://news.sky.com/story/tori-towey-irish-woman-charged-with-attempting-suicide-in-dubai-13175687 |url-status=live }}</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>
===International crime hub and criminal haven===
Dubai is a notorious global centre and sanctuary for money launderers, drug lords, corrupt political figures, and sanctioned businessmen.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Dubai Unlocked |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/dubai-unlocked/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=OCCRP |language=en |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514180307/https://www.occrp.org/en/dubai-unlocked/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It has been called a 'gangster's paradise'.<ref>Liam Collins, 'Gangsters' paradise – Dubai's finely spun web starts to unravel', Irish Independent, 21 February 2021; [https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/gangsters-paradise-dubais-finely-spun-web-starts-to-unravel/40114262.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309064020/https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/gangsters-paradise-dubais-finely-spun-web-starts-to-unravel/40114262.html|date=9 March 2024}}</ref> This includes money laundering by major crime syndicates.
This state of affairs has been enabled by a complex range of factors: the lack of extradition treaties with many countries, banking secrecy, liberal visa policies, low taxes, a large expatriate community in which shady figures are easily absorbed and welcomed, a non-transparent real estate market that readily enables money laundering, and not least, the monarchical dictatorship of the Maktoum family which facilitates it through deliberately lax legislation and policy.<ref>Dubai's Golden Sands, Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), 12 June 2018; [https://www.occrp.org/en/goldensands/]</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Christian Baghai, 'How Dubai Became a Safe Haven for Europe's Most Wanted Criminals', Medium, 28 December 2023</ref>
Examples include Amit Gupta, who bribed Nauru politicians in an attempt to stage a coup that would give him control of that island's mining rights<ref>'Nick McKenzie, Michael Bachelard, 'The man who tried to buy a country', The Age, 9 March 2024; [https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-man-who-tried-to-buy-a-country-20240227-p5f83r.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309064020/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-man-who-tried-to-buy-a-country-20240227-p5f83r.html|date=9 March 2024}}</ref> and Ahmed Al Hamza, a transnational crime figure and one of Melbourne's most powerful gangsters.<ref>One of Melbourne's most powerful gangsters lives half a world away, ''HeraldSun'', 8 September 2023;[https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/powerful-melbourne-crime-figure-pulling-strings-from-afar/news-story/200819abcf6e826ab9a4faeaccdcd249]</ref>
''Dubai's Role in Facilitating Corruption and Global Illicit Financial Flows'', a 2020 report from the influential Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated: "Part of what underpins Dubai's prosperity is a steady stream of illicit proceeds borne from corruption and crime...Meanwhile, both Emirati leaders and the international community continue to turn a blind eye to the problematic behaviours, administrative loopholes, and weak enforcement practices that make Dubai a globally attractive destination for dirty money."<ref name="Carnegie Endowment for International Peace">Matthew T. Page, Vodi Vittori, 'Dubai's Role in Facilitating Corruption and Global Illicit Financial Flows', 7 July 2020; [https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2020/07/dubais-role-in-facilitating-corruption-and-global-illicit-financial-flows?lang=en] </ref>
Dubai is an investment base for the international drug trade by [[Balkans|Balkan]] criminal groups, while Belgian criminals are notably active in its real estate market on behalf of Russian oligarchs and politicians, who seek to launder their ill-gotten gains.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> In 2022, a data leak obtained by the U.S. [[Center for Advanced Defense Studies]] (C4ADS), exposed just some of this activity.<ref>Matthew Kupfer, Eiliv Frich Flydal, 'Dubai Uncovered: Data Leak Exposes How Criminals, Officials, and Sanctioned Politicians Poured Money Into Dubai Real Estate', Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), 3 May 2022; [https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/dubai-uncovered-data-leak-exposes-how-criminals-officials-and-sanctioned-politicians-poured-money-into-dubai-real-estate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/dubai-uncovered-data-leak-exposes-how-criminals-officials-and-sanctioned-politicians-poured-money-into-dubai-real-estate|date=2 January 2020}}</ref> Dubai is under observation by the [[Financial Action Task Force|Financial Action Task Force (FATF)]], which is likely to bring greater international scrutiny and pressure on its government.<ref name="Carnegie Endowment for International Peace" />
Ireland's [[Kinahan Organised Crime Group|Kinahan Cartel]] had been undertaking its operations from Dubai, which was becoming a haven for organised crime gangs. The cartel is run by the founder [[Christy Kinahan]] and his sons, [[Daniel Kinahan|Daniel]] and Christopher Kinahan. Although they are regular visitors to Dubai, their exact whereabouts remain unknown. The crime group maintains connections with powerful Emirati families and the regime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinahan gang 'protected by Dubai elites' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/kinahan-gang-protected-by-dubai-elites-mcbj707hw |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=The Times |date=10 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Using their Emirati partners, the Kinahan family has established multiple companies in the Emirates to trade in clothing, textiles, and food, along with management in aviation consultancies in free zones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How a ruthless Irish gang found a home away from home in Dubai and an enemy in the White House |url=https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2022/04/how-a-ruthless-irish-gang-found-a-home-away-from-home-in-dubai-and-an-enemy-in-the-white-house/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=International Consortium of Investigative Journalists |date=23 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121214011/https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2022/04/how-a-ruthless-irish-gang-found-a-home-away-from-home-in-dubai-and-an-enemy-in-the-white-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With Dubai becoming a refuge for criminals, the Kinahan cartel held regular meetings with their criminal associates in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gangster's Paradise: How Dubai Finally Turned On Its Crime Lords |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dubai-crime-taghi-kinahan/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=VICE |date=12 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The US, UK, and Europol targeted the organised crime group and imposed sanctions on the Kinahan family and seven of their associates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treasury Sanctions Notorious Kinahan Organized Crime Group |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0713 |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=US Department of the Treasury |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US puts $5M bounty on heads of Irish gang based in Dubai |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/us-uk-europol-dubai-5-million-bounty-kinahan-cartel-irish-gang-in-dubai/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Politico |date=12 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> On 11 October 2024, the [[Interpol]] issued a red notice against a cartel member, Sean McGovern, who was arrested by the Dubai police.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ireland's 'Most Wanted' arrested in United Arab Emirates |url=https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2024/Ireland-s-Most-Wanted-arrested-in-United-Arab-Emirates |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=INTERPOL |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208020523/https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2024/Ireland-s-Most-Wanted-arrested-in-United-Arab-Emirates |url-status=live }}</ref> The Kinahan cartel was planning an escape from the Emirates, in case of an extradition request from Ireland. The group had a detailed plan to move to Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinahan cartel plots escape from Dubai after associate's arrest |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/kinahan-cartel-plots-escape-from-dubai-after-associates-arrest-p9slt70c8 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=The Times |date=12 October 2024 |language=en |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204054655/https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/kinahan-cartel-plots-escape-from-dubai-after-associates-arrest-p9slt70c8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinahans have plans to flee UAE to Russia after extradition treaty signed |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41499257.html |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Irish Examiner |date=19 October 2024 |language=en |archive-date=26 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126211028/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41499257.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 21 October, an extradition treaty was also signed between Ireland and the UAE.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ireland signs extradition treaty with UAE in effort to catch Kinahan cartel |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e8064f86-8eba-4288-886e-50ee3817ec43 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Financial Times |date=21 October 2024 |language=en |last1=Kerr |first1=Simeon |last2=Webber |first2=Jude |archive-date=21 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241021174502/https://www.ft.com/content/e8064f86-8eba-4288-886e-50ee3817ec43 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Human rights===
{{Main|Human rights in Dubai}}
[[File:Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (II).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 1985)|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|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629160557/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/dubai-princess-missing-latest-sheikha-latifa-escape-uae-detained-sheikh-mohammed-a8339976.html|url-status=live}}</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> 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 journal|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|journal=Human Rights Watch |date=11 November 2006 |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 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/en/article/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 watchdogs' (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 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 |archive-date = 22 September 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200922191325/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/government/you-can-get-jailed-for-breaking-this-uae-work-law-video-warning-issued |url-status = live}}</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 |access-date=3 August 2019 |archive-date=3 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803205755/https://www.thejournal.ie/same-sex-rights-across-the-world-4222149-Sep2018/ |url-status=live}}</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> Some of the labourers lured by the higher pay available in Dubai are victims of human trafficking or forced labour while some women are even forced 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 of up to half a million dirhams and a jail term of up to 2 years. In January 2020, three Sri Lankan expats were fined 500,000 [[United Arab Emirates dirham|dirhams]] (US$136,000) each for posting defamatory Islamophobic Facebook posts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/crime-and-courts/3-men-in-dubai-fined-dh500000-each-for-insulting-islam-online-/|title=3 men in Dubai fined Dh500,000 each for insulting Islam online|last=Nammour|first=Marie|date=20 January 2020|website=Khaleejtimes|access-date=8 Aug 2021|archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809003538/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/crime-and-courts/3-men-in-dubai-fined-dh500000-each-for-insulting-islam-online-/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A victim of domestic violence, Tori Towey faced abuse since getting married in March 2024. She lived in Dubai and was working as a flight attendant for the Emirates Airlines. When she attempted to seek help for the first time in Dubai, Towey was mocked by an Emirati police officer. The authorities charged her with attempting suicide and illegal consumption of alcohol, along with banning her from leaving Dubai. Towey was assisted by Radha Sterling, who questioned Ireland's travel advice, claiming it is "insufficient" to assist visitors, particularly women, in understanding how to attend to officials in the UAE. Sterling said it is difficult to explain to foreign travellers about how they can stay safe in the Emirates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/07/12/dubai-is-very-unsafe-for-women-going-through-marital-breakdown-says-human-rights-advocate/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722054248/https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/07/12/dubai-is-very-unsafe-for-women-going-through-marital-breakdown-says-human-rights-advocate/|archive-date=22 July 2024|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |title=Dubai is 'very unsafe' for women going through a marital breakdown, says human rights advocate|first=Sorcha|last=Pollak|date=12 July 2024|access-date=16 March 2025}}</ref>
==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Dubai}}
{{Historical populations
|footnote = c-census; e-estimate
|1822<ref name="hist_karim"/>|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=hist_karim /> |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|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311005342/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/DSC_SYB_2014_01%20_%2001.pdf|url-status=live}}</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|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214003323/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/Copy%20of%20DSC_SYB_2016_01%20_%2002.pdf|url-status=live}}</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|archive-date=18 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218120209/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/DSC_SYB_2019_01%20_%2003.pdf|url-status=live}}</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">{{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|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215235952/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/en-us/DSC-News/Pages/Dubai-Population-Are-3.3-Million-by-Q3-19.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 the 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 emirate's population 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=dead|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|Bangladeshis]] (9%) and [[Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates|Filipinos]] (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|url-status=usurped|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|access-date = 7 January 2021|archive-date = 31 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200731033135/https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/the-other-special-relationship-the-uae-and-the-uk-1.549898|url-status = live}}</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 most Emiratis; some Emiratis also speak [[Shihhi Arabic]].<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]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Urdu]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[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}}
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| footer = Al Salam Mosque in [[Al Barsha]] and [[United Christian Church of Dubai]]
| image1 = Al Salam Mosque at night.jpg
| width1 = 220
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = United Christian Church of Dubai.jpg
| width2 = 220
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
}}
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|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728170924/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192911.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates provides for [[freedom of religion]]. Expats held to be 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>
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Dubai (2014)<ref name="RELIGION"/>
|titlebar=
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|56}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|DarkBlue|25}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindu]]|Orange|16}}
{{Bar percent|Others|Gray|2}}
}}
Dubai has large [[Christians|Christian]], [[Hindu]], [[Sikh]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]], [[Buddhist]], [[Jain]] 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> In 2014, more than 56% of Dubai residents were Muslims, while 25% of the Dubai residents were Christians and 16% were Hindus. While around 2% of the Dubai residents were adherent of other religions.<ref name="RELIGION">{{cite book|last=Malcolm |first=Russell|title=The Middle East and South Asia 2014|year=2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9780521889520|pages=192–193|quote= More than 56% of Dubai residents are Muslims, 25% of the population is Christian and 16% is Hindu. 2% of the population of Dubai has a different religion.}}</ref> The [[Churches Complex]] in [[Jebel Ali Village]] is an area for several churches and temples of different [[religious denomination]]s, especially [[Christian denomination]]s.<ref name="thingstodopost">{{cite web | url=https://www.thingstodopost.org/the-6-best-churches-cathedrals-in-jebel-ali-emirate-of-dubai-836780 | title=The 6 Best Churches & Cathedrals in Jebel Ali, Emirate of Dubai | first=Fernanda | last=Pittenger | website=thingstodopost.org | access-date=9 March 2022 | archive-date=3 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603010207/https://www.thingstodopost.org/the-6-best-churches-cathedrals-in-jebel-ali-emirate-of-dubai-836780 | url-status=live }}</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 |archive-date=10 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110154648/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm |url-status=live}}</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' |work=GulfNews |date=9 May 2014 |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, "The plan for a temple in Dubai comes in response to their gracious invitation, which we gratefully acknowledge."<ref>{{cite web|last=Nelson|first=Russell M.|title=Go Forward in Faith|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/57nelson?lang=eng|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-11|website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111181608/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/57nelson?lang=eng}}</ref>
==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Dubai}}
[[File:Burj_Khalifa_2021.jpg|thumb|left|[[Burj Khalifa]] and [[Downtown Dubai]]]]
[[File:Dubai Marina 04.jpg|thumb|[[Dubai Marina]]]]
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 over US$177 billion in 2021, 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 $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">{{cite web |date=9 June 2007 |title=Oil share dips in Dubai GDP |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/122863.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926033757/http://www.ameinfo.com/122863.html |archive-date=26 September 2013 |access-date=15 October 2007 |website=[[AMEInfo]]}}</ref> 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">{{cite web |date=7 September 2005 |title=Dubai diversifies out of oil |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/66981.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219030604/http://www.ameinfo.com/66981.html |archive-date=19 December 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |publisher=[[AMEInfo]]}}</ref> 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 totaled $12.3 billion, Switzerland and Japan both at $11.72 billion, and UK trade totaled $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">{{usurped|1=[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 human-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.]], [[Halliburton]], [[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|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306230339/https://dic.ae/the-community/community-directory|url-status=live}}</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|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301074002/http://tradearabia.com/news/BANK_379387.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:National Bank of Dubai - panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright|[[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]] of 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 is the world's fastest-growing free zone and has 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 first 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 real estate.<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]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rfz.ae/dubai-design-district-freezone |title=Rockefeller Zone |publisher=Rfz.ae |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=4 May 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134424/https://www.rfz.ae/ |archive-date=15 November 2021}}</ref> which is 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>
As of March 2024, Dubai began operating the world's biggest waste-to-energy facility, which will power approximately 135,000 homes.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Oliva |first1=Ana De |date=2024-05-17 |title=World's biggest waste-to-energy facility will power more than 100,000 homes |url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/middleeast/dubai-worlds-biggest-waste-to-energy-facility/index.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610103852/https://edition.cnn.com/world/middleeast/dubai-worlds-biggest-waste-to-energy-facility/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2024, Dubai signed an agreement to develop a logistic hub for food, fruits, and vegetables that is planned to be the largest of its kind in the world. UAE Minister of Finance [[Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum|Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed]] was present at the signing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=Dubai to have 'world's largest' logistics hub for trading foodstuffs, fruits, vegetables |url=https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/dubai-to-have-worlds-largest-logistics-hub-for-trading-foodstuffs-fruits-vegetables-1.1720611028517 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711141536/https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/dubai-to-have-worlds-largest-logistics-hub-for-trading-foodstuffs-fruits-vegetables-1.1720611028517 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2024, the city of Dubai ranked 12 out of 142 cities in the Smart City Index.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bbc.com/travel/article/20240717-whats-it-like-to-live-in-the-worlds-smartest-cities-for-2024 | title=What's it like to live in the world's 'smartest cities' for 2024 | date=17 July 2024 | access-date=15 August 2024 | archive-date=15 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815113820/https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240717-whats-it-like-to-live-in-the-worlds-smartest-cities-for-2024 | url-status=live }}</ref>
===Real estate and property===
[[File:Dubai Creek from Bur Dubai (5374118618).jpg|thumb|Dubai Creek, which separates [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] from [[Bur Dubai]], played a vital role in the economic development of the city.]]
In September 2019, Dubai's ruler Sheikh [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]] ordered the establishment of the Higher Committee for Real Estate Planning to study and evaluate future real estate construction projects, in order 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 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105135600/https://www.mediaoffice.ae/404?item=%2fmedia-center%2fnews%2f2%2f9%2f2019%2f%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&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=GDMOwebsiteMainWWW |url-status=live}}</ref> which is seen as a move to curb the pace of construction projects following a decline in property prices.<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 |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904204821/https://apnews.com/76375d175bc048baabe4056025be75dd |url-status=live}}</ref>
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 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">{{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> 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 $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>
In Dubai, many of the property owners are residents or genuine investors. However, the 2020 Data from the [[Center for Advanced Defense Studies|Centre for Advanced Defense Studies]] (C4ADS) exposed that several real estate owners in the city were either facing international sanctions or were involved in criminal activities. Some others were public officials, with a minimal possibility of purchasing it with their known incomes. The report "Dubai Uncovered" mentioned names of 100 [[Russian oligarchs]], public officials, and Europeans involved in [[money laundering]]. Benefiting from Dubai's lack of proper real estate regulations, several corrupt people owned a house away from home, laundered their illicit money, and invested to store their wealth. Names of some of such questionable figures included [[Daniel Kinahan]], [[Alexander Borodai]], Roman Lyabikhov, Tibor Bokor, [[Ruslan Baisarov]], Miroslav Výboh, and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/dubai-uncovered-data-leak-exposes-how-criminals-officials-and-sanctioned-politicians-poured-money-into-dubai-real-estate|title=Dubai Uncovered: Data Leak Exposes How Criminals, Officials, and Sanctioned Politicians Poured Money Into Dubai Real Estate|access-date=3 May 2022|website=OCCRP|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/dubai-uncovered-data-leak-exposes-how-criminals-officials-and-sanctioned-politicians-poured-money-into-dubai-real-estate|url-status=live}}</ref>
For years, Dubai has been labeled as a major hub for laundering illicit cash, primarily through its real estate market. Due to the UAE's lack of proper regulations and extradition treaties with many countries, fugitives found it to be a perfect hideout. The "Dubai Unlocked" investigation by journalists from 75 media outlets, in coordination with OCCRP and E24, revealed how Dubai's real estate market became a haven for criminals, money launderers, drug lords, fugitives, political figures accused of corruption, and sanctioned individuals to hide their money in Dubai. The investigation was based on 2020 and 2022 data leaks, primarily from the Dubai Land Department and publicly owned utility companies. The EU Tax Observatory and Norway's Centre for Tax Research evaluated that in 2022, foreign ownership in Dubai's real estate market was worth approximately $160 billion. Until 2022, there was no obligation for real estate agents, brokers, and lawyers in Dubai to report large cash or cryptocurrency transactions to authorities.<ref>{{cite news|title=What Is 'Dubai Unlocked'? Everything You Need To Know |date=14 May 2024 |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/dubai-unlocked/what-is-dubai-unlocked-everything-you-need-to-know |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524192622/https://www.occrp.org/en/dubai-unlocked/what-is-dubai-unlocked-everything-you-need-to-know |archive-date=24 May 2024 |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref>
Following February 2022, property prices in Dubai increased significantly, as wealthy Russians started investing in the UAE's real estate after the Ukraine invasion. Since 2020, property prices in Dubai increased by 124%. Meanwhile, the EU Tax Observatory and Norway's Centre for Tax Research revealed that Russians invested around $6.3 billion in Dubai's existing and in-developed properties, since 2022. The increase in property prices pushed out the British expatriates, and forced them to look for property outside Dubai in cities like Ras Al Khaimah.<ref>{{cite news|last=Swan|first=Melanie|title=Russian cash threatens to price British ex-pats out of Dubai|date=8 September 2024|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/08/russia-property-cash-ukraine-uae-dubai-brits/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909035031/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/08/russia-property-cash-ukraine-uae-dubai-brits/|archive-date=9 September 2024|access-date=2 November 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
Despite the rising property prices, real estate transactions in Dubai are at an all time high, with 180,987 transactions worth AED 522.5bn taking place in 2024. This marks a 36.5% increase in the volume of transactions since 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salian |first=Neesha |date=2025-01-10 |title=Dubai, Abu Dhabi real estate markets shine in 2024: Property Finder |url=https://gulfbusiness.com/dubai-abu-dhabi-real-estate-markets-shine-in-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Tourism and retail===
{{See also|Tourism in Dubai|List of tourist attractions in Dubai}}
[[File:Hotel Atlantis at Sunset, The Palm - Dubai (49510861268).jpg|thumb|left|[[Atlantis The Palm, Dubai|Hotel Atlantis in Dubai]]]]
[[File:Ain Dubai, light show of the ferris wheel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.jpg|thumb|[[Ain Dubai]]]]
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|date=7 February 2017 |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> A great tourist attraction in Dubai is the [[Burj Khalifa]], currently the tallest building in the world, although [[Jeddah Tower]] in [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] is aiming to be taller.
[[File:DubaiMallAquariumDSC 7260.JPG|thumb|left|[[The Dubai Mall]] Aquarium]]
[[File:Dubai fountain during a show (Pixabay).jpg|thumb|[[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 second-largest shopping centre, [[The Dubai Mall]]. As of June 2024 the Emirate real estate developer [[Emaar Properties]], announced plans to expand the 12-million-square-foot mall, for 1.5 billion dirhams ($408 million), adding a further 240 luxury stores, along with new food outlets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cairns |first=Rebecca |date=2024-06-06 |title=The world's largest shopping mall is about to get even bigger |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/travel/dubai-mall-largest-shopping-expansion-hnk-intl-spc/index.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610102313/https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/travel/dubai-mall-largest-shopping-expansion-hnk-intl-spc/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 that 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§ion=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§ion=nationgeneral |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> Many boutiques and jeweler 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:Burj Al-Arab (13996844503).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 showcases some of the most famous [[tourist attractions in Dubai]] such as the 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=usurped |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, and Hamriya Park. Each park is uniquely distinct from the others. Mushrif Park showcases different houses from 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]]'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|date=6 September 2019|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915010723/https://www.consultancy-me.com/news/2314/at-30-billion-dubai-takes-in-the-most-global-tourist-dollars-by-far|url-status=live}}</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 to 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|archive-date=30 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030085950/https://hotworldreport.com/world-news/dubai-loosens-liquor-laws-as-uae-alcohol-sales-slump/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021, the UAE was ranked amongst the 20 most dangerous places for LGBTQ tourists to visit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2021/03/23/crime-report-20-riskiest-places-for-gay-travelers-and-the-5-safest/|title=Travel Safety Report: 20 Worst Places For Gay Travelers|access-date=23 March 2022|website=Forbes|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2021/03/23/crime-report-20-riskiest-places-for-gay-travelers-and-the-5-safest/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, there were cases where several LGBTQ tourists who travelled to Dubai faced issues and were deported. In March 2022, Thai transgender model Rachaya Noppakaroon visited Dubai for her performance at the Expo 2020 but was sent back because her passport stated her gender as male.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/transgender-model-dubai-airport/|title=Trans Model Says She Was Deported at Dubai Border Because of Her Male Passport|access-date=21 March 2022|website=Vice|date=21 March 2022|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkpw4v/transgender-model-dubai-airport|url-status=live}}</ref> In another case, a French influencer on [[TikTok]] and [[Snapchat]], Ibrahim Godin, was sent back from Dubai because the authorities assumed his male friend travelling with him was his boyfriend. Ibrahim filed a complaint for "public defamation because of sexual orientation" and an investigation was opened by the [[Vesoul]] police. He said, "Dubai is not all pretty, all rosy as we see on social networks."<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/lgbt/le-gars-avec-toi-ce-serait-pas-ton-petit-ami-un-influenceur-francais-porte-plainte-apres-avoir-ete-refoule-de-l-aeroport-de-dubai_5201806.html| title="The guy with you, isn't that your boyfriend?": a French influencer files a complaint after being turned away from Dubai airport| access-date=16 June 2022| website=France Info| date=16 June 2022| archive-date=2 January 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/lgbt/le-gars-avec-toi-ce-serait-pas-ton-petit-ami-un-influenceur-francais-porte-plainte-apres-avoir-ete-refoule-de-l-aeroport-de-dubai_5201806.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tiktok.com/@ibrahim.470/video/7099023722740288773|title=Ibrahim Godin TikTok video about trip to Dubai|access-date=18 May 2022|website=TikTok|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.tiktok.com/@ibrahim.470/video/7099023722740288773|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Expo 2020===
{{See also|Expo 2020}}
[[File:Dubai Expo Sign.jpg|thumb|Sign of Expo 2020 Dubai UAE at [[Dubai International Airport]]]]
On 2 November 2011, four cities had their bids for Expo 2020<ref name=":6">{{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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130111831/https://newsroom.mastercard.com/mea/press-releases/dubai-remains-one-of-the-worlds-most-visited-cities-mastercard-global-destination-cities-index-2019/ |archive-date=30 January 2021 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=MasterCard Social Newsroom}}</ref> 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, the 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 news|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|date=27 November 2013|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|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713211353/https://maintenance.expo2020dubai.com/|url-status=live}}</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 October 2021 to 31 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=Arabian Business|date=30 Mar 2020 |access-date=31 March 2020|archive-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331160951/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/444082-expo-2020-dubai-set-to-be-postponed-by-one-year-report|url-status=live}}</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 |date=4 May 2020 |access-date=15 January 2021|website=Khaleej Times|archive-date=4 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504180053/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus-pandemic/expo-2020-dubai-dates-set-to-be-postponed|url-status=live}}</ref>
Dubai has targets to build an inclusive, barrier-free, and disabled-friendly city, which opened as [[Expo City Dubai]]. 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 |first1=Saman |last1=Haziq |date=3 Aug 2019 |archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803055658/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/dubai-inches-closer-to-becoming-worlds-best-city-for-the-disabled-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Architecture==
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Dubai|Developments in Dubai}}
[[File:Burj Khalifa (worlds tallest building) and the Dubai skyline (25781049892).jpg|thumb|Photographic [[silhouette]] of the [[Downtown Dubai]]'s [[skyline]]; [[Burj Khalifa]], the [[List of tallest buildings|world's tallest building]], is visible at the center]]
[[File:Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Unsplash pyX20r3Z-1Y).jpg|thumb|Interior of a [[Dubai Metro]] station]]
[[File:Museum of the Future 12.jpg|thumb|[[Museum of the Future]]]]
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 name="hist_karim"/> 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 Burj Khalifa, 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)|At The Top]] in 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 |work=Khaleej Times |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>
The [[Dubai Creek Tower|Creek Tower]] had been planned in the 2010s to keep Dubai atop the list of [[List of tallest towers|tallest buildings]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-09-03 |title=Dubai Creek Tower (The Tower) project timeline and all you need to know |url=https://constructionreviewonline.com/project-timelines/dubai-creek-tower-the-tower-project-timeline-and-all-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Construction Review Online |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811210740/https://constructionreviewonline.com/project-timelines/dubai-creek-tower-the-tower-project-timeline-and-all-you-need-to-know/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, construction was placed on indefinite hold during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]] and no date has been announced for the project to continue.<ref>{{cite news |title="We don't build anymore": Emaar confirms suspension of new construction in Dubai |url=https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/we-dont-build-anymore-emaar-confirms-suspension-ne/ |work=Global Construction Review |date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708043744/https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/we-dont-build-anymore-emaar-confirms-suspension-ne/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Dubai is recognised as a "[[Design Cities (UNESCO)|Design City]]" by [[UNESCO]]'s [[Creative Cities Network]].
==
{{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|archive-date=24 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624235044/http://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-tourism/hotel-star-ratings-standards-long-overdue|url-status=live}}</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, starting in 2004 and ending in 2009. It's also an architectural icon, named after Sheikh [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/world/middleeast/sheikh-khalifa-uae-ruler-is-dead-at-73.html|title=Sheikh Khalifa, U.A.E. Ruler, Is Dead at 73|access-date=13 May 2022|website=The New York Times|date=13 May 2022|last1=Hubbard|first1=Ben|archive-date=13 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513124608/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/world/middleeast/sheikh-khalifa-uae-ruler-is-dead-at-73.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The building opened on 4 January 2010.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150411003129/http://www.capturedubai.com/burj-khalifa/ "Iosif Stalin-2"]}}, capturedubai.com, 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.</ref>
===
{{Main|Palm Jumeirah}}
[[File:Dubai Wingsuit Flying Trip (7623566780).jpg|thumb|The [[Palm Jumeirah]]]]
The Palm Jumeirah is an [[Artificial island|artificial]] [[archipelago]], created using [[land reclamation]] by [[Nakheel Properties]], 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 the three Palm Islands, and it is located in the [[Jumeirah]] coastal area of Dubai. It was built from 2001 to 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 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 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. The area of each island varies from 250,000 to 900,000 square feet. The islands are arranged in the shape of the world map and the archipelago covers around 9 km in width.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Islands |url=https://www.axcapital.ae/guides/the-world-islands |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=AX CAPITAL |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091257/https://www.axcapital.ae/guides/the-world-islands |url-status=live }}</ref>
===
{{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|access-date=9 February 2020|archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206121840/https://www.miraclegardenblog.com/50-million-flowers-dubai-miracle-garden|url-status=live}}</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>
=== Aeternitas Tower ===
In early January 2024, Dubai announced its intentions to build the [[Aeternitas]] Tower, which will become the world's tallest residential clock tower at a height of {{Convert|450|m|ft|abbr=on}}. That is four times the height of [[London]]'s [[Big Ben]]. The tallest clock tower to date is [[The Clock Towers|Makkah Clock Royal Tower]] in Mecca. The tower's name "Aeternitas" comes from the ancient [[Roman Religion|Roman]] religion; she was the divine personification of eternity. The project is a joint venture between Dubai-based real estate developer London Gate and Swiss luxury watch manufacturer [[Franck Muller]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cairns |first=Rebecca |date=2024-01-17 |title=Dubai is building the world's tallest residential clock tower |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/dubai-building-worlds-tallest-residential-clock-tower-aeternitas-spc-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610112020/https://www.cnn.com/style/dubai-building-worlds-tallest-residential-clock-tower-aeternitas-spc-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The tower offers luxury apartments, including 1 to 4-bedroom units, as well as Sky Villas and Sky Mansions, with interiors inspired by Franck Muller's designs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luxurious Franck Muller Aeternitas Apartments in Dubai Marina. |url=https://www.londongatedevelopments-obg.com/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.londongatedevelopments-obg.com |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091242/https://www.londongatedevelopments-obg.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Dubai Marina===
{{Main|Dubai Marina}}
[[File:View from the Torch - 64th floor.jpg|thumb|[[Dubai Marina]]]]
Dubai Marina is an artificial canal city, built along a 3-kilometre (2 mi) stretch of Persian Gulf shoreline. {{As of|2018}}, it had 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/|access-date=13 April 2021|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413111443/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uae/dubai/admin/|url-status=live}}</ref> When the entire development is complete, it will accommodate more than 120,000 people in residential towers and villas.<ref name="designbuild-network.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/dubai-marina/ |title=The Dubai Marina in Dubai Designed by Architects HOK Canada Inc |work=Design Build Network |access-date=2010-10-15 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033424/http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/dubai-marina/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The 50 million square feet area of the Dubai Marina boasts a centrepiece that includes a 3.5-kilometer water canal which is the heart of the development and which provides dual access to the sea which makes Dubai Marina a foremost sailing destination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dubai Marina {{!}} Waterfront Apartments & Penthouses {{!}} Emaar Properties |url=https://properties.emaar.com/en/our-communities/dubai-marina/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Emaar Properties PJSC |language=en-US |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091121/https://properties.emaar.com/en/our-communities/dubai-marina/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is located on Interchange 5 between [[Jebel Ali Port]] and the area which hosts [[Dubai Internet City]], [[Dubai Media City]], and the [[American University in Dubai]]. The first phase of this project has been completed. Dubai Marina was inspired by the [[Concord Pacific Place]] development along [[False Creek]] in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, BC]], Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://charterclick.com/blog/false_creek|last=Brody|first=Trevor|year=2006|title=False Creek, Dubai|website=charterclick.com|accessdate=27 November 2024|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325161436/https://charterclick.com/blog/false_creek|url-status=dead}}</ref> There have been many instances of marine wildlife (especially whales and sharks) entering the marina because of its proximity to the open sea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/whale-shark-spotted-in-dubai-marina-1.1574249 |title=Whale shark spotted in Dubai Marina |work=[[Gulf News]] |date=2015-08-27 |access-date=2018-01-20 |archive-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803133711/https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/whale-shark-spotted-in-dubai-marina-1.1574249 |url-status=live }}</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.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} 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 news|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|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517071921/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/dubai-infinity-pool-highest/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Transportation==
{{Main|Transportation in Dubai}}
Transport in Dubai is controlled by the [[Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai)|Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)]], an agency of the government of Dubai, formed by a 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 |archive-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413093437/https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/car-free-day-gets-under-way-in-dubai-1.584210 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2010, the proportion 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}}
[[File:Tolerance Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Tolerance Bridge of [[Business Bay]]]]
[[File:Dubai_Road_2013.JPG|thumb|[[E 11 road (United Arab Emirates)|E 11 Road]]]]
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 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, with 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 to women and children. More than 3,000 taxis are operating within the emirate, making an average of 192,000 trips daily, carrying about 385,000 people. In 2009, taxi trips exceeded 70 million trips, serving around 140.45 million passengers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/dubai-metro-gives-boost-to-public-transport-in-city-1.592986 | title=Dubai Metro gives boost to public transport in city| newspaper=[[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===
[[File:Dubai_-_International_(DXB_-_OMDB)_AN1204297.jpg|thumb|left|[[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>]]
[[Dubai International Airport]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: DXB), the hub for the [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] airline, 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 one of the national flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emirates - Ministry of Economy UAE |url=https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/-/emirates |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919143348/https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/-/emirates |archive-date=19 September 2024 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Ministry of Economy UAE |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> {{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><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Hare |first=Maureen |date=2024-04-30 |title=Dubai reveals massive plans for the world's busiest airport |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/dubai-world-cental-al-maktoum-airport-expansion/index.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
===Rail===
{{Main|Dubai Metro|Palm Jumeirah Monorail|Dubai Tram}}
[[File:Dubai_Blue_Line_stel_5112_to_Creek_(52765713036).jpg|thumb|left|[[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" />]]
[[File:Dubai_Tram_Alstom_Citadis_402_near_Al_Sufouh.jpg|thumb|[[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|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>]]
[[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]] is the major backbone, with 29 stations (4 underground, 24 elevated, and 1 at ground level) running from Rashidiya Station to UAE Xchange Station in Jebel Ali. 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 opened on June 1, 2021. 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dubai metro – the world's longest automated rail system |url=https://www.itsinternational.com/feature/dubai-metro-worlds-longest-automated-rail-system |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=ITS International |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430121719/https://www.itsinternational.com/feature/dubai-metro-worlds-longest-automated-rail-system |url-status=live }}</ref>
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>
A tramway located in Al Sufouh runs 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 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>
Dubai has announced it will complete a link of the UAE high-speed rail system which is planned to link with the whole GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council, also known as [[Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf]]), and then possibly [[Europe]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} The high-speed rail will support 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===
[[File:Madinat Jumeirah dhow (3050971546).jpg|thumb|''[[Abra (boat)|Abras]]'' and ''[[dhows]]'' are traditional modes of waterway transport.]]
There are two major commercial ports in Dubai, [[Port Rashid]] and [[Jebel Ali|Port Jebel Ali]]. Port Jebel Ali is the world's largest human-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. The 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> The Water-Taxis can transport a maximum of 20 passengers at a time which provides a smooth journey along Al Mamzar and Dubai Marina via Dubai Creek. It has 40 pick-up points all over Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waterways {{!}} The Official Portal of the UAE Government |url=https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/transportation/waterways |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=u.ae |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091047/https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/transportation/waterways |url-status=live }}</ref>
Dubai is increasingly activating its logistics and ports to participate in trade between Europe and China or Africa in addition to oil transport. For this purpose, ports such as the 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>{{cite web |url=https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/asia/china-invest-34bn-dubai-warehousing-and-trading |title=China to invest $3.4bn in Dubai warehousing and trading |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=18 March 2021 |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129214931/https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/asia/china-invest-34bn-dubai-warehousing-and-trading |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/what-are-the-top-ports-in-the-middle-east/ |title=What are the top ports in the Middle East? |newspaper=Port Technology International |date=11 March 2020 |access-date=18 March 2021 |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201132128/https://www.porttechnology.org/news/what-are-the-top-ports-in-the-middle-east/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.business.hsbc.ae/en-gb/ae/article/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-beacons-new-trade-in-menat |title=China's Belt and Road Initiative beacons new trade-in MENAT |access-date=18 March 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414000706/https://www.business.hsbc.ae/en-gb/ae/article/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-beacons-new-trade-in-menat |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Dubai}}
{{further|Culture of the United Arab Emirates}}
{{multiple image
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| image1 = Museum of Future - Dubai.jpg
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The UAE's culture mainly reflects 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. 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 |date=25 November 2015 |title=Gulf News Community |url=http://gulfnews.com/guides/life/community/how-the-uae-was-born-1.1610731 |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 |access-date=11 December 2016 |website=gulfnews.com}}</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" />
From 2006 to 2022, the weekend had 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 |title=UAE Weekend Switchover |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/95027.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212191741/http://www.ameinfo.com/95027.html |archive-date=12 February 2011 |access-date=22 March 2010 |publisher=AMEinfo}}</ref> Before 2006, the weekend was Thursday-Friday. On 1 January 2022, Dubai moved to a four-and-a-half day working week, with the weekend comprising Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday.<ref>{{cite web |author=Government of Dubai Media Office |title=The changes to the working week system |url=https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2021/December/07-12/The-changes-to-the-working-week-system |access-date=13 May 2023 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513070512/https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2021/December/07-12/The-changes-to-the-working-week-system |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Meydan Beach Club, Dubai (8668492594).jpg|right|thumb|Meydan Beach Club, Jumeirah]]
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> 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 |last=Sherwood |first=Seth |date=9 December 2007 |title=Clubs Bloom in the Desert |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09party.html |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 |access-date=23 April 2010 |work=The New York Times}}</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 over $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> The [[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 |date=23 September 2012 |title=Dubai is world's festival city |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=/data/nationgeneral/2012/September/nationgeneral_September341.xml§ion=nationgeneral |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§ion=nationgeneral |archive-date=24 September 2012 |access-date=30 September 2012 |publisher=khaleejtimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=23 September 2012 |title=Dubai crowned World Festival and Event City by IFEA |url=http://news.definitelydubai.com/2012/09/23/dubai-crowned-world-festival-and-event-city-by-ifea/ |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 |access-date=30 September 2012 |publisher=news.definitelydubai.com}}</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 second-largest), [[Dubai Marina Mall]], [[Dubai Hills Mall]], [[Dragon Mart (Dubai)|Dragon Mart]], [[Dubai Festival City Mall]], and [[Ibn Battuta Mall]] as well as traditional [[Dubai Gold Souk]], [[Al Souk Al Kabir]] (known as Meena Bazaar), 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}}
[[File:Spice_Souq_Dubai_13.jpg|thumb|Traditional Middle Eastern spices at the [[Dubai Spice Souk]] in Deira, Old Dubai]]
[[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 legally permitted to be 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 also regulated. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is available in bars and restaurants within hotels.<ref name="Dubai Culture">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100306150956/http://www.dubai-livethedream.com/dubai-culture.html Dubai Culture]}} dubai-livethedream.com</ref> ''[[Hookah|Shisha]]'' and ''[[coffee|qahwa]]'' boutiques are also popular in Dubai. [[Biryani]] is also a popular cuisine across Dubai with it being the most popular among the 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>
==
{{See also|Music of the United Arab Emirates}}
[[File:DubaiOpera.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dubai Opera]]]]
Dubai Opera opened its doors on 31 August 2016 in Downtown Dubai with a performance by [[Plácido Domingo]]. The venue is a 2000-seat, multifunctional performing arts centre that can host not only theatrical shows, concerts, and operas, but also weddings, gala dinners, banquets, and conferences. 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 filmmaking 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 also a major contributor to 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|access-date=27 August 2019|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132616/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/art-dubai-adds-artist-residencies|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Theatre of Digital Art]] Dubai (ToDA) opened in 2020 and presents immersive [[digital art]], including contemporary work.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://whatson.ae/2020/10/the-incredible-theatre-of-digital-art-open-its-doors-this-month/ | title=The incredible Theatre of Digital Art open its doors this month | first=Aarti | last=Saundalkar | date=6 October 2020 | website=whatson.ae | ___location=UAE | publisher=What's On | access-date=17 April 2022 | archive-date=9 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209142552/https://whatson.ae/2020/10/the-incredible-theatre-of-digital-art-open-its-doors-this-month/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
==
{{Main|Dubai Media Incorporated}}
{{See also|List of media outlets in Dubai Media City|Radio and television channels of Dubai|Studio 52}}
[[File:Etisalat tower - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Etisalat]]'s headquarters in Dubai]]
Many international news agencies such as [[Reuters]], [[Associated Press Television News|APTN]], [[Bloomberg L.P.]], and [[Middle East Broadcasting Center|Middle East Broadcasting centre]] (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>{{usurped|1=[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 before 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 a 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=https://www.thetimes.com/article/geraldine-bedells-novel-banned-in-dubai-because-of-gay-character-s29pgs609h2|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=15 January 2025}}</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 about 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> In 2019 the Italian artist [[Princess Bee]] produced "Hi Dubai", the first cross media format revealing the "soul of the city" through the life and work experience of 25 Emirati and expat women. The series also promoted the Emirate's lifestyle and main events to attract young people to visit and live in Dubai. "Hi Dubai" was on air on the national channel Dubai One TV, in prime time, after the National News during the U.A.E. National Day week; then distributed online on Dubai Post and in-flight on ICE in all Emirates Airlines flights.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.albayan.ae/five-senses/mirrors/2016-03-25-1.2602910 | title="مرحبا دبي" برنامج وثائقي برؤية إيطالية | date=24 March 2016}}</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. The headquarters of [[International Cricket Council]] is 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]]. The city's top basketball team has traditionally been [[Shabab Al Ahli Basket]]. 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. Another sporting event in Dubai is the [[Dubai Run]], which is part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the world's largest free fun run and one of the main highlights of the Dubai Fitness Challenge Since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/2024/10/27/dubai-run-2024-registration-details/|title=Dubai Run 2024: Date, registration details, bib collection and more|first=One Carlo|last=Diaz|website=The National|accessdate=27 November 2024}}</ref> 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. On June 12, [[Tommy Fleetwood]], 7-time DP-world Tour winner was declared World Global Ambassador.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-12 |title=Tommy Fleetwood named DP World Global Ambassador |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/golf-in-uae/local/tommy-fleetwood-named-dp-world-global-ambassador-1.1718205382159 |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}</ref>
===Dress code===
[[File:Al Tayer Motors Sponsors High-class Dubai World Cup Carnival (8490930005).jpg|thumb|Men wearing the [[Thawb|kandurah]] and the traditional [[Keffiyeh|ghotrah]], held in place by an [[Agal (accessory)|egal]]]]
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 headscarf which covers the neck and part of the head-all of the hair and ears). Some women may add a [[niqāb|niqab]] which covers 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grogan |first=Siobhan |date=2017-04-26 |title=Here's Everything You Need to Know About Emirati Clothing |url=https://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/united-arab-emirates/articles/heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-emirati-clothing/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Culture Trip}}</ref>
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 |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310202235/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 |url-status=live}}</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 – bilingual English/French or English/German.<ref>{{cite news |title=Review, Swiss International Scientific School |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-review/swiss-international-scientific-school-dubai |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925003828/https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-review/swiss-international-scientific-school-dubai |url-status=live}}</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>
[[File:UOWD Campus.jpg|thumb|left|[[University of Wollongong in Dubai]]]]
Some 36 schools offer international education using 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 |ref=Dubai IB School Directory |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310201635/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 |url-status=live}}</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 |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920040348/https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?cur%5B%5D=55 |url-status=live}}</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 tends to be considerably larger and costs less to attend. 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 |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310201839/https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/school-search?city%5B%5D=4&cur%5B%5D=2&cur%5B%5D=44 |url-status=live}}</ref> most of which offer the CBSE, and just a handful the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Indian syllabus. Examples of Indian-curriculum schools include [[The Indian High School, Dubai|IHS]], [[Delhi Private School, Dubai|DPS]], and DMHS. There are a small number of Pakistani schools offering the FBISE curriculum for expatriate children in Dubai.
A total of 18 schools offer British primary education up to the age of 11.<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 |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310202040/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 |url-status=live}}</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 |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310202106/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 |url-status=live}}</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 so in the future. British style eleven-to-eighteen secondary schools offering General Certificate of Secondary Education and A-Levels include [[Dubai College]], [[Dubai British School]], and [[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 news |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 |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130050323/https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/guides/what-is-the-khda-and-what-does-it-do-2 |url-status=live}}</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 are rated Very Good. Parents in general rate schools highly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Highest rated schools, by parents, in Dubai |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/best-schools/60/best-schools-in-dubai |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022144121/https://whichschooladvisor.com/uae/best-schools/60/best-schools-in-dubai |url-status=live}}</ref>
The top 10 largest universities by student numbers in Dubai according to the [[Knowledge and Human Development Authority|KHDA]] (2024)<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=KHDA - KHDA's data & statistics |url=https://web.khda.gov.ae/en/Resources/KHDA%E2%80%99s-data-statistics |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=web.khda.gov.ae |language=en}}</ref> are [[Middlesex University Dubai]], [[Heriot-Watt University Dubai]], [[University of Wollongong in Dubai]], [[Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai]], [[American University in Dubai]], [[S P Jain School of Global Management]], [[Rochester Institute of Technology of Dubai]], [[Amity University Dubai]], [[University of Birmingham|University of Birmingham Dubai]], and [[Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Dubai Campus|Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani Dubai]]. They offer courses in all major subjects with the most popular subject areas being Business, followed by Information Technology, then Engineering.<ref name=":8" /> Most Universities in Dubai are located in the two Educational Zones ([[Knowledge village|Knowledge Village or Academic City]]). In 2013, Synergy University Dubai Campus<ref>{{cite web |author=Synergy University Dubai Campus |title=Synergy University Dubai Campus – Home Page |url=http://synergy.university/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220053929/http://synergy.university/ |archive-date=20 February 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 |work=Synergy University Dubai Campus}}</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 |author=DEG |title=Synergy University, Dubai Educational Guide |url=http://www.dubaieducationguide.com/upage.asp?uiid=244 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025904/http://www.dubaieducationguide.com/upage.asp?uiid=244 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref>
Only 4 Dubai Universities are present in the QS World University Rankings 2024/2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-23 |title=QS World University Rankings 2025 |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref> To allow the assessment of more UAE Universities, the Ministry of Education launched The National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Website |first=M. O. E. |title=The National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework |url=https://www.moe.gov.ae/En/ImportantLinks/Pages/institutionsclassification.aspx |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.moe.gov.ae |language=ar-AE}}</ref> which classifies UAE Universities based on their research and teaching. Of the top 10 largest Dubai universities [[University of Wollongong in Dubai]], [[American University in Dubai]], and [[Rochester Institute of Technology of Dubai]], were all classified as "Very Good" within The National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework.<ref name=":9" />
==Healthcare==
{{Main|Dubai Health Authority|List of hospitals in Dubai}}
{{See also|Dubai Camel Hospital}}
[[File:Dubai_Hospital.jpg|thumb|The [[Dubai Hospital]]]]
Healthcare in Dubai can be divided into two different sectors: public and private. Each Emirate can 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 were 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>
Dubai Hospital is a [[public hospital]] in Dubai and is part of [[Dubai Health Authority|Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services]]. Although the decision to construct Dubai Hospital was made in 1977, it did not begin admitting patients until March 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.dohms.gov.ae/dh/ |title=Dubai Hospital |accessdate=2008-04-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420144238/http://web.dohms.gov.ae/dh/ |archivedate=2008-04-20}}</ref> The [[hospital]] consists of 14 stories, with the lower two for Accident & Emergency and outpatients, and the upper ten forwards.
==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Dubai}}
==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|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205115818/https://www.ajmannews.ae/news.php?id=39961&cat_id=2|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Amman]], Jordan
* {{flagicon|Lebanon}} [[Beirut]], Lebanon
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Busan]], South Korea (2006)
* {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Cape Town]], South Africa
* {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Casablanca]], Morocco
* {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Kish Island]], Iran
* {{flagicon|Syria}} [[Damascus]], Syria
* {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Dundee]], Scotland, UK (2004)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/dubai-dundee-become-sister-cities |title=Dubai, Dundee become sister cities |newspaper=Khaleej Times |date= |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207122741/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/dubai-dundee-become-sister-cities |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Detroit]], USA (2003)
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Frankfurt]], Germany (2005)
* {{flagicon|Palestine}} [[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|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210184456/https://www.gaza-city.org/index.php?page=Vm14YVlXRnJOVlpOVm1oVVltdEtVMWxyV2t0aU1WWnhVV3h3YkdKSFVsaFZiRkp6VlZaV1ZVMUVhejA9|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[City of Gold Coast|Gold Coast]], Australia (2001)
* {{flagicon|China}} [[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|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115142206/http://www.eguangzhou.gov.cn/2018-06/05/c_253291.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1997)
* {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[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|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127095251/https://iluminasi.com/bm/5-bandar-kembar-di-negara-lain-yang-mempunyai-hubungan.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[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|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310201922/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|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|India}} [[Mumbai]], India
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Osaka Prefecture]], Japan (2002)
* {{flagicon|North Korea}} [[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|access-date=14 September 2018|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330090156/https://books.google.com/books?id=a46gFDWr3aMC&pg=PA196|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], Puerto Rico
* {{flagicon|El Salvador}} [[San Salvador]], El Salvador
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Shanghai]], China
<!--rest – not twinning and/or twinnning ended-->
{{div col end}}
==See also==
{{portal|Cities|United Arab Emirates}}
* [[
* [[Al Sufouh Archaeological Site]]
* [[Dubai
* [[List of buildings in Dubai]]
* [[
* [[
* [[
==
{{
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==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|auto=yes|c=Category:Dubai|d=yes}}
* [http://xn--ngbn6f.xn--mgbaam7a8h/en/Pages/default.aspx دبي.امارات] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129071827/http://xn--ngbn6f.xn--mgbaam7a8h/en/Pages/default.aspx |date=29 November 2020}}) – official government portal
* [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}}
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[[Category:18th-century establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 18th century]]
[[Category:Port cities in the Arabian Peninsula]]
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