Dubai

Dubai is a city, and in turn the jewel within seven that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is located halfway up the Arabian Peninsula at the southeastern end of the Arabian Gulf.
Contrary to popular belief, not their wealth now comes mainly from oil, but also real estate and financial transactions that are helping to make it one of the fastest growing cities in the Middle East.
History
Little is known of the history of Dubai before the early nineteenth century, when the clan of Abu Al Falasa established it as a dependency of Abu Dhabi. Written records before 1799 do not exist, although the city is mentioned in passing in a number of earlier texts.
Its advantageous location in the Persian Gulf was a good place to trade - especially between India and the nations of the west - and somehow historians believe that the city probably existed long before the birth of Christ. In 1833, the British government took control of Dubai, and was more or less in the position until 1971, when they left the region. Dubai and other nearby emirates forming the United Arab Emirates since 1973.
Government
Dubai was ruled by the Al Maktoum family, submitting to the protectorate of the United Kingdom in 1833. The municipality manages the affairs of the city of Dubai, in considerable part it has much to do in the government of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is ruled by His Majesty Sheikh (emir) who is also Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.
According to the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai retains control over their own income and have rights to natural resources. Along with Abu Dhabi, it is the only one of the seven emirates that retains the power of veto in the national legislature.
Industry


Although it has prospered in the oil and gas trade in the past, the main economic value of Dubai is due to its commercial port. Jebel Ali in the 1970s - - currently ranked eighth in the world of container traffic operations an artificial harbor was built.
Its airport is a vital conduit for Western forces both during the Persian Gulf War in 1990 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Dubai has used these assets to springboard into the financial sector and the development of its Information Technologies, now the backbone of its economic health. The Dubai Financial Market first opened in early 2000, and high-tech companies like Microsoft, IBM and Oracle have a considerable presence within the city.
Geography and Climate
Like many parts of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is a very hot city, with temperatures well above 40 degrees in the summer. The city is surrounded by the Arabian desert south and east and is blocked by the Gulf to the west and north. Western Hajar mountains mark the border with Oman, and its unique stream, Dubai Creek, has been artificially deepened to allow boat trips.
Dubai has a population of about 1.5 million, of which more than 1 million are men. The Indian and Pakistani ethnic groups represent a significant percentage of its population (71 percent by some estimates).

Culture
The high percentage of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in the city of Dubai makes a fascinating fusion of Hindu and Muslim cultures. The city celebrates Muslim holidays such as Ramadan and the National Day of the United Arab Emirates, December 2 each. The food and music embrace a variety of different cultures, and shops can be found in traditional environments and modern centers alike.
The city is home to five different football teams belonging to the league of Arab Emirates, plus cricket, which remains a popular sport. The International Film Festival of Dubai attracts film lovers from around the world, and the city encompasses both American films and Indian films Bollywood. Despite strong regulation of liquor, Dubai has a lively nightlife with bars and nightclubs in many luxury hotels in the city.
Travel and Tourism in Dubai
As the jewel in the seven United Arab Emirates, has a rich history, first as a small community of fishermen and later as an active port of call of the trade route between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia. Today archaeologists have found artifacts from Dubai civilized settlements, dating back to the third millennium. C.
As a tourist destination, Dubai combines the comfort and luxury of traveling with adventure in Arab culture and history.
Visas

Visa for Dubai
Dubai offers tourist visas, which entitle a non-renewable 30-day stay. In order to obtain a tourist visa, you must be sponsored by your hotel or tour operator. Some countries that are exempt from the visa requirement are Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
If you are a citizen of a country that requires a visa, the airline may request confirmation of the sponsor hotel or tour operator in order to book your flight to Dubai.
• More information on obtaining a tourist visa to Dubai
Accommodation
Hotels in Dubai cater to both business and leisure but manteniedo the very highest standards of service, comfort and luxury. One of the most famous buildings in Dubai is the Burj al Arab Hotel, luxury duplex suites with six award-winning restaurants and a beautiful spa.
There is also a wide choice of furnished and unfurnished apartments for rent, which give travelers the opportunity to book their holidays a week, with the comfort of having a kitchen and separate rooms for rest and interact.
Activities and Attractions

Burj Al Arab Hotel
Dubai offers travelers a wide range of activities. From camel riding and bird watching to visit historical places like Hatta heritage village of the 16th century.
Shopping is one of the main attractions of Dubai as it is an open with very low import duty port. You can venture into the world of the souks, which are the traditional markets of the area, and expansive shopping centers with innovative architecture and countless shops and restaurants.
Food
Dubai hotels offer permanent standards of international cuisine, including Arabic, French, Greek, Russian, Chinese, Indian and Korean, among others. Only restaurants in hotels have permission to serve alcohol, which are outside the hotels not due to the regulations of the religion of Islam. Outside the hotels, small places offer traditional local cuisine.
Duty free shops
Some properties have Duty Free tax free allowance that allows them to trade in alcohol, snuff, perfumes, gifts and the currency in the following amounts (as of March 2010): a gallon of alcohol (about 24 cans of beer) two boxes of cigarettes for a total of 400 individual pieces, or 4 pounds of snuff (excluding chewing snuff or snuff), cigars, totaling no more than $ 820; also perfumes and gifts totaling no more than $ 820; and any other currency below $ 10,800.
Tour for fun in Dubai

Dubai remains in continuous growth since 2009 and has the tallest building in the world. Dubai is a destination for families, couples or business trip. You will not run out of things to do if you want to experience oriental hospitality in a desert safari, shopping in malls or the extraordinary experience of the indoor ski slope at Ski Dubai.

Ski Dubai is the largest indoor ski resort in the world and has snow all year. It has five ski slopes ranging in difficulty. There are ski slopes for the start of inexperienced skiers. Ski equipment is available for use.
Desert Safari
The desert safari includes a ride in a vehicle four wheel drive through the desert and ends at a dinner that offers camping, shisha (Arabic water pipe with various flavors), the opportunity to dress in authentic Arab clothes, riding camel and henna tattoos. The driver makes a stop halfway through the tour which allows test unit sandboarding. The safari begins in the afternoon and go into the night, and includes a traditional Arabic dinner and show with live belly dancing. You can buy cocktails for an additional charge.
Gold Souk
The gold market is located in Bur Dubai. There are hundreds of shops selling white gold rose gold. You can request a tailored piece of jewelry and what they will do. Gold is regulated in Dubai so you can be sure it's real. Import duties are low and gold is tax free in Dubai making it one of the cheapest places to buy gold places in the world.
Cruise Dinner on Dubai Creek
In Dubai dinner cruises offering daily sailing along the Dubai Creek with the bright lights of the city in sight. The cruise aboard a dhow (Arab sailing boat) will last about three hours. Dinner is buffet style and includes unlimited water, soft drinks and coffee, but if alcoholic beverages can be purchased at an additional cost. The cruise includes a performance by belly dancers, Arab men and women wearing dancewear, vibrate singing with Arabic music played by a live band.
Dubai City Tour
The visit of the city of Dubai offers a vision of both modern and old Dubai. Stops include the Dubai museum with antiques and a replica of a Dhow. The tour includes stops at the gold souk, a view of the palace of Sheikh and Ski Dubai.
The city tour will take you to the marina where you can see street entertainers and buy souvenirs from local vendors. A visit to the Jumeirah Mosque is part of the tour and is the only mosque in Dubai that allows non-Muslims to enter.
purchases
Shopping in Dubai is a shopper's paradise. Dubai has exclusive shopping centers in the Mall of the Emirates luxury mall featuring many stores than traditional shopping centers with Arabic design goods. If you want to feel like you've visited seven countries in a day visit the Batutta Mall.
The Batutta Mall will take you through China, Egypt, Tunisia and with wings of different issues that each country offers. Other centers are not to be missed Deira City Centre, Wafi Mall, Mercato, Medinet Jumeirah Souk and the Dubai Outlet Mall