The distinctive features of Dubai untold wealth that fell on the heads of its rulers after discovery oil deposits in the Persian Gulf, as well as an unprecedented tolerance for foreigners in the East, which has a century-old history. Emirate and the city made every effort to ensure that by the time this critical natural resource was exhausted, the town became an important tourist and trade center not only in the entire Middle East but also in the world. Today, the importance of the city for the whole of the world economic system is simply enormous.

Dubai is the largest city in the country, and most people associate the United Arab Emirates with it.

The first mention of the settlement of people in this place dates back to 1095 but formally received the status of the city of Dubai only in 1833.

Translated from Arabic, the word “Dubai” means “young locusts,” which may be because, in ancient times, the neighborhood of Dubai was a breeding place for the insect.

The multi-Ethnic nature of Dubai, where the number of local Arabs does not exceed 20%, is specific. The city resembles one large hotel, which has owners, customers, and staff. In other words, Dubai’s multi-ethnicity does not mean that it is multicultural.

Dubai has all the conditions to attract millions of tourists. Dubai hotels are very popular as venues for business meetings and conferences.

Climate and weather

Dubai Considered one of the hottest cities in the world. In July and August, the air temperature here does not fall below +35 °C and often increases almost to +50 °C. Starting from the end of September, the tourist season begins in Dubai, when the heat subsides slightly and on average stays at +27..+29 °C.


The coldest month is usually January, with an average daily temperature of +19 °C. Most of the annual precipitation falls in February ― March. Almost all year round, the water in the Persian Gulf is hot (+23.+32 °C). In winter, it is slightly colder, but not below +19 °C.

Nature

Dubai grew up on the site of an almost barren desert, but today, thanks to substantial financial investments, the city has turned into a green oasis with many flower beds, palm alleys, chic parks, and squares.
For watering plants for each flower, Bush or tree, special tubes carried out, through which freshwater supplied, obtained by multi-stage filtration of salty seawater. As a result, the city blooms with bright colors all year round.

Connoisseurs of natural beauty will be happy to visit the Ras al Khor nature reserve in Dubai, which is the home of vast flocks of flamingos and other aquatic birds that be from hidden areas.

Attractions

Substantial financial investments in the economy of Dubai have led to the fact that one of the most grandiose megacities of modern times has grown on the site of a once very modest seaside settlement.

Every year, more and more state-of-the-art structures appear in Dubai, the construction of which aimed at attracting new tourist flows. The hallmark of Dubai is its many skyscrapers, most of which rise on the main street of the city, on the Sheikh Zayed highway, which stretches for 55 kilometers from the border of Dubai with Abu Dhabi to the Jebel Ali district. Dubai’s 125 skyscrapers reach a height of 150 meters or more, and 17 of them are higher than 300 meters.


Dubai also has the highest skyscraper in the world today ― Burj Khalifa (828 meters high), consisting of 162 floors. On the 124 levels, there is an observation deck. To climb it, you need to buy a ticket for a specific date and time in advance via the Internet at the cost of $ 27. If you buy a ticket on the spot, you will have to pay $ 108.

No less popular among tourists is the building of the famous hotel-sails Burg Al Arab, built on the first artificial island in the waters of the Persian Gulf.
Artificial Islands are also one of the main trumps of the metropolis. With the help of artificial Islands in the form of date palms (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira, and palm Jebel Ali), as well as the Mir archipelago, consisting of 300 Islands that repeat the world map, the issue of the limited coastal zone of Dubai resolved.

You can get acquainted with the historical past of Dubai in the oldest district of the city ― Bastakia. There are real Arab houses with muscular walls that served as reliable protection for their wealthy owners.
Behind the walls, you can see wind towers that served to cool the air. A kind of historical landmark of Dubai is a Boat dock on the shore of the Dubai Bay, which divides the city into two parts.

The pier filled with traditional Dow boats, which in the old days served as a means for loading and unloading goods from ships that arrived here from almost all over the world. Today, Dow is a favorite method of water walks among tourists.


You can see many mosques all over the city, but the most grandiose and, importantly, free to visit is the Jumeirah mosque. You can take photos both outside and inside the building.

You can get acquainted with the “pre-oil” history of Dubai in the shindig Museum (Heritage and Diving Village), whose exhibitions dedicated to pearl divers, potters, and weavers. It is also home to the al-shindig house Museum, dedicated to the wise Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum, who ruled Dubai from 1912 to 1958. Region displayed in Ayyam Gallery, Art Sawa, and Flying House.

Food

The streets, beaches, hotels, and shopping centers of Dubai contain an unimaginable number of various restaurants, small cafes, and street eateries. From the establishments marked in the famous Michelin rating to cheap Indian shops, will satisfy the tastes of even the most demanding gourmets.

Most restaurants located in hotels and shopping centers offer international menus. Still, there are also places with national Arabic, Chinese (Hukama), Thai (the Thai Kitchen, Sukhothai), Japanese (Yakitori, Zuma), Italian (Bussola), and other cuisines of the world.

As a rule, in specialized restaurants, the cost is slightly higher than in international ones, but in general, food in Dubai is quite affordable. However, this does not apply to alcohol, which can only order in some restaurants.

Residence

The choice of hotels in Dubai can not be compared, perhaps, with any city in the world: from the 7-star hotel-sail Burg Al Arab and more than a hundred 5-star hotels to more modest apartments. The cost of staying in Dubai hotels varies from $ 55 to $ 4,000.

The average price for a comfortable room for two in 4-5-star hotels is about $ 150-200. Leading hotels in the city have ultra-modern sports clubs, beauty salons, spas, massage rooms, swimming pools, entertainment centers, and conference rooms that are open to the public.

Millions of tourists visit Dubai every year, so it’s worth booking a hotel you like a few months before your trip.

Entertainment and recreation

Creating one the best resorts world in Dubai, the bet was made on the concentration in one place of all the existing types of entertainment the planet.

With the onset of darkness, when the sweltering heat goes away, life in Dubai not only does not subside but also becomes more active at times. The nightlife of the city represented by various thematic events in large modern clubs, open-air beach parties, live quiet music in cozy Lounges, as well as concerts in bars and cafes.

Entertainment and recreation

Creating one of the best resorts worlds in Dubai, the bet made on the concentration in one place of all the existing types of entertainment on the planet.

With the onset of darkness, when the sweltering heat goes away, life in Dubai not only does not subside but also becomes more active at times. The nightlife of the city represented by various thematic events in large modern clubs, open-air beach parties, live quiet music in cozy Lounges, as well as concerts in bars and cafes.

Famous clubs can found in all corners of the big city, but most of them, of course, in hotels in the coastal zone and on Sheikh Zayed Street. Many night clubs are open from 23: 00 to 3: 00, entrance is only for people over 21 years of age.

Beach holidays are one of the leading holiday destinations in Dubai. Of all the variety of Dubai beaches, Russian tourists most often prefer a free beach near the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, from which you can admire the magnificent Burg Al Arab sail hotel.

On the border of Dubai and Sharjah, occupying an entire Peninsula, there is a whole complex of beaches Al Mamzar Beach Park (entrance is paid only on Thursday and Friday, the rest of the days are free), the white Sands of which stretch along the coast for 3,600 meters.

All hotels located on the coastline have their beaches with excellent infrastructure. The entrance fee for such a beach includes a beach towel and the right to use all the amenities; hotel guests are free to enter. All beaches in Dubai have lifeguard towers, showers, toilets, changing rooms, and playgrounds. Many have rental umbrellas, sun loungers, places where you can eat and buy refreshing drinks, as well as swimming pools, gyms, sports fields, etc.

The popularity of Dubai among tourists is mainly due to its precious sports life. Outdoor enthusiasts go to Dubai for its high-class Golf courses, desert safaris on jeeps, ATVs and motorcycles, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing and other water sports, camel rides and even for the magnificent ski slopes, of course, with artificial snow.

Dubai hosts several world-class sports events every year. Among these, for example:

  • The competition at the Dubai Desert Classic Golf,
  • Tennis tournament, Dubai Tennis Open,
  • Dubai World Cup horse racing,
  • Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament,
  • various motorboat races, etc.

Shopping

Dubai is the shopping capital of the entire Middle East. Many tourists allocate a few days of their stay in the city to make purchases in traditional Arab bazaars and ultra-modern shopping centers at attractive prices that do not include taxes.
The largest shopping centers in Dubai, where you can find almost everything, are:

  • BurJuman Centre,
  • Dubai Mall,
  • Dubai Festival Waterfront Centre,
  • Ibn Battuta,
  • Mall of the Emirates,
  • Wafi City, etc.

European brands and Eastern manufacturers but also enjoy the fantastic interior, reminiscent of a Museum exhibition. The main feature of the Mall of the Emirates is the Ski Dubai complex, where you can ski, snowboard, or just play snowballs.

Wafi City ranks first in the concentration of expensive boutiques that sell exclusive products.

Dubai Mall is famous for its magnificent aquarium, which occupies two floors of the shopping center. More than 30 thousand underwater inhabitants live in the aquarium. To save money on entering the aquarium, you need to know a little trick. The cost of a ticket to the aquarium tunnel on the first floor is $ 27. The entrance to the subway, includes the price a card to the underwater zoo located on the third floor, well as a souvenir and a photo. But a ticket purchased at the entrance to the zoo will cost only $ 13.5. You can use it to go to the zoo and tunnel (do you need this photo and souvenir?).

There are also specialized markets in Dubai: Deira gold market, Gold and Diamond Park, textile Bazaar, spice market, etc.

Every year, Dubai hosts the famous Shopping festival, which begins in January and February and lasts for a month. All products sold at huge discounts and the city hosts countless shows and musical performances. During the Dubai shopping festival, the unique Carpet Oasis market opens.

Transport

You can get to Dubai by plane, arriving at Dubai International Airport from almost all major cities in the world, or by ferry, connecting Dubai with the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas.

The most popular way to get around Dubai is a relatively cheap taxi (only $ 4-10), but in some areas, it is difficult to catch a cab on the street.

Some prefer to rent a car, for which you only need to show your passport, driver’s license, and credit card. But driving in Dubai is difficult because of the large number of traffic jams and the complete lack of driving culture among many members of the local population.
Contrary to popular belief, it is safe and convenient to use city buses in Dubai. Many people are confused by the fact that Indians and Arabs from neighboring countries who use this type of transport stare at our white-skinned women, but we must take into account that we are as exotic for them as they are for us. On each bus, three rows of seats behind the driver’s cab reserved for women. All coaches are new, clean, and air-conditioned.

On September 9, 2009, Dubai launched its metro, which provides access to the airport, major shopping centers, and the city center. Ticket prices range from $ 0.24 to $ 1.8. Metro tickets are also valid on city and water buses. Since the ticket price depends on number zones, it is checked both at the entrance and exit of the metro. The ticket price is also affected by the class of the selected car: standard and Gold (first). If you plan to visit several places a day, it is advisable to buy a daily ticket worth $ 3.8 and ride in any direction.

The Deira and Bar Dubai areas can be reached by traditional abra boats ($0.27). Palm Jumeirah is connected to the mainland by a monorail.

In addition to the usual public transport in Dubai, there are tourist buses that run through the main attractions of the city. A daily ticket costs $ 60, and a passport valid for 48 hours costs $ 80. You can admire the city from the sea by taking a ride on a comfortable water taxi departing from the Jumeirah Open Beach station.

The cost of such a trip is $ 40. When planning a trip around the city, keep in mind that the most massive traffic jams formed from 6: 30 to 9: 00, as well as at 16:00 and 19:00.

Communication

Calls abroad from Dubai can be made from a mobile phone, using the roaming service of a domestic operator. Still, it is cheaper to connect to a local operator or call from a street phone machine that works on magnetic cards sold in souvenir shops.

Wi-Fi is available in all hotels in the city, but almost everywhere, it is possible for an additional fee (except for luxury “fives”).

Security

Dubai can rightly be called one of the safest cities in the world, despite the significant number of visitors. You can safely leave valuables on the beach, including credit cards, cameras, and mobile phones, and go swimming. No one would think of taking them.

Foreign employees know that for the slightest offense, they will be deported. Therefore, they will lose their earnings and their source of livelihood, not only their own but also their entire family.

Business climate

In the financial crisis, Dubai’s economy is developing at a consistently high rate. Today, it is difficult to find such a large company that would not have a representative office in Dubai, because doing business in the UAE has several significant advantages compared to many regions of the world.

In the Free economic zones of Dubai (Dubai Internet City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Textile City, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai International Financial Centre, etc.), excellent business conditions created: modern offices and other premises equipped with all the necessary equipment and communications for quick opening and active business. A business established in one of the Free economic zones of Dubai can have 100 % foreign capital; it is exempt from taxes and customs duties, including for export-import operations.

When opening a business in Dubai, you should follow several rules. When going to negotiations, wear only what completely covers the body, except for the face and hands (this applies to both sexes). Family-related issues are considered relevant during negotiations. Arabs like to hold business meetings in an informal setting, for example, in a small restaurant. And, most importantly, stock up on business cards in Arabic: this little detail can lead to significant benefits.

Real Estate

The primary real estate market in Dubai is replenished every year, with millions of new square meters for sale.
But it is worth remembering that even luxury real estate in Dubai is not of the highest quality, especially for apartments in skyscrapers. For example, luxury villas on artificial islands, as a rule, can not boast of silence, privacy, and views from the Windows because of the super-dense development. The cost of 1 m2 varies from $ 2,000 to $ 6,000.

Advice to tourist

In Dubai, foreigners are very tolerant, even when they violate the rules of behavior in public places inherent in Arab society. Still, in the month of Ramadan, you should pay more attention to local traditions, so as not to offend the hospitable hosts.

In some shopping centers, restaurants, or other establishments, it can be quite cold, especially after the heat of the street, so you should always have something with a long sleeve.

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