Best stay away from muslim coutries if you are into drugs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dubai_night_skyline.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai
of the UAE.
A majority of the emirate's revenues are from trade, manufacturing and
financial services.[6] Revenues from petroleum and natural gas
contribute less than 6%% (2006)[7] of Dubai's US$ 37 billion economy
(2005).[8] Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative
real estate projects [9] and sports events. This increased attention,
coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub, has also
highlighted human rights issues concerning its largely foreign
workforce.[10]
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Etymology
* 2 History
* 3 Geography
* 4 Governance and politics
* 5 Demographics
* 6 Economy
* 7 Transport
* 8 Culture
* 9 Education
* 10 Media
* 11 References
* 12 External links
[edit] Etymology
In the 1820s, Dubai was referred to as Al Wasl by British historians.
However, few records pertaining to the cultural history of the UAE or
its constituent emirates exist due to the region's vocal traditions in
recording and passing down folklore and myth. The linguistic origins
of the word Dubai are also in dispute, as some believe it to have
originated from Persian, while some believe that Arabic is the
linguistic root of the word. According to Fedel Handhal, researcher in
the history and culture of the UAE, the word Dubai may have come from
the word Daba (a derivative of Yadub), which means to creep; the word
may be a reference to the flow of Dubai Creek inland. [11]
[edit] History
Main article: History of Dubai
Very little is known about pre-Islamic culture in the south-east
Arabian peninsula, except that many ancient towns in the area were
trading centers between the Eastern and Western worlds. The remnants
of an ancient mangrove swamp, dated at 7,000 years, were discovered
during the construction of sewer lines near Dubai Internet City. The
area had been covered with sand about 5,000 years ago as the coastline
retreated inland, becoming a part of the city's present coastline.[12]
Prior to Islam, the people in this region worshiped Bajir (or Bajar).
[13] The Byzantine and Sassanian empires constituted the great powers
of the period, with the Sassanians controlling much of the region.
After the spread of Islam in the region, the Umayyad Caliph, of the
eastern Islamic world, invaded south-east Arabia and drove out the
Sassanians. Excavations undertaken by the Dubai Museum in the region
of Al-Jumayra (Jumeirah) indicate the existence of several artifacts
from the Umayyad period.[14] The earliest recorded mention of Dubai is
in 1095, in the "Book of Geography" by the Spanish-Arab geographer Abu
Abdullah al-Bakri. The Venetian pearl merchant Gaspero Balbi visited
the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (Dibei) for its pearling industry.
[14] Documented records of the town of Dubai exist only after 1799.
[15]
In the early 19th century, the Al Abu Falasa clan (House of Al-Falasi)
of Bani Yas clan established Dubai, which remained a dependent of Abu
Dhabi until 1833.[16] On 8 January 1820, the sheikh of Dubai and other
sheikhs in the region signed the "General Maritime Peace Treaty" with
the British government.[12] However, in 1833, the Al Maktoum dynasty
(also descendants of the House of Al-Falasi) of the Bani Yas tribe
left the settlement of Abu Dhabi and took over Dubai from the Abu
Fasala clan without resistance.[16] Dubai came under the protection of
the United Kingdom by the "Exclusive Agreement" of 1892, with the
latter agreeing to protect Dubai against any attacks from the Ottoman
Empire.[16] Two catastrophes struck the town during the mid 1800s.
First, in 1841, a smallpox epidemic broke out in the Bur Dubai
locality, forcing residents to relocate east to Deira. Then, in 1894,
fire swept through Deira, burning down most homes.[17] However, the
town's geographical location continued to attract traders and
merchants from around the region. The emir of Dubai was keen to
attract foreign traders and lowered trade tax brackets, which lured
traders away from Sharjah and Bandar Lengeh, which were the region's
main trade hubs at the time.[18][17]
Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1799, is the oldest existing building in
Dubai.
Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1799, is the oldest existing building in
Dubai.[19]
Old watch tower in Bur Dubai.
Old watch tower in Bur Dubai.
Dubai's geographical proximity to India made it an important location.
The town of Dubai was an important port of call for foreign tradesmen,
chiefly those from India, many of whom eventually settled in the town.
Dubai was known for its pearl exports until the 1930s. However,
Dubai's pearling industry was damaged irreparably by the events of the
First World War, and later on by the Great Depression in the late
1920s. Consequently, the city witnessed a mass migration of people to
other parts of the Persian Gulf.[12] Since its inception, Dubai was
constantly at odds with Abu Dhabi. In 1947, a border dispute between
Dubai and Abu Dhabi on the northern sector of their mutual border,
escalated into war between the two states.[20] Arbitration by the
British and the creation of a buffer frontier running south eastwards
from the coast at Ras Hasian resulted in a temporary cessation of
hostilities.[21] However, border disputes between the emirates
continued even after the formation of the UAE; it was only in 1979
that a formal compromise was reached that ended hostilities and border
disputes between the two states.[22] Electricity, telephone services
and an airport were established in Dubai in the 1950s, when the
British moved their local administrative offices from Sharjah to Dubai.
[23] In 1966 the town joined the newly independent country of Qatar to
set up a new monetary unit, the Qatar/Dubai Riyal, after the deflation
of the Gulf rupee.[15] Oil was discovered in Dubai the same year,
after which the town granted concessions to international oil
companies. The discovery of oil led to a massive influx of foreign
workers, mainly Indians and Pakistanis. As a result, the population of
the city from 1968 to 1975 grew by over 300%%, by some estimates.[24]
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.[25] In 1973, Dubai joined the
other emirates to adopt a uniform currency: the UAE dirham. In the
1970s, Dubai continued to grow from revenues generated from oil and
trade, even as the city saw an influx of Lebanese immigrants fleeing
the civil war in Lebanon.[26] The Jebel Ali Free Zone, comprising the
Jebel Ali port (reputedly the world's largest man made port) was
established in 1979, which provided foreign companies unrestricted
import of labour and export capital.[27]
The Persian Gulf War of 1990 had a huge impact on the city.
Economically, Dubai banks experienced a massive withdrawal of funds
due to uncertain political conditions in the region. During the course
of the 1990s, however, many foreign trading communities -- first from
Kuwait, during the Persian Gulf War, and later from Bahrain, during
the Shia unrest, moved their businesses to Dubai.[18] Dubai provided
refueling bases to allied forces at the Jebel Ali free zone during the
Persian Gulf war, and again, during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Large
increases in oil prices after the Persian Gulf war encouraged Dubai to
continue to focus on free trade and tourism.[28] The success of the
Jebel Ali free zone allowed the city to replicate its model to develop
clusters of new free zones, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media
City and Dubai Maritime City. The construction of Burj Al Arab, the
world's tallest freestanding hotel, as well as the creation of new
residential developments, were used to market Dubai for purposes of
tourism. Since 2002, the city has seen an increase in private real
estate investment in recreating Dubai's skyline[28] with such projects
as The Palm Islands, The World Islands and Burj Dubai. However, robust
economic growth in recent years has been accompanied by rising
inflation rates (at 11.2%% as of 2007 when measured against Consumer
Price Index) which is attributed in part due to the near doubling of
commercial and residential rental costs, resulting in a substantial
increase in the cost of living for residents.[29]
[edit] Geography
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Al Hajar Mountains
Hatta
Oman
Topographic map of Dubai, the eastern Emirates and Oman.
The Margham desert sand dunes south of the city of Dubai
The Margham desert sand dunes south of the city of Dubai
Mean and record minimum and maximum temperature in Dubai
Mean and record minimum and maximum temperature in Dubai
Dubai is situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab
Emirates and is roughly at sea level (16 m/52 ft above). The emirate
of Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, Sharjah in the
northeast, and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast. Hatta, a minor
exclave of the emirate, is surrounded on three sides by Oman and by
the emirates of Ajman (in the west) and Ras Al Khaimah (in the north).
The Persian Gulf borders the western coast of the emirate. Dubai is
positioned at [show location on an interactive map] 25.2697° N
55.3095° E and covers an area of 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²).
Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert. However, the topography
of Dubai is significantly different from that of the southern portion
of the UAE in that much of Dubai's landscape is highlighted by sandy
desert patterns, while gravel deserts dominate much of the southern
region of the country.[30] The sand consists mostly of crushed shell
and coral and is fine, clean and white. East of the city, the salt-
crusted coastal plans, known as sabkha, give way to a north-south
running line of dunes. Farther east, the dunes grow larger and are
tinged red with iron oxide.[24] The flat sandy desert gives way to the
Western Hajar Mountains, which run alongside Dubai's border with Oman
at Hatta. The Western Hajar chain has an arid, jagged and shattered
landscape, whose mountains rise to about 1,300 meters in some places.
Dubai has no natural river bodies or oases; however, Dubai does have a
natural inlet, Dubai Creek, which has been dredged to make it deep
enough for large vessels to pass through. Dubai also has multiple
gorges and waterholes which dot the base of the Western Al Hajar
mountains. A vast sea of sand dunes cover much of southern Dubai,
which eventually lead into the desert known as The Empty Quarter.
Seismically, Dubai is in a very stable zone
