Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Arabian Peninsula.
The ruler of Dubai is HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE.
Dubai is really two cities: Dubai and Deira. Divided by the Creek, they are a paradise for sightseeing and both have their unique characters. You will be amazed at the diversity of architecture and cultures to be found here, ranging from traditional Arab houses to magnificent modern towers of steel and glass.
The Creek is the main artery of Dubai, winding inland from the Gulf for about six miles. On its clear waters, you will see traditional teak trading dhows plying their trade across the Gulf, heading as far as India. But then, where on one end it has astounding inland waters, on the other end it has expansive desert with the world-famous Dubai Desert Safari. Also, from time to time, you can see small fishing boats coming in and out of the port. At night, the waterfront is a hive of activity, as Abras, the local water taxis, crisscross the Creek carrying people to their chosen restaurant or attraction for the evening.
Facts and Figures
Geography : The second largest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is located on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf. Dubai city is a bustling metropolis, while outside the city itself, the Emirate is sparsely inhabited and characterized by desert vegetation.
Population : As of June 2023, Dubai’s population is 3.6 million, with about 80% of the population being expatriates- Arab, Asians, Europeans, and others.
Climate : Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular, falling mainly in the winter.
Local time : Dubai Time is + hours GMT, or 4 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time.
Language : The official language is Arabic; Arabic and English are commonly used in business and commerce. Hindi and Urdu are also widely used.
Country Dialing Code : 971
Internet Country Code : .ae
Currency : Emirati Dirham (AED)
Exchange Rates : Emirati dirhams per US dollar 3.67
Electricity : 220 or 240 volts AC, 50 Hz
History
A trip to Dubai transports you on a journey through time. Although the early history of the area is not very well documented, archeological discoveries suggest that, as long as four thousand years ago, small fishing communities lived along the coast of the Arabian Gulf on the site of modern Dubai. It is also believed that the natural, sheltered harbor afforded by the Dubai Creek was a busy port of call on the ancient trade route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. In recent years, archeologists have unearthed hundreds of artifacts, including pottery, weapons, and coinage, that indicate civilized settlements dating back to the third millennium B.C.
These historic finds have been carefully preserved and are now permanently housed in the Archeological Section of the Dubai Museum. Modern Dubai, however, traces its origins to the 1830s. At that time, the small fishing village on the Shindagha peninsula at the mouth of the Creek was settled by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe, originally from the Liwa oasis to the south, led by the Maktoum family, who still rule the emirates today.