1.

Dubai is one of seven states

that comprise the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), a country
formed in 1971 from individual
sheikdoms.

2. Foreigners make up most of

Dubai’s population! The local
people, called Emiratis, are just
15% of the total!

3. Emiratis are provided with free education, free medical and free housing.
However, lately their subsidies have been cut back and they have been
encouraged to get jobs (mainly government and tourist positions).

4. Dubai is apparently the fastest growing city in the world! In 1991, Dubai had
just one tall building and it was at the edge of the edge of the desert. Now
they have over 400 high rises!

5. The tallest building in the world, the Burj

Khalifa, is in Dubai. It has 164 floors!

6. There is no standard address system in Dubai,

making delivery services a challenge. Instead of a
line for address, there is a space to draw a map or
leave instructions such as this: “I live on the street
after the airport road, but before the roundabout,
Go past the mosque and make a U-turn. It’s the
second house on the left.”

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 7. Oil was discovered in Dubai in 1963, but
today oil accounts for just a small portion,
about 11%, of Dubai’s revenues. Tourism and
trading are much bigger components of their
economy.

8. The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping

center in the world with over 1.200 stores.
Many major American stores were among them, including Gymboree, Pottery
Barn, Harley Davidson and a bunch of designers.

9. The above ground metro station opened in Dubai 2009. It consists of 42

stations and was built in just 18 months. Yes, folks, they built an entire system is
less than two years!

10. Dubai asked Disneyland

to consider building a resort
here and Disneyland turned
them down, saying Dubai
was too small. So Dubai
decided to construct its
own theme park called
Dubailand.

11. When it opens, Dubailand will be twice the size of Disneyworld in Florida
and is expected to be the largest tourist draw in the world, with 200,000
people daily. They have signed deals with Marvel Comics, Universal Studios and
others.

12. The most luxurious hotel in the world is in

Dubai and it’s called the Burj Al Arab. It bills
itself at a 7-star hotel and is build on a man-
island just off the coast. You can not enter the
island without a reservation,

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13. Dubai has many man-made islands. They have one in the shape of a large
palm tree and it is home to Atlantis, the Palm, a resort with hotels, restaurants
and private residences. We visited a water park, Aquaventure, at the top of
the Palm. They have another set of islands in the shape of a map of the world!
Crazy!

14. During the

summer, the
temperatures reach
120 and don’t fall
below 100 even at
night! Even the bus
stops are usually air-
conditioned.

15. There are hundreds of mosques in Dubai and the call to prayer can be
heard throughout the city. Hotel rooms have arrows pointing in the direction
of Mecca just in case.

16. Even though Dubai is in the middle of a desert and it is

very flat, you can ski indoors at the Mall of the Emirates!

17. Modesty standards are encouraged, but a wide range

of dress is tolerated. There is such a thing as a “burq-kini”
for those who wish to be covered up – in lycra – on the
beach.

18. There are no personal taxes in Dubai.

19. Arabic is the official language, but most of the locals

speak English (as their first choice). Our tour guide said that when he speaks to
the Emiratis in Arabic, they answer in English.

20. All sorts of American fast food restaurants have branches here including
KFC, Burger King, Subway and Dunkin Donuts. There are casual eateries as
well, including TGI Fridays, Tony Romas, Chicago Deep Dish, etc.

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