Dubai City and Travel Guide
Two Dubais, One Progressive Middle Eastern CountryWhen you mention the word Dubai, Middle Easterners will probably ask you if you are referring to Dubai, the city, or Dubai, the emirate. This is because one of the emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East is also called Dubai. Dubai (the city) is the main metropolis in the emirate known as Dubai. Hence, some people get confused about the difference. To reduce confusion, Dubai natives may call the city by the name Dubai City.
Population is growing fastThe city is known to have existed about 150 years before the United Arab Emirates was formed. The emirate of Dubai is presently linked to the other emirates through a federal framework, thus the Dubai emirate shares economic, military, political, and legal functions with these other emirates. However, each emirate posseses certain functions that are specific to their jurisdiction. The Dubai emirate is the second-biggest emirate based on area and has the biggest population. Population is growing fast, with 800 people known to be relocating to the city every day as of 2007. The Dubai emirate carries vital political importance because it is one of the two emirates which have been granted veto power over important issues concerning the United Arab Emirates as a whole.
Al Maktoum dynastyThe city have been under the control of the Al Maktoum dynasty starting 1833. However, being under a monarchy has not stifled the progressive growth of Dubai into a modern metropolis whose economy (as of 2006) was valued at $46 billion. The Jebel Ali free zone contributes to most of the revenues of the Dubai emirate, with additional revenues provided by Dubai service industries such as tourism. One problem that this city has to address is its reputation for violating the human rights of many of its foreign workers, particularly since the world has started to take notice of the growing importance of Dubai as a business and industrial center.
Real estate and sports events are boosting the economySurprisingly, the country is one Middle Eastern country which does not seem heavily dependent on oil and gas production to boost its economy. Petroleum and natural gas industries only supply less than 3% of revenues to the Dubai economy. Dubai planners have funneled much of the wealth of the city into forward-thinking real estate projects and hosting sports events which is why people from other countries are looking to Dubai to become a leader among the cities of the world.
Maritime City, Media City and Internet CityDespite the economic impact of the 1990 Persian Gulf War, Dubai has managed to bounce back. One strategy that the leaders espoused was to concentrate on free trade and tourism after the price of oil in the world market shot up after the Persian Gulf War. This has helped to strengthen the economy and inspired the creation of more free trade zones similar to the Jebel Ali free zone. Some of these free zones are the Dubai Maritime City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Internet City. To further promote tourism in Dubai, Dubai planners constructed the tallest freestanding hotel in the world in Dubai known as Burj Al Arab.
This city is wonderful and very differentSo for those who think that all Middle Eastern countries are just about oil and gas products, think again. Dubai is one country that defies convention. This is just a little summary about the city Dubai. Soon you can find reviews, forums, blogs and galleries.
City Vacations - Your guide to London, New York, Paris, Toronto, Beijing, Prague, Dubai, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Vienna, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Berlin, Delhi, Cape Town, Munich, Tokyo, Okinawa, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Moscow, Madrid, Barcelona, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Diego, Stockholm, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, St Louis, Denver, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, Quebec, Vancouver, Shanghai, Helsinki, Perth, Hamburg, Brisbane, Melbourne, Saint Petersburg, Auckland, Montreal, Mombasa, Osaka, Mumbai, Milan and many other wonderful cities!
|
This site in French -