Dubai Holidays are a new fasionable idea. Dubai can either refer to an emirate (one of seven) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, or that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai city" to distinguish it from the emirate.
Written accounts documenting the existence of the city have existed at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE. Dubai shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature. It has grown via oil recently This increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub, has also highlighted human rights issues concerning its largely foreign workforce. 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. 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 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. 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 appreciation from 2004–2006. Large scale real estate development projects have led to the construction of some of the tallest skyscrapers and largest projects in the world such as the Emirates Towers, the Burj Dubai, the Palm Islands and the world's tallest, and most expensive, hotel the Burj Al Arab. Tourism in Dubai is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign dollars into the emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, but also on its possession of other ancient and modern attractions.
Dubai is the second most populous emirate of the seven emirates of United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi. It is distinct from other members of the UAE in that revenues from oil account for only 3% of its gross domestic product. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) and now, increasingly, from tourism. Dubai’s location at the cross-roads of Europe, Asia and Africa makes for easy accessibility. Most capitals and other major cities have direct flights to Dubai. More than 120 airlines operate to and from Dubai International Airport to more than 260 destinations, making it one of the worlds busiest. Dubai is also the home base of Emirates Airline, international airline of the UAE, which operates scheduled services to more than 100 destinations. Most travelers need to obtain a Visit Visa prior to entering Dubai. However, citizens (and some residents) of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC) and citizens of a number of states in Europe and elsewhere (including Australia and New Zealand) can get an entry permit stamped in their passport upon arrival, good for up to 90 days. Visitors from other nationalities require the sponsorship of any U.A.E. resident or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the U.A.E. and are limited to a 30-day stay. Citizens of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, USA, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong may stay for up to 30 days without a visa. Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East." The city draws large numbers of shopping tourists from countries within the region and from as far as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. Dubai is known for its souk districts. Souk is the Arabic word for market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged. Traditionally, dhows from the Far East, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargos and the goods would be bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks. Dubai's most atmospheric shopping is to be found in the souks, located on either side of the creek, where bargaining is part of the buzz. Modern shopping malls and boutiques are also found in the city. Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport offers merchandise catering to the multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport. While boutiques, some electronics shops, department stores and supermarkets may operate on a fixed-price basis, most other outlets consider friendly negotiation as a way of life Dubai Shopping Festival The Dubai Shopping festival is a month-long festival held during month of January each year. During the festival the entire emirate becomes one massive shopping mall. Additionally, the festival brings together music shows, art exhibitions, and folk dances. Cultural tourism Sightseeing usually comes as a poor second for most visitors, who are lured by Dubai's reputation as a shopping paradise. Aspects of Dubai's old culture, while occasionally overshadowed by the boom in economic development, can be found by visiting places around the creek, which splits Dubai into two halves, Bur Dubai and Deira. The buildings lining the Bur Dubai side of the Creek provides the main flavor of the old city. Heritage Village offers a simulacrum of old Dubai. The adjoining Diving Village offers exhibits on pearl diving and fishing. The Diving Village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire "Shindagha" area into a cultural city, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by. Other attractions include the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House; the Dubai Museum in the restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was erected around 1799; and the Heritage Village of Hatta, situated 115 kilometers southeast of Dubai City in the heart of the rocky Hatta Mountains. The history of the village can be traced back 2000 - 3000 years. It consists of 30 buildings, each differing in size, interior layout and building materials used. Great care was taken to use the same materials as those used when originally built during the renovation such as mud, hay, sandalwood and palm fronds. The Sharia Mosque is an old mosque built around 200 years ago using the same building materials and consists of a large prayer hall, a court and courtyard, minaret and other utility rooms. Tourist accommodation in Dubai is plentiful and relatively expensive with all the major chains having a presence. One increasingly popular alternative is for visitors to rent apartments and villas on a short term basis. Legal Dangers Travellers entering Dubai can be jailed for 4 years or more if found in possession (including in the bloodstream and the bottom of the shoes ) of illegal drugs (even in quantities as small as 0.001g), including poppy seeds from bread rolls and prescription and over-the-counter medicines such as codeine. A senior Dubai judge was quoted on February 11, 2008, by the Dubai City News saying, "These laws help discourage anyone from carrying or using drugs. Even if the amount of illegal drugs found on someone is 0.05 grammes, they will be found guilty. The penalty is a minimum four years. The message is clear — drugs will not be tolerated."[ A number of travellers have been held pending charge while Dubai authorities test their possessions, blood and urine for any trace of contraband.
The History of Dubai can be traced back to the earliest recorded mention of Dubai in 1095 CE, in the Arabic book Mojam Ma Ostojam men Asmae Al belaad wal Mawadhea by Abdullah Bin Abdu Aziz Al Bakri Al Andalasi. He refers to 'Dubai' as a vast place. Later, in 1587, the Venetian pearl merchant Gaspero Balbi mentions the name of Dubai as one of the places where Venetians worked as pearl divers.
The Al-Fahidi Fort was built in 1787, in what is now part of Dubai. It is preserved as the Dubai Museum.
There are records of the town of Dubai from 1799. Early in the 18th century the Al Abu Falasa lineage of Bani Yas clan established itself in Dubai, which remained a dependent of the settlement of Abu Dhabi until 1833. On 8 January 1820, the sheikh of Dubai was a signatory to the British sponsored "General Treaty of Peace" (the General Maritime Treaty).
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 neighbors, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it an important location.
In March 1892, the Trucial States (or Trucial Oman) were created.
The rulers of Dubai fostered trade and commerce, unlike the town's neighbors. 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.
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. On 2 December 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and four other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates after former protector Britain left the Persian Gulf in 1971. Ras Al Khaimah joined the UAE in 1972 as the seventh emirate. In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a single, uniform currency: the UAE dirham.
Only in 1945-48 was there a
small war between Abu Dhabi, & Dubai,
But it was easy to make bubbling
58's oil wells rich,
Of the UAE The Brits left in 71,
Armies unite,
& such,
But devolution diverges the economy,
The biggest indication
of the oil boom, a population increase of under 0.1mil in the 1950s,
To 2.5million
in 2004,
Most not regarded as citizens, in some ways,
Iran's workers,
make it mostly unArab, but also many Europeans, & Asians,
Indeed over 0.1million
Europeans, who get great pay,
While the other immigrants get less a month than
a fortnights dole in Britain,
Some of the lowest in Europe,
Yards made
curved wood sailing ships,
Indians eat rice dishes, as trade Ocean's across
tinting equator's huge sun, setting,
10 lead oil producer's least populous,
mil Dubai,
Wealth too billionaire upper-class, Arabs, minority,
And 2.5%
European,
With wasted resources,
It has a advisory council, and Sharia,
& by 2000 only 70% literacy,
They jail those who marry non-Muslims,
& control the media,
Women's rights rose,
But they need a husband's
permission for a job,
1% are prostitutes/child labourers,
With 11dead
in politics/borders,
And 1/100,000indentured, some of which small single percent
were slaves,
With tens of thousands evicted a year, & many workers treated
bad, even tortured,
And exploited then thrown away when older,
Every
decade 100,000 are forced to leave,
As of over staying their welcome, &
another 100,000,
All of which the ones who leave are elderly then willing
people are brought back,
100s die a year trying to enter,
Especially as that of the immigrants who are
allowed to stay when older,
Most are from richer lands,
But these chucked
out most are from poorer lands,
And 100s trying to leave,
This would surely
drop it's LE, & Kuwait a bit,
As they chuck out all the poor, & labourers,
which does not happen in EU, But thats life UAE and Dubai doing well maybe not
after oil goes,
Find a Villa from Across Europe
Grand World Villas - Find a Villa from anywhere in the world
Grand Global Villas - Find Villas from Around the Globe
An Index with links to almost all our sites.
Holiday
to - Great places to go on Holiday to
Holiday
to 2 - More Great places to go on Holiday to
Holiday to 3 - More places to go on Holiday to
The History Lounge - A place with 100s of Historical articles.
Holidays to the Maldives + History of the Maldives
Holidays
to Tunisia + History of Tunisia
Lanzarote
Holidays + History of Lanzarote
Holidays
to Greece + History of Greece
Even More Holidays and Vacations
Vacations
-More Vacation Locations
LanzaroteHolidays - and A History of Lanzarote LanzaroteHolidays LanzaroteHoliday Lanzarote Holiday Lanzarote Holiday Lanzarote Holidays in Lanzarote Holiday Lanzarote Lanzarote Holidays History of Lanzorote History of Lanzarotee History Lanzarote History of Lanazarote Lanzarote Holidays
Find some Cottages in Britain or Ireland and the world
A site stating what have been the world's largest empires ever
Find a Cottage in Britain or Ireland
Find more Cottages in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada or the world
Cottages in Spain and Holiday Homes
More pages on Financial Affairs
Banks - A page on Financial Affairs