City of Dubai (مدينة دبيّ)
The Emirates Towers in Dubai
Flag
Coordinates: 25°16′N 55°20′E
Emirate	Dubai
Sheikh	Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Area
- City	4,114 km²
Population
- City (2006)	1,241,000[1]
- Density	293.94 [citation needed]/km²
Website: City of Dubai

Dubai (in Arabic: دبيّ, IPA: [ðʊ'bej], generally /dʊ'baɪ/ in English) refers to either: Image File history File links Emirates_Towers_Hotel. ... The Emirates Towers; Left: Office Tower, Right: Hotel The Emirates Towers complex contains the Emirates Office Tower and Emirates Towers Hotel skyscrapers, respectively the 12th and the 24th tallest currently-standing structures in the world, and a 96,875 square feet (9,000 square metre) two story retail complex known... Image File history File links Flag_of_Dubai. ... map of the United Arab Emirates, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF. File links The following pages link to this file: Geography of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Etymologically an emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة Imarah, plural: إمارات Imarat) is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc. ... For other uses, see Sheikh (disambiguation). ... Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم) (born 1949) is currently the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Ruler of Dubai. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic and Aramaic. ... For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

• one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf, or
• that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai City" to distinguish it from the emirate.

Dubai is the most populous and second largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi. Dubai is distinct from other members of the UAE in that revenues from oil account for only 6% of its gross domestic product. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ)^[2] and increasingly from tourism. Etymologically an emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة Imarah, plural: إمارات Imarat) is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc. ... It has been suggested that Persian Gulf States be merged into this article or section. ... Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. ... IMF 2005 figures of GDP of nominal compared to PPP. A regions gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of the several measures of the size of its economy. ... Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) is located in the emirate of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ...

With enormous construction and development in various industries, Dubai has attracted world attention through innovative real estate projects, sports events, conferences and Guinness records. However, this increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub have also highlighted potential human rights quagmires concerning its largely immigrant workforce. Ben Bradshaw moments before breaking the worlds fastest Straitjacket escape title in 50. ...

Archaeology

There are many archaeological sites in the Emirate of Dubai. The most famous of these is the Al Qusais settlement which dates back to the period 2600 BC to 2000 BC. A second settlement is in the Al Sofouh area near the present Dubai Media and Internet City. It is a round tomb that dates back to the period 2500 BC to 2000 BC and it is part of the Umm Al Nar civilization which inhabited this region during this period. A third location is the Hatta Valley, 115km south-east of Dubai city near the Omani border. In this location a few stones, called sharlos, with different images and writings dating back to the third millenium were found. They are now kept in the Dubai Museum.

History

Dubai City as seen from space

The oldest place where the name of Dubai was mentioned is in Arabic book called "Mojam Ma Ostojam men Asmae Al belaad wal Mawadhea" (معجم ما استعجم من أسماء البلاد والمواضع) by Abdullah Bin Abdu Aziz Al Bakri Al Andalasi in the year 1095 AD as a name of a vast place. Later, in the year 1587 AD, the Venetian pearl merchant Gaspero Balbi mentioned the name of Dubai as one of the places where its people work in the field of pearl diving. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1075x1253, 1338 KB)Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1075x1253, 1338 KB)Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. ...

There are records of the town of Dubai from 1799. Earlier in the 18th century the Al Abu Falasa lineage of Bani Yas clan established itself in Dubai which was a dependent of the settlement of Abu Dhabi until 1833. Bani Yas is a tribe in the United Arab Emirates. ... Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. ...

On 8 January 1820, the sheikh of Dubai was a signatory to the British sponsored "General Treaty of Peace" (the General Maritime Treaty). January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Sheikh (disambiguation). ... A peace treaty is an agreement (a peace treaty) between two hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a war or armed conflict. ...

In 1833, the Al Maktoum dynasty of the Bani Yas tribe left the settlement of Abu Dhabi and took over the town of Dubai, "without resistance". From that point on, Dubai, a newly independent emirate, was constantly at odds with the emirate of Abu Dhabi. An attempt by the Qawasim to take over Dubai was thwarted. In 1835, Dubai and the rest of the Trucial States signed a maritime truce with Britain and a "Perpetual Maritime Truce" about two decades later. Dubai came under the protection of the United Kingdom (keeping out the Ottoman Turks) by the Exclusive Agreement of 1892. Like four of its neighbours, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it an important location. The Ten Families refers to the ten families or tribes that have ruled the Persian Gulf, with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. ... // For other uses, see Dynasty (disambiguation). ... UAE redirects here; for other uses of that term, see UAE (disambiguation) The United Arab Emirates is an oil-rich country situated in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. ... Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. ... The flag of Ras al-Khaimah Ras Al-Khaimah (Arabic: رأس الخيمة the top of the tent) is one of the United Arab Emirates. ... The Emirate of Sharjah (Arabic: الشارقة) extends along approximately 16 kilometres of the United Arab Emiratess Persian Gulf coastline and for more than 80 kilometres into the interior. ... Umm al-Qaiwain (Arabic language: أمّ القيوين) is one of the emirates in the United Arab Emirates. ...

In March 1892, the Trucial States (or Trucial Oman) were created. UAE redirects here; for other uses of that term, see UAE (disambiguation) The United Arab Emirates is an oil-rich country situated in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. ... National motto: none Official language Arabic Capital and largest city Abu Dhabi Area 75,150 km² (29,016 mi²) Population  - Total (2005)  - Density Ranked 136th 2,563,212 46/km² HDI (2003) 0. ...

The rulers of Dubai fostered trade and commerce, unlike the town's neighbours. The town of Dubai was an important port of call for foreign tradesmen (chiefly Indians), who settled in the town. Until the 1930s, the town was known for its pearl exports. White pearls strung on a necklace and more numerous. ...

After the devaluation of the Gulf Rupee in 1966, Dubai joined the newly independent state of Qatar to set up a new monetary unit, the Qatar/Dubai riyal. Oil was discovered 120 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, after which the town granted oil concessions. Devaluation is a reduction in the value of a currency. ... The Gulf Rupee, also known as the Persian Gulf Rupee (XPGR), was introduced by the Indian government as a replacement for the Indian Rupee for circulation exclusively outside the country with the Reserve Bank of India [Amendment] Act, 1 May 1959. ... The riyal is the currency of Qatar (ISO 4217: QAR) and Saudi Arabia (SAR). ... km redirects here. ...

On 2 December 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates after former protector Britain left the Persian Gulf in 1971. In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a single, uniform currency: the UAE dirham. December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... It has been suggested that Persian Gulf States be merged into this article or section. ... The Dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. ...

The following is a list of rulers of Dubai, going back at least to 1833.

• ... - 9 June 1833 Sheikh `Ubayd ibn Said
• 9 June 1833 - 1852 Sheikh Maktoum I ibn Bati ibn Suhayl (d. 1852)
• 1852 - 1859 Sheikh Said I ibn Bati (d. 1859)
• 1859 - 22 November 1886 Sheikh Hushur ibn Maktoum (d. 1886)
• 22 November 1886 - 7 April 1894 Sheikh Rashid I ibn Maktoum (d. 1894)
• 7 April 1894 - 16 February 1906 Sheikh Maktoum II ibn Hushur (b. 18.. - d. 1906)
• 16 February 1906 - November 1912 Sheikh Bati ibn Suhayl (b. 1851 - d. 1912)
• November 1912 - 15 April 1929 Sheikh Saeed II bin Maktum (1st time) (b. 1878 - d. 1958)
• 15 April 1929 - 18 April 1929 Sheikh Mani ibn Rashid
• 18 April 1929 - September 1958 Sheikh Saeed II bin Maktum (2nd time)
• September 1958 - 7 October 1990 Sheikh Rashid II ibn Said Al Maktoum (b. 1912 - d. 1990)
• 7 October 1990 - 4 January 2006 Sheikh Maktoum III bin Rashid Al Maktoum (b. 1943 - d. 2006)
• 4 January 2006 - Present Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (b. 1949)

The current ruler of Dubai is H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Like the preceding ruler, his older brother H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he is also the Vice President and the Prime Minister of the UAE. June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... His Highness Sheikh Saeed II bin Maktum was emir of Dubai November 1912 - April 15th 1929 and April 18th 1929 - September 1958. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1912 - October 7, 1990) (Arabic: راشد بن سعيد آل مكتوم) was the prime minister of United Arab Emirates from 1979 to 1990 and ruler of Dubai. ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wikinews has news related to this article: Dubai leader Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum dead Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1943 – 4 January 2006) (Arabic: الشيخ مكتوم بن راشد آل مكتوم) was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir or ruler... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم) (born 1949) is currently the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Ruler of Dubai. ...

Demographics

Silhouette of a dhow in the Bur Dubai creek

Dubai is unusual in that its population is comprised mainly of expatriates, with UAE nationals (Emiratis) constituting the minority. The majority of these expatriates come from South Asia and South East Asia. A quarter of the population reportedly trace their origins to neighbouring Iran.^[3] Dubai is also home to some 100,000 British and other western expatriates. The UAE government does not allow any form of naturalization or permanent residence to expatriates. However, foreigners are permitted to purchase and own property without a local partner or sponsor. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 104 KB)Silhouette of a dhow in the Bur Dubai Creek, Dubai. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 104 KB)Silhouette of a dhow in the Bur Dubai Creek, Dubai. ... A Dhow near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. ... In United Kingdom usage, the term creek refers exclusively to a tidal water channel. ... An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is someone temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing and/or legal residence. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir) South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is a southern geopolitical region of the Asian continent comprising territories on and in proximity to the Indian subcontinent. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Naturalization is the act whereby a person voluntarily and actively acquires a nationality which is not his or her nationality at birth. ... Permanent residency refers to a persons status such that the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within the country despite not having citizenship. ...

Nearly all of the commercial establishments are run by expatriates with a silent local partner who merely "rents" the business license for a negotiated annual fee without taking part in any capital investment. The numerous free trade zones allow for full expatriate ownership. A partner is: a domestic partner. ...

There is an increasing number of "freehold" villas and apartments on artificial islands such as the Palm Islands and in many parts of Dubai for example The Greens, Dubai Marina, International City, etc. Ownership is either permanent or on a 99 year lease depending on which area—freehold areas were announced in the press in July 2006.^[4] Ownership or lease of a completed residence allows the owner to apply for (but not guarantee) a residency visa on a three year renewable basis. The Federal Government does not state whether foreigners may or may not own property and has left individual emirates to formulate their own property laws. The idea and function of a villa has evolved considerably since its invention towards the end of the Roman Republic. ... Before Mexico City, Tenochtitlan was an artificial island of 250,000 (Dr Atl) Dejima, not allowed direct contact with nearby Nagasaki Formoza (Gdynia) The World in Dubai An artificial island is an island that has been formed by human, rather than natural means. ... The designs of the three palm islands. ...

Picture of the Marina development

Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Language and religion

The official language is Arabic but English, German, Hindi/Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Persian, and Tagalog are also widely spoken. Islam is the majority religion of the Emiratis and while a vast majority of the locals are Sunnis, there is a significant Shiite minority. There are also minority Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians. Dubai is the only emirate that has Hindu temples and a Sikh Gurdwara. Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Hindi (हिन्दी) is a language spoken mainly in North and Central India. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Malayalam (മലയാളം ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Tamil (தமிழ் ) is a classical language and one of the major languages of the Dravidian language family. ... Persian, (local name: FārsÄ« or PārsÄ«), is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Tagalog (pronunciation: ) is one of the major languages of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (مسلم), believe God (Arabic: الله ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Shi‘as (the adjective in Arabic is شيعى shi‘i; English has traditionally used Shiite) which mean follower in Arabic make up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%-35% of all Muslim. ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... A Sikh man wearing a turban The adherents of Sikhism are called Sikhs. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ. ... A Hindu temple is a house of worship for the followers of Hinduism. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In early 2001, ground was broken for the construction of several additional churches on a parcel of land in Jebel Ali donated by the government of Dubai to four Protestant congregations and a Roman Catholic congregation. Construction on the first Greek Orthodox Church in Dubai (to be called St. Mary's) began at the end of 2005. The land for the construction of the church was also donated by the government to the Greek Orthodox community of Dubai. Jebel Ali (جبل علي in Arabic) (also sometime written Mina Jabal Ali) is a port (Mina in Arabic) town, located thirty-five kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see Terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus, with its traditions first established by the Twelve Apostles and maintained through... Greek Orthodox Church can refer to any of several hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing Eastern Orthodox churches: the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the first among equals of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ...

Financial support to non-Muslim groups from the Dubai government comes in the form of donated land for the construction of churches and other religious facilities, including cemeteries. They are permitted to raise money from among their congregants and to receive financial support from abroad. Christian churches are permitted to openly advertise church functions.

See also: Roman Catholicism in the United Arab Emirates

The Roman Catholic Church in the United Arab Emirates is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ...

Economy

Oil reserves in Dubai are less than one-twentieth those of Abu Dhabi, and oil income represents a small proportion of the emirate's income. Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. ...

Dubai and its twin across the Dubai creek, Deira (independent at that time), became important ports of call for Western manufacturers. Most of the new city's banking and financial centres were headquartered in the port area. Dubai maintained its importance as a trade route through the 1970s and 1980s. The city of Dubai has a free trade in gold and until the 1990s was the hub of a "brisk smuggling trade" of gold ingots to India, where gold import was restricted. In United Kingdom usage, the term creek refers exclusively to a tidal water channel. ... Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. ... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ... An ingot is a mass of metal or semiconducting material, heated past the melting point, and then recast, typically into the form of a bar or block. ...

Today, Dubai is an important tourist destination and port (Jebel Ali, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world), but also increasingly developing as a hub for service industries such as IT and finance, with the new Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Transport links are bolstered by its rapidly-expanding Emirates Airline, founded by the government in 1985 and still state-owned; based at Dubai International Airport, it carried over 12 million passengers in fiscal year 2005. Jebel Ali (جبل علي in Arabic) (also sometime written Mina Jabal Ali) is a port (Mina in Arabic) town, located thirty-five kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ... Information Technology (IT)[1] is a broad subject concerned with the use of technology in managing and processing information, especially in large organizations. ... Finance studies and addresses the ways in which individuals, businesses, and organizations raise, allocate, and use monetary resources over time, taking into account the risks entailed in their projects. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The government has set up industry-specific free zones throughout the city. Dubai Internet City, now combined with Dubai Media City as part of TECOM (Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority) is one such enclave whose members include IT firms such as EMC Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft, and IBM, and media organisations such as MBC, CNN, Reuters, ARY and AP. Dubai Knowledge Village (KV),an education and training hub, is also set up to complement the Free Zone’s other two clusters, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, by providing the facilities to train the clusters' future knowledge workers. Internet access is restricted in most areas of Dubai with a proxy server filtering out sites deemed to be against cultural and religious values of the UAE - this includes any .il (Israeli) domains. However, areas served by TECOM (an internet service provider) are currently not filtered. Many countries have, or have had at some time, designated areas where companies are taxed very lightly or not at all to encourage development or for some other reason. ... The Microsoft sign at the entrance of the Dubai Microsoft campus, Dubai Internet City. ... Dubai Media City is located in Dubai at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. ... EMC Corporation NYSE: EMC is an American manufacturer of software and systems for information management and storage. ... Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) is one of the major companies developing database management systems (DBMS), tools for database development, middle-tier software (Fusion Middleware), enterprise resource planning software (ERP), customer relationship management software (CRM) and supply chain planning (SCM) software. ... The Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... now. ... This article or section reads like an advertisement. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pron. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... The dubai knowledge village is a place where any established university/college/educational institute can offer their services in one common boundry. ...

Real estate and property

The Jumeirah Palm island.

The government's decision to diversify from a trade-based but oil-reliant economy to one that is service- and tourism-oriented has made real estate more valuable, resulting in the property boom from 2004-2006. Construction on a large scale has turned Dubai into one of the fastest growing cities in the world, equalled only by the large Chinese cities. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3032x2008, 6313 KB) Summary Palm Island Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is featured in this image photographed by Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao from the International Space Station. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3032x2008, 6313 KB) Summary Palm Island Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is featured in this image photographed by Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao from the International Space Station. ... A sattelite image of the Palm Islands The Palm, Jumeirah is an artificial island off the coast of Dubai in the shape of a palm tree. ... Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings. ...

The property boom is largely driven by Mega-Projects -

Off-shore such as Palm Islands , The World (archipelago) The designs of the three palm islands. ... The World Islands The World is an archipelago of artificial islands, shaped like the continents of the Earth, being constructed off the coast of Dubai. ...

Inland such as Dubai Marina , The Burj Dubai Complex , Dubai Waterfront , Business Bay and Dubailand . Dubai Marina is a district in the heart of what is recently being called the new Dubai. ... The Dubai Waterfront is the largest waterfront development in the world. ... Business Bay is one of the many new economic zones that are being built around downtown Dubai. ... Dubai Land is a entertainment complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, opening in 2006. ...

Skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road

The aspirations of the ruling sheikh are reflected by the ultra-modern architecture of the city; home to iconic skyscrapers such as Emirates Towers, which are the 12th and 24th tallest buildings in the world,^[5] and the Burj al-Arab located on its very own island in the Persian Gulf and currently the tallest hotel in the world. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1215x830, 1041 KB) Licensing Photo was taken from English Wikipedia where the author had released all rights. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1215x830, 1041 KB) Licensing Photo was taken from English Wikipedia where the author had released all rights. ... Sheikh Zayed Road is a highway in western Dubai, United Arab Emirates and runs from Trade Centre Roundabout to the border with the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in the area of Jebel Ali. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest skyscraper by roof height on high rise. ... The Emirates Towers; Left: Office Tower, Right: Hotel The Emirates Towers complex contains the Emirates Office Tower and Emirates Towers Hotel skyscrapers, respectively the 12th and the 24th tallest currently-standing structures in the world, and a 96,875 square feet (9,000 square metre) two story retail complex known... The Burj al-Arab (Arabic: برج العرب, Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel in Dubai, in the largest city of the United Arab Emirates, which is marketed as the worlds first seven-star hotel. The worlds second seven-star hotel is being built in Islamabad, Pakistan and is... It has been suggested that Persian Gulf States be merged into this article or section. ...

Emaar Properties is currently constructing what will become the world's tallest structure, the Burj Dubai. The final height of the skyscraper is a closely guarded secret - an indication of the developer's resolve to attain the title of the world's tallest building and its intention to hold on to it for as long as possible - but estimates so far point to a height upwards of 810m. Burj Dubai is expected to be completed in 2008. Burj Dubai's neighbour is another behemoth under construction: the world's largest shopping mall - the Dubai Mall. Emaar Properties ( Arabic: إعمار العقارية) , is a Company based in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ... The Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي for Dubai Tower) is a skyscraper currently under construction, since April 15, 2005, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at . The lead architect is Adrian Smith of the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. ... The Dubai Mall is a giant mall scheduled to be built at , in Dubai, UAE, by Emaar properties, as part of the New Dubai project. ...

Also under construction is what is planned to become Dubai's new Central Business District, named Business Bay. The project, when completed, will feature a phenomenal 500 skyscrapers built around an artificial extension of the existing Dubai Creek. Business Bay is one of the many new economic zones that are being built around downtown Dubai. ...

In February 2005, the construction of Dubai Waterfront was announced,^[5] it will be 2½ times the size of Washington D.C., roughly seven times the size of the island of Manhattan. Dubai Waterfront will be a mix of canals and islands full of hotels and residential areas that will add 800 km (500 miles) of man-made waterfront. It will also contain Al Burj, another one of the tallest buildings in the world. The Dubai Waterfront is the largest waterfront development in the world. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... Al Burj is a skyscraper proposed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is expected to rival Burj Dubai for the worlds tallest building title. ...

Dubai has also launched Dubiotech. This is a new park to be targeted at Biotech companies working in pharma, medical fields, genetic research and even biodefense. The aim of this park is to foster the growth of this sector in Dubai and to utilize the region's talent in addressing this rapidly growing sector. Dubiotech, or more correctly The Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park is a new development in Dubai aimed to attract biotechnology research and development to the emirate. ... A pharmaceutical company, or drug company, is a company licensed to discover, develop, market and distribute drugs. ... Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ... Biodefense refers to short term, local, usually military measures to restore biosecurity to a given group of persons in a given area — in the civilian terminology, it is a very robust biohazard response. ...

The International Media Production Zone is a project targeted at creating a hub for printers, publishers, media production companies, and related industry segments. Launched in 2003, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2006.

A new project was announced on May 1, 2006 by the authorities. It is named Bawadi and will consist of a 27 billion US-dollar investment intended to increase Dubai's number of hotel rooms by 29,000, doubling it from the current figure offers now. The largest complex will be called Asia, Asia and will be the largest hotel in the world with more than 6,500 rooms. May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bawadi is a project anounced by the government of the United Arab Emirates and other investors on the 1st of May 2006. ...

The first villa freehold properties that were occupied by non-UAE nationals were The Meadows, The Springs, and The Lakes (high-end neighbourhoods designed by Emaar Properties, collectively called Emirates Hills).

Expatriates of various nationalities have been pouring capital into Dubai in the past several years, greatly contributing to the city's prosperity. Iranian expatriates alone are estimated to have invested up to US$200 Billion in Dubai.^{[citation needed]}

Dubai interests have also purchased large amounts of real estate in foreign countries, in particular snapping up trophy properties in global centers like New York and London. Purchases in 2005 included New York's 230 Park Avenue (formerly known as the New York Central Building or the Helmsley Building) and Essex House on Central Park South. Essex House sign as seen from Central Park The Jumeirah Essex House is a luxury hotel located on Central Park South in Manhattan. ... Central Park South is a street in Manhattan, New York City; it is a section of 59th Street. ...

See the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing's list of developments [1] in Dubai for more information.

Cranes dominate the sky over Dubai.

ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 198 KB) Summary I am the author of this image. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 198 KB) Summary I am the author of this image. ... A tower crane with a pivoted main boom Cranes on the Sheksna River, Cherepovets, Russia A worker telecommanding a crane from the ground A crane is a tower or derrick equipped with cables and pulleys that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to shift them horizontally. ...

Construction

Since 2000, Dubai's municipality has initiated a plethora of construction phases and plans across the entire city of Dubai, predominantly in the Mina Seyahi area, located further from Jumeirah, towards Jebel Ali. In many areas, it is not easy to see Dubai's sky without at least one crane in your view; Industry experts cautiously estimate that 15% to 25% of the world's cranes are in Dubai.^[6] Construction in Dubai and the UAE in general is a much faster process than in any Western country. This is partly because labourers from the Indian subcontinent accept lower wages than those from other countries. Jumeirah Jumeirah is a coastal residential area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates mainly comprising low rise private dwellings. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ...

One of the main reasons for the boom in construction in Dubai is its drive to diversify the economy. The Dubai government does not want to depend on its oil reserves which are largely believed to become exhausted by 2010 and, as such, has diversified its economy to attract revenues in the form of expanding commercial and corporate activity. Tourism is also being promoted at a staggering rate with the construction of Dubailand and other projects that include the making of mammoth shopping malls, theme parks, resorts, stadiums and various other tourist attractions. Dubai Land is a entertainment complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, opening in 2006. ...

Another reason for the construction boom is the recent reversal of a law in 2002 that allows non-nationals of the UAE to own property (not land) in Dubai (albeit freehold and 99 year leases are actually sold to people with ownership still remaining with private companies). The larger of the property tycoons are Al Nakheel and Emaar Properties. In Dubai, demand is currently outstripping supply by a significant margin and is showing no signs of slowing in the near future. Rents have skyrocketed with the recent inflow of professionals and companies from around the world who are attracted by Dubai's no-tax benefits although rises have been capped to 15% per annum up to 2006 under a directive from Sheikh Mohammad. Legislation in this area is still developing as the property market for foreigners is relatively new. Fee simple, also known as fee simple absolute or allodial, is a term of art in common law. ...

Human rights and labour

People born in the United Arab Emirates are not considered citizens unless their parents are citizens. Thus those born in the UAE to expatriates are also considered expatriates. The massive construction projects currently in Dubai have required more construction workers than there are citizens of the city (note: over 80% of Dubai's population consists of expatriates/non-citizens). This has led to massive importation of low-wage workers, mostly from India and Pakistan.^[7] Most of these workers are forced to give up their passports upon entering Dubai, making it very difficult to return home. NPR reports that workers "typically live eight to a room, sending home a portion of their salary to their families, whom they don't see for years at a time." Others report that their salary has been withheld to pay back loans, making them little more than indentured servants.^[8] The BBC has reported that "local newspapers often carry stories of construction workers allegedly not being paid for months on end. They are not allowed to move jobs and if they leave the country to go home they will almost certainly lose the money they say they are owed. The names of the construction companies concerned are not published in the newspapers for fear of offending the often powerful individuals who own them.".^[9] NPR logo For other meanings of NPR see NPR (disambiguation) National Public Radio (NPR) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that sells programming to member radio stations; together they are a loosely organized public radio network in the United States. ... An indentured servant is a labourer under contract (an indenture--explained below) to work (for a specified amount of time) for another person or a company/corporation, often without any monetary pay, but in exchange for accommodation, food, other essentials, training, or passage to a new country. ...

In December 2005, the Indian consulate in Dubai submitted a report to the Government of India detailing labour problems faced by Indian expatriates in the emirate. The report highlighted delayed payment of wages, substitution of employment contracts, premature termination of services and excessive working hours as being some of the challenges faced by Indian workers in the city.^[10] The term Consulate can refer to: the office or the period in office of a consul a diplomatic consulate the French Consulate which governed between 1799 and 1804 a brand of menthol cigarettes Consulate This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... The Government of India (Hindi: Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. ... An employment contract is an agreement entered into between an employer and an employee at the commencement of the period of employment and stating the exact nature of their business relationship, specifically what compensation the employee will receive in exchange for specific work performed. ...

On 21 March 2006, tensions boiled over at the construction site of the Burj Dubai as workers upset over low wages and poor working conditions rioted, damaging cars, offices, computers, and construction tools. A Dubai Interior Ministry official said the rioters caused approximately one million U.S. dollars in damage. On March 22 most workers returned to work but refused to work. The work stoppage also caused workers building a new terminal at Dubai International Airport to strike.^[11] March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي for Dubai Tower) is a skyscraper currently under construction, since April 15, 2005, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at . The lead architect is Adrian Smith of the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (82nd in leap years). ... Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the international airport serving Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates. ...

The alleged labour injustices in Dubai have attracted the attention of various Human Rights groups. Mafi Wasta, for example, is a website created specifically for the purpose of persuading the government of the UAE to sign up to 2 of the ILO's (International Labour Organization) 7 core conventions - namely 87 and 98 - which allows for labour unions. The site lists examples of human rights violations in the country. Human Rights Watch said that the men were treated "less than human".

However, the UAE government has denied any kind of labour injustices and has stated that the watchdog's (Human Rights Watch) accusations were misguided.^[12] Towards the end of March 2006, the government announced steps to allow construction unions. UAE labour minister Ali al-Kaabi said: "Labourers will be allowed to form unions."

Prostitution, though illegal by law, is conspicuously present in the emirate because of an economy that is largely based on tourism and trade. There is a high demand for women from Eastern Europe. According to the World Sex Guide, a website catering to sex tourists, Russian and Ethiopian women are the most common prostitutes, while Indian prostitutes are part of a well organized trans-Oceanic prostitution network.^[13] A sex worker in Germany. ... Eastern Europe is the eastern region of Europe variably defined. ... Sex tourism is travelling for sexual intercourse with prostitutes or to engage in other sexual activity. ... For the fictional superstate in George Orwells novel, see Oceania (Nineteen Eighty-Four). ...

Sources disagree on whether or not Jews are "banned" from Dubai; Der Spiegel writes that "all Jews are strictly banned from entering the country",^[14] while other sources suggest that only Israeli citizens have their visas routinely denied and that rejection of visa applications for Jews of non-Israeli citizenship is "expat urban legend."^[15] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Residents are now required to take permission from their employers to obtain a driving licence. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), reinstating a rule abolished about four years ago, issued a circular to all driving schools in Dubai asking them to make it mandatory for applicants to obtain a no-objection-certificate (NOC) from their employers to take driving lessons. No one is allowed to learn driving with effect from October 1 without getting a NOC from his or her employer.

Transport

Roads

Dubai has a fairly large bus system run by the Dubai Municipality. The bus system has 59 unique routes on weekdays and transports over 200,000 people each week. Although the Public Transport bus system is large it is not large enough to accommodate the volume of people who would like to use it. The system has come under increasing criticism because of lack of capacity. The government has issued plastic, swipable "e-go" cards. There are also several discounts and period pass options available. Unfortunately though, the bus network is used extensively by lower income groups and does not do enough to attract higher income earners who would do well to use the bus transport system and ease traffic congestion that has recently become a major problem in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Traffic congestion has come about mainly due to lack of foresight on the recent rapid population increase, the relative ease of credit facilities for obtaining a car and the convoluted road networks that are constantly being changed, improved or reconstructed. Furthermore, Dubai has developed a reputation for having the most deaths and road accidents in the developed world clocking in with a statistic of having a minor road accident at least every 3 minutes. Due to the frequency of such incidents, road networks are blocked and held up quite frequently. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Dubai also has an extensive taxi system, by far the most frequently used means of public transport within the emirate. There are both government-operated and private cab companies. The Dubai Transport Corporation operates cream-coloured taxis. Some of the private cab companies are Cars Taxi, National Taxi, Cititaxi and Metro Taxi. Prices are reasonable (the meter begins as Dhs. 3, which is approximately 50pence, or 1 USD), and are charged by distance, although if the cab stops for more than 1 minute, 1/2 a Dirham will be added to the meter. Taxi drivers will usually try to avert this happening in traffic queues by moving slightly forward every 30 seconds or so. Cabs can be found anywhere, any time although difficulties may be experienced during large events. Taxicab, short forms taxi or cab, is a type of public transport for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. ... The Dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. ...

Trains

There is currently a $3.89 billion Dubai Metro project under construction for the emirate. The Metro system is expected to be partially operational by 2009 and fully operational by 2012. The construction contract for the project was given to Dubai Rapid Link (DURL),^[16] a consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Also involved are two other Japanese corporations, Obayashi and Kajima, and a Turkish company, Yapi Merkezi. The metro will comprise two lines: the Green Line from Rashidiya to the main city center and the Red Line from the airport to Jebel Ali. The Dubai Metro (Green and Blue Lines) will have 70 kilometres of track and 43 stations, 33 above ground and ten underground. Trains are expected to run every 90 seconds when the project is completed. Recently, the Blue Line connecting Dubai International Airport to the new Jebel Ali Port and Dubai World Central International Airport was announced. The route will run 47 km through Dubailand, but the exact number of stations is unknown. Dubai is building this train system to ease congestion on its road network and to meet the transportation demands of its growing population. Seven monorails are also slated to be constructed to help feed the Metro system, connecting various places such as Dubailand, Palm Jumeirah, et al, to the main track. The Dubai Metro A Dubai Metro Station The Dubai Metro on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai The Dubai Metro will be a driverless, fully automated metro network under construction in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. ... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHI) (三菱重工業, Mitsubishi JÅ«kōgyō) TYO: 7011 is a Japanese company. ... Jebel Ali (جبل علي in Arabic) (also sometime written Mina Jabal Ali) is a port (Mina in Arabic) town, located thirty-five kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ... Dubai World Central International Airport (IATA: JXB, ICAO: Unknown) is a new airport under construction in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. ... Dubai Land is a entertainment complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, opening in 2006. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

A water taxi in Dubai.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1144x856, 798 KB) Dubai, Flusstaxi über den Dubai Creek File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dubai Wikipedia talk:Featured picture candidates Metadata This file contains additional information... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1144x856, 798 KB) Dubai, Flusstaxi über den Dubai Creek File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dubai Wikipedia talk:Featured picture candidates Metadata This file contains additional information...

Ports and water travel

Dubai is serviced by several commercial ports and Dubai Creek is still used by local traders in Dhows: A Dhow near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. ...

• Mina' Rashid (Port Rashid)
• Jebel Ali

One of the more traditional methods of getting across Bur Dubai to Deira is through abras, small boats that ferry passengers across the Dubai creek, between abra stations in Bastakiya and Bani Yas Road, for a nominal charge of 50 fils (1/2 AED). Mina Rashid (Port Rashid) is the man made, commercial, deep-water port of Dubai. ... Jebel Ali (جبل علي in Arabic) (also sometime written Mina Jabal Ali) is a port (Mina in Arabic) town, located thirty-five kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ... Abra on the Dubai Creek Abra station Abra is a traditional boat made from wood used to transfer people in the Dubai creek. ...

Air

The Dubai International Airport is a hub for Emirates airlines and has a large Duty Free shopping centre. The airport has won numerous awards for its excellence in design and services. A third terminal is currently under construction and is due to open in 2006. The new terminal will be dedicated to Emirates airlines and will fully support the new Airbus A380. When completed this will double the capacity of the airport. Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the international airport serving Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates. ... Emirates (Arabic: الإمارات al-Imārāt) is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ... The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, four-engined airliner manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. It first flew on April 27, 2005 from Toulouse in France. ...

A second airport located at Jebel Ali — (which has been renamed as Dubai World Central International Airport although still retaining the IATA code of JXB) and a new free trade area within Dubai, marking the centrepiece of the Jebel Ali Airport City — was announced in 2004 and construction began in January 2005. The first part is expected to be completed by 2008. Although initially intended as a predominantly cargo airport, plans are afoot for the new Jebel Ali airport to handle some 120 million passengers per annum within 20 years, and would likely surpass Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, currently the world's busiest airport, which handles 88.4 million passengers as of 2005. Jebel Ali International Airport (IATA: JXB, ICAO: Unknown) is a new airport under construction in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (IATA: ATL, ICAO: KATL) is located in the Atlanta, Georgia, USA metropolitan area, and is the busiest airport in the world both in terms of number of passengers as well as the number of takeoffs and landings, surpassing Chicagos OHare International Airport. ...

Dubai is investing heavily in developing the reach of its airline, Emirates. The idea is to develop Dubai's air transportation ability so that passengers from any city can fly direct to Dubai. When Emirates Airline receives the Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner series aircraft, it will be able to offer direct access to virtually any major city in the world. The airline has placed an order of 45 of Airbus's A-380 'superjumbo' doubledecker aircraft, the largest of which has a capacity of 641 passengers. The A380 aircraft have already been charted to fly from 2007 onwards. In addition, Emirates has placed an order of 42 of the new Boeing 777 aircraft in November 2005. The Airbus A380 manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. is a double-decker, four engined airliner capable of flying 800 passengers in a high density format or 555 passengers in a typical three-class configuration. ... The Boeing 777 is a family of long-range wide-body twin-engine airliners built by Boeings Commercial Airplanes division. ...

Dubai's location makes it unique in its international connectivity and access.

Postal system

In parts what is being dubbed as "New Dubai," or 'some' parts of Dubai that range west from Sheikh Zayed Road to Jebel Ali Free Zone, the formal addressing system is: sector number, community number, street number and building number. In common practice, an address consists of: street number, building number and community name although the order may vary. For example: Sheikh Zayed Road is a highway in western Dubai, United Arab Emirates and runs from Trade Centre Roundabout to the border with the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in the area of Jebel Ali. ... Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) is located in the emirate of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ...

Street 1a, Villa 2
Umm Suqeim 3
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In older parts of Dubai (Deira, Bur Dubai), or what comprises Dubai City and the newer commercial/business area of Dubai, street or sector addresses, historically, tend not be used; however, use of the official street map will show that all sectors and thoroughfares have been designated. Location tends to be identified via building name and a landmark, which may very well mean that a person not familiar with or new to Dubai may be unable to find his/her destination. For example:

Suite 803, City Tower 2
Opposite Emirates Hotel
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The UAE post is delivered to post office boxes. There is no home delivery.

History of the postal system

A post office of British India was opened August 19, 1909. It used the stamps of India on mail, with postmark "Dubai Persian Gulf", until India's independence in 1947, then stamps of Pakistan until March 31, 1948. When Pakistan came into existence, the British government set up a postal administration for Eastern Arabia and used overprinted British stamps until January 7, 1961, when Dubai issued its own stamps inscribed "Trucial States". Despite the name, these were only on sale in Dubai's post office. Small-town post office and town hall in Lockhart, Alabama A post office is a facility (in most countries, a government one) where the public can purchase postage stamps for mailing correspondence or merchandise, and also drop off or pick up packages or other special-delivery items. ... British India (otherwise known as The British Raj) was a historical period during which most of the Indian subcontinent, or present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, were under the colonial authority of the British Empire (Undivided India). ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ...

The Dubai Post Department took over the postal service on June 14, 1963 and the following day issued a series of stamps depicting sea life, views of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This was the opening salvo of a barrage of stamp issues over the next few years. The emirate discovered that stamp collectors were willing to give it money for colored labels with "Dubai" printed on them, and by the time the postal system was merged with those of other emirates in mid-1972, it had issued over 400 stamps, few of which ever saw usage on mail. June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... For other uses, see Sheikh (disambiguation). ... Wikinews has news related to this article: Dubai leader Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum dead Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1943 – 4 January 2006) (Arabic: الشيخ مكتوم بن راشد آل مكتوم) was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir or ruler... A small thematic collection of stamps featuring birds Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as covers (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). ...

Education

English is the medium of instruction in most schools in Dubai. Annual fees for nursery and pre-school vary greatly. A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... One pays a fee as renumeration for services, especially the honorarium paid to a doctor, lawyer or member of a learned profession. ... Nursery can mean: A nursery is a place for the temporary care of children in the absence of their parents. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Day care. ...

Some primary schools conduct entrance tests. Most schools cater to one or more expatriate communities. Our Own English High School, the Dubai Modern High School, and the Indian High School offer either a CBSE or an ICSE Indian syllabus. Dubai English Speaking School, Jumeirah Primary School, Jebel Ali Primary School, Jumeirah English Speaking School, King's School and the Horizon School all offer British primary education up to the age of eleven. Dubai College, English College, and Jumeirah College are all British eleven-to-eighteen secondary schools which offer GCSE and A-Levels. St. Mary's Catholic High School offers the British curriculum GSCE and A-Level programmes to the Dubai community. The Emirates International School, Wellington School and Cambridge International High School are also secondary schools that offer a combination of GCSE, IGCSE, and IB courses to the expatriate community. Cambridge International and St. Mary's are popular choices for the Indian expat community. The International School of Choueifat and Emirates International School offer both British and American curricula. Dubai English Speaking School and Jumeirah English Speaking School are the number one primary schools of choice for many expats, with Dubai College leading the list of secondary schools. Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... In education, certification, counseling, and many other fields, a test or an exam (short for examination) is a tool or technique intended to measure students expression of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. ... The Central Board of Secondary Education is a board of school education in India. ... The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for class 10, i. ... Look up syllabus in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Dubai College is a British system international school in the Umm Suqeim area of Dubai, UAE, established in 1978. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... An A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education usually taken during Further Education and after GCSEs. ... Wellington School can refer to two schools in England: Wellington School, Somerset Wellington School, Shropshire Not to be confused with Wellington College This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an international qualification for school students. ... The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a group of three educational programmes, as established by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). ...

A growing number of K-12 schools offer the American syllabus. The American School of Dubai (ASD), which is located in Jumeirah, and Dubai American Academy (DAA) in Al Barsha have been around the longest. ASD offers an accredited American high school diploma; DAA offers both an American-accredited high school diploma and the International Baccalaureate [IB] diploma. There are also some primary and high schools that offer Canadian and Japanese syllabi. K-12 (Pronounced Kay through twelve or just Kay twelve) is the North American designation for primary and secondary education. ... The American School of Dubai (ASD) is located in the Jumeira community of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ... High school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Many expatriates tend to send their children back to their home country or to western countries for university education. However, a sizable number of foreign accredited universities have been set up in the city over the last ten years. Some of these universities include the American University in Dubai (AUD), The American College of Dubai, Al Ghurair University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Heriot-Watt University, Middlesex University, Dubai, the Higher Colleges of Technology (Dubai Women's College and Dubai Men's College campuses,University of Wollongong in Dubai, Dublin's Dubai business school, European University College Brussels, Dubai, Mahatma Gandhi University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, British University of Dubai, SP Jain Center Of Management(part of India's reputed Business School SP Jain Institute of Management & Research) and Zayed University. Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... University Logo The American University in Dubai (AUD for short), located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a university in the Persian Gulf. ... Al Ghurair University is a university founded by the Al-Ghurair Group, the well-known strength behind the highly successful and reliable organizations in the United Arabic Emirates like Mashreq Bank, Al Ghurair Retail City, National Cement Company, Arabian Aluminium, ETA-Ascon Group etc. ... Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India (popularly known as BITS Pilani) is one of the oldest and leading technology schools (along with IITs) of India. ... The campus Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a branch of the Scottish Heriot-Watt University in the city of Dubai. ... Middlesex University is a university in North London, England, located in the traditional county of Middlesex (from which it takes its name). ... The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) was established in 1988, and is now the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with over 16,500 students. ... Dubai Womens College (DWC) is one of 12 colleges that constitute the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ... Dubai Mens College (DBM) is one of 12 colleges that constitute the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ... The University of Wollongong in Dubai The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is one of the UAE’s oldest and most prestigious universities. ... The Mahatma Gandhi University was established on October 2nd 1983 by the Government of Kerala through an Act of the Legislative Assembly. ... Category: ... Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology or SZABIST as it is commonly referred to is a Pakistani university, with headquarters at Karachi and campuses at Islamabad, Karachi, Larkana and Dubai. ... SPJCM, (SP Jain Center of Management) is a twin campus business school located in Dubai and Singapore, and part of the prestigious SPJIMR business school in Mumbai, India. ... Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans SPJIMR ( SP Jain Institute of Management and Research ) is a B-School in Mumbai. ... Zayed University is a higher educational institution serving female students in the United Arab Emirates. ...

Construction

Since 2000, Dubai's municipality has initiated a plethora of construction phases and plans across the entire city of Dubai, predominantly in the Mina Seyahi area, located further from Jumeirah, towards Jebel Ali. In many areas, it is not easy to see Dubai's sky without at least one crane in your view; Industry experts cautiously estimate that 15% to 25% of the world's cranes are in Dubai.^[17] Construction in Dubai and the UAE in general is a much faster process than in any Western country. This is partly because labourers from the Indian subcontinent accept lower wages than those from other countries. Jumeirah Jumeirah is a coastal residential area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates mainly comprising low rise private dwellings. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ...

One of the main reasons for the boom in construction in Dubai is its drive to diversify the economy. The Dubai government does not want to depend on its oil reserves which are largely believed to become exhausted by 2010 and, as such, has diversified its economy to attract revenues in the form of expanding commercial and corporate activity. Tourism is also being promoted at a staggering rate with the construction of Dubailand and other projects that include the making of mammoth shopping malls, theme parks, resorts, stadiums and various other tourist attractions. Dubai Land is a entertainment complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, opening in 2006. ...

Another reason for the construction boom is the recent reversal of a law in 2002 that allows non-nationals of the UAE to own property (not land) in Dubai (albeit freehold and 99 year leases are actually sold to people with ownership still remaining with private companies). The larger of the property tycoons are Al Nakheel and Emaar Properties. In Dubai, demand is currently outstripping supply by a significant margin and is showing no signs of slowing in the near future. Rents have skyrocketed with the recent inflow of professionals and companies from around the world who are attracted by Dubai's no-tax benefits although rises have been capped to 15% per annum up to 2006 under a directive from Sheikh Mohammad. Legislation in this area is still developing as the property market for foreigners is relatively new. Fee simple, also known as fee simple absolute or allodial, is a term of art in common law. ...

Cultural and Artistic Developments

Dubai is quickly aspiring to enrich its cultural scene with the $13.6 billion development of the Dubai Cultural Village. This development will include art museums and performing arts centers as well as libraries, schools for music and dance, rare book stores and open spaces for recreation.

• Dubai has a growing number of stages including the Royal Hall at the Dubai Pearl, and the Dubai Community Theatre. The Madinat Theatre is also one of the most significant and luxurious theaters in the region, hosting many West-End productions.

• The Dubai film festival is an annual film festival that attracts the stars from all over the world. Dubai is also developing the Dubai Studio City which aims to be a center for artistic production on the screen.

• Dubai is currently building an island opera house which has been designed by Zaha Hadid.

• An art museum and a general museum are currently being built.

• In 1998, Finance Minister, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, backed the launch of the international Dubai Business Channel which was to be the first English language international TV channel to be based in the Middle East. Its editor, Afshin Rattansi, wrote about the undertaking in his book, "The Dream of the Decade".

Dubai or Dubayy (in Arabic: دبيّ, IPA , generally in English) refers to either one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Peninsula, or that emirates main city, sometimes called Dubai City to distinguish it from the emirate. ... Zaha Hadid (Arabic: زها حديد) (born October 31, 1950) is a notable British deconstructivist architect. ...

Twinning

Dubai maintains cultural, economic and educational ties with: