Dubai

Introduction
 Location

 Dubai is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
 It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital of the Emirate
of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.
 In March 2018, the population of Dubai was just over 3 million.

 Topography
 Dubai covers an area of about 4,000 sq. km.
 On average, Dubai is just 16 m above sea level.
 The UAE has rocky desert, coastal plains and wetlands and arid (very dry) mountains.
The seashore attracts migratory waterfowl from around the world.

 History of Settlement
 The first mention of Dubai appeared in the Book of Geography by a Spanish-Arab
geographer in 1095.
 By the late 1500s, Dubai was known by traders and merchants for its pearl industry..
 In the early 19th C, Dubai was officially established, but it was a dependent of Abu
Dhabi until 1833.
 By the turn of the 20th C., Dubai was a successful port.
 When oil was discovered in 1966, Sheikh Rashid used the oil revenues to build
infrastructure development in Dubai.
 The UAE was created in 1971, when the emirates gained independence from the U.K.
 Oil money helped the early development of Dubai; however, less than five per cent of
its revenue now comes from oil.
 Today, the UAE contrasts ancient customs with modern technology and enormous
wealth with desperate poverty.

Culture
 People
 Dubai has grown steadily over 200 years, from a few thousand people to more than 3
million. In the later 20th C, a building boom led to a huge increase in South Asian
laborers and skilled expats from all over the world. Expatriates vastly outnumber
native Emiratis.
  The local population is mainly Muslim, and most expats also are Muslim, although
there are significant Christian, Hindu and Sikh communities. The Emirati royal family
is tolerant toward non-Muslims, and the city’s focus is business; thus, the religious
communities generally get along well.

 Language

 Arabic is the official language; however, English is widely spoken and used daily.

 Literature
 Traditions
 Arts
 Music
 Film
 Dance
 Religion
 Because of Dubai’s large expatriate population, the atmosphere is generally
tolerant. Religious affiliations are not a prominent aspect of city life.
 Islam is the major religion, but Christian churches and Hindu temples coexist with
Dubai’s mosques.

 Cultures and Subcultures

 Emirati nationals are outnumbered by expats in Dubai by almost six to one. Most
of the population is Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Asian and Western.
 Government
Bibliography
 www.telegraph.org.uk
 www.justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-dubai/
 www.britannica.com