Visitor Information
Dubai, the city of merchants, cultural crossroads, is the
second largest of the seven United Arab Emirates A country where the dust of the desert is
clearing to reveal the potential for one of the most significant international cities of
the 21st century.Wedged between Europe and Asia, buttressed by Africa, Dubai's encouraging
tax regimes, state-of-the-art telecommunications and sympathetic business environment have
produced a country that is building energetically on the advantages which location,
centuries-old trading savvy and oil wealth have given it
History
Originally a small fishing settlement,
Dubai was taken over around 1830 by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe from the Liwa oasis led
by the Maktoum family who still rule the emirate today.
Traditional activities included herding sheep and goats, cultivating dates, fishing and
pearling.
The liberal attitudes of the emirate's rulers made Dubai attractive to traders from
India and Persia who began to settle in the growing town, which soon developed a strong
reputation as the leading entrepôt for the region
An independent emirate for most of its history, in 1971 Dubai came together with Abu
Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah to create the
federation of the United Arab Emirates.
The discovery of oil in 1966 dramatically transformed the emirate by allowing the
development of the economic and social infrastructure which laid the foundations for
today's modern society.
Much of the credit for this development can be traced to the vision of the late Ruler,
HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ensured that Dubai's oil revenues were deployed
to maximum effect.
His work has been continued by the present Ruler, HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al
Maktoum.
Geography
The second largest of the seven emirates which make up the
United Arab Emirates, Dubai is located on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf. It has
an area of some 3,900 square kilometres.
Outside the city itself, the emirate is sparsely inhabited
and characterised by desert vegetation. The landscape ranges from rugged mountains to
majestic sand dunes. These days, oil contributes just twenty per cent of economic
production. Trading, manufacturing and services -- including tourism -- now dominate the
economy.
Local Time
The UAE is four hours ahead of GMT.
Population
The population of Dubai was estimated at 605,000 in 1994
Facilities for the Handicapped
An increasing number of public areas now
have access and facilities for people with disabilities.Several of the city’s leading
hotels also have specially adapted rooms and facilities for the handicapped. These are:
City Centre Hotel, Crowne Plaza Dubai, Hilton International Dubai, Hyatt Regency Dubai,
Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Resort, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, JW Marriott Hotel,
Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Oasis Beach Hotel, Radisson SAS Hotel Jumeira Beach, The
Ritz-Carlton Dubai and Renaissance Hotel Dubai.
For more info click on one
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