A Traveler's Guide to Dubai

Dubai has the largest population of any of the United Arab Emirates. It is the second largest in land mass behind only Abu Dhabi. The United Arab Emirates are located in the Southeastern region of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the west and the Persian Gulf to the north and east.

Dubai has been inhabited for centuries, but it wasn’t until oil was discovered in 1966 nearby that it became an important financial center in the Middle East. Because it is situated in the Arabian Desert, the city of Dubai is surrounded by sandy desert lands. The city is almost at sea level and experiences the dry, hot climate that is typical of desert areas in the Middle East. Temperatures in the summer months can get as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures are very mild and rarely dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation is extremely rare. Dubai receives less than three inches of rain on average per year.

Dubai was originally an oil town. Workers from all over southwestern Asia and the Middle East immigrated to Dubai to work in the oil fields and oil refineries. This brought a massive amount of revenue to the area. Since then the city has become much more than just an oil town. Dubai is now home to some of the world's most expensive construction projects and most powerful financial companies. The city's rapid expansion and growth has caused tourism to become increasingly popular as well.

Thousands of tourists visit Dubai each year. Most tourists are from India, Africa, and Eastern Europe, but more and more tourists from Western Europe and the Americas are traveling to Dubai. One of the most popular spots with foreign tourists is the Dubai Mall, which is the seventh largest shopping mall in the world. Another popular spot with tourists is the Deira Clock Tower in the heart of the city.

While traditional Arab food is readily available in the city, there are many western and Asian restaurant chains in the city as well. Because of the city's Muslim heritage and way of life, pork and all pork products are carefully regulated and only sold to non-Muslims. The same goes with alcohol.

Muslims in Dubai and the other Emirates adhere to a strict dress code, tourists are not expected to. Because of the cosmopolitan nature of the city, officials have accepted western dress. There are certain holy places, however, that the Muslim dress code must be adhered to. Hotels and embassies typically provide information to tourists so that problems can be prevented.

Sports are very popular in Dubai, with cricket and football being the most popular sports in the city. Dubai has requested to host the Summer Olympics in 2020. The city is serviced by Dubai International Airport, which serves as the hub for Emirates Airlines. It is one of the top ten busiest airports in the world by volume. Travel within the city is very easy due to the extensive network of taxi systems, highways, and Metro train lines that run to all parts of Dubai.