Dubai is situated on the coast of Persian Gulf and the city is at sea level. Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert. It is the entry point to Europe from the east. It is the trading route between the east and the west. It is one of the members of the United Arab Emirates. The other members of the Emirates are Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Alain, Ras al Khima, Khorfakan and Ajman. It was a small trading port till 1966, when the petroleum was struck in the region. The demography and life style of the region changed over the years. The contribution of petroleum is a meager 2% to the regions oil kitty. In the last 40 years, Dubai has grown from a small port in the region into a global trading hub.
The growth of Dubai over the years has influenced the culture also. The Arabic culture has given way to multiethnic culture. The population consists of Indian, Sri Lankan, Pilipino, Russian, and Pakistani. The job opportunities have attracted people from the neighboring countries. Arabic is the official language of Dubai. Other languages like Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Chinese is also spoken. English is widely spoken even by the native Arabs. The economy of Dubai is thriving on the 24-hour port and tourism.
The climate in Dubai is very hot during the months of May through September. The temperature reaches to a maximum of 47 degrees. The best time to visit Dubai is during the months of October to April. The "Dubai Festival" and "Dubai Surprises" are the two occasions, which attract tourists from everywhere. The "Jeep Safari" in the desert is a major tourist attraction. Dubai has the distinction of having the tallest building in the world. Burj Dubai, standing to a height of 800 meters is the new attraction in Dubai. The belly dancers from Russia and Egypt in the deserts have kept the nightlife in Dubai most attractive. The city has the best internal road system. The transportation is by taxis and city buses are available. A metro line connects the city from the north end to the south.
A wide variety of food is available in the hotels. But pork is not sold to Muslims. A traveler can go shopping in the leading shopping malls of Dubai. Burjuman, Deira Centre, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Mall, are the leading shopping malls of Dubai. Alcoholic beverages cannot be purchased without a permit. However, hotels and restaurants sell alcohol, which has to be consumed in the four walls of the hotel. During the Ramadan month, small eateries do not serve food between sunrise and sun set.
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