Dubai 211583 226078202 2008-07-16T18:58:28Z Nsaa 113357 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/41.235.100.137|41.235.100.137]] to last version by JBsupreme (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Infobox Settlement |name = Dubai |official_name = Emirate of Dubai |native_name = إمارة دبيّ |settlement_type = [[Emirate]] |translit_lang1_type = [[Arabic script|Arabic]] |translit_lang1_info = دبي |image_skyline = Dubai night skyline.jpg|350px |imagesize = |image_caption = Dubai's [[E 11|Sheikh Zayed Road]] at night |image_flag = Flag of Dubai.svg |pushpin_map = UAE |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Dubai in the UAE |pushpin_mapsize = 280 |image_map1 = LocationUnitedArabEmirates.png |seat = Dubai |government_type = [[Constitutional monarchy]] {{Fact|date=March 2008}} |subdivision_type1 = [[Country]] |subdivision_name1 = [[United Arab Emirates]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Emirate]] |subdivision_name2 = Dubai |parts_type = Subdivisions |parts = [[Towns]] and [[villages]] |p1 = [[Jebel Ali]] |p2 = [[Hatta, United Arab Emirates|Hatta]] |p3 = Al Hunaiwah |p4 = [[Al Aweer]] |p5 = Al Hajarain |p6 = Al Lusayli |p7 = Al Marqab |p8 = Al Faq |p9 = Hail |p10 = Al Sufari |p11 = Ud al-Bayda |p12 = Al Malaiha |p13 = Al Madam |p14 = Margham |p15 = Urqub Juwayza |p16 = Al Qima |leader_title = [[Emir]] |leader_name = [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]] |leader_title1 = [[Crown Prince]] |leader_name1 = [[Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]] |established_title1 = Incorporated (town) |established_date1 = [[June 9]], [[1833]] |established_title2 = Incorporated (emirate) |established_date2 = [[December 2]], [[1971]] |founder = [[Al Maktoum|Maktoum bin Bati bin Suhail]] (1833) |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 4114 |area_metro_km2 = 1287.4 |area_footnotes = <ref>Area of [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|"Dubai emirate"]], includes artificial islands.</ref> |population_as_of = 2008 |population_metro = 2261995 |population_total = 2261995 |population_density_km2 = 408.18 |population_density_sq_mi = |population_footnotes = <ref>[http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1202591657&men=gpro&lng=en&des=gamelan&geo=414995533&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&geo=-267 "Dubai: Profile of geographical entity including name variants]. World Gazetteer. </ref> |population_blank1_title = Nationality <ref name=migrationinformation>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/dataHub/GCMM/Dubaidatasheet.pdf "Country and Metropolitan Stats in Brief]. MPI Data Hub</ref> |population_blank1 = 42.3% [[India]]n <br /> 17% [[Emirati]] <br /> 13.3% [[Pakistani people|Pakistani]] <br /> 9.1% [[Arab people|Arab]] (other) <br /> 7.5% [[Bangladeshi]] <br /> 10.8% Others |utc_offset = +4 |timezone = UAE standard time |latd= 25|latm = 16|lats=|latNS=N |longd= 55|longm = 20|longs=|longEW=E |latitude = 25°16?N |longitude = 55°20?E |website = <br />[http://www.dubai.ae/v7/en.portal Dubai Emirate]<br />[http://www.dm.gov.ae/wps/portal/MyHomeEn Dubai Municipality] |footnotes = }} '''Dubai''' (in {{lang-ar| '''دبيّ'''}}, {{ArTranslit|'''dubaīy'''}}) can either refer to an [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|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 [[law|legal]], [[politics|political]], [[military]] and [[economy|economic]] functions with the other emirates within a [[Federation|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]].<ref name=dxbpopulation>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-12&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&va=&pt=a United Arab Emirates: metropolitan areas]</ref> Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess [[veto]] power over critical matters of national importance in the country's [[Federal National Council|legislature]].<ref name=dxbshj>The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa. D Long, B Reich. p.157</ref> Dubai has been ruled by the [[Al Maktoum]] dynasty since 1833. The emirates' current ruler, [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from [[trade]], [[manufacturing]] and [[financial services]].<ref name=ecosector>[http://www.dhcc.ae/Admin/Content/File/Documents/Dubai_Economic_Profile.pdf An Economic Profile of Dubai] Dubai Healthcare City. 2000</ref> Revenues from [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] contribute less than 6% (2006)<ref name=oilrev>[http://www.ameinfo.com/122863.html Oil share dips in Dubai GDP] ''[[AMEInfo]]'' ([[9 June]] [[2007]]). Retrieved on [[15 October]] [[2007]].</ref> of Dubai's [[United States Dollar|US$]]&nbsp;37 billion economy (2005).<ref name="ArBusEcon">[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7297:dubai-economy-set-to-treble-by-2015&Itemid=1 Dubai economy set to treble by 2015] ''ArabianBusiness.com'' ([[3 February]] [[2007]]). Retrieved on [[15 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative real estate projects <ref name=freehold>[http://www.startpagedubai.com/maps/Dubai-map-Freehold-Developments-large.htm Dubai map with upcoming freehold developments]</ref> 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.<ref>Mike Davis (2006) [http://newleftreview.org/?page=article&view=2635 Fear and money in Dubai], ''New Left Review'' 41, pp. 47-68</ref> == Etymology == In the 1820s, Dubai was referred to as ''[[Al Wasl]]'' by [[British people|British]] historians. However, few records pertaining to the cultural history of the UAE or its constituent [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|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 language|Persian]], while some believe that [[Arabic language|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. <ref name=etymology>[http://www.the-emirates.com/docs/How_did_Dubai,_Abu_Dhabi_and_other_cities_get_their_names?_Experts_reveal_all/24335.htm How did Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other cities get their names? Experts reveal all]. UAEInteract.com. March 10, 2007</ref> ==History== {{Main|History of Dubai}} [[Image:AlRas Deira Mid1960s.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The [[Al Ras]] district in [[Deira (Dubai)|Deira]], Dubai in the 1960s.]] Very little is known about [[pre-Islamic Arabia|pre-Islam]]ic culture in the south-east Arabian peninsula, except that many ancient towns in the area were trading centers between the [[Eastern world|Eastern]] and [[Western world]]s. 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.<ref name=hist_trad>[http://uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf_2006/English_2006/eyb4.pdf History and Traditions of the UAE]</ref> Prior to [[Islam]], the people in this region worshiped ''[[Bajir]]'' (or ''Bajar'').<ref name=preislam>[http://etd.unisa.ac.za/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-07012004-113622/unrestricted/02CHAPTER2.pdf History and Background of the UAE]</ref> 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.<ref name=balbi>[http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/03.pdf The Coming of Islam and the Islamic Period in the UAE]. King, Geoffrey R. </ref> The earliest recorded mention of Dubai is in 1095, in the "Book of Geography" by the [[Al-Andalus|Andalusian]]-Arab [[geographer]] [[Abu Abdullah al-Bakri]]. The [[Venice|Venetian]] [[pearl]] merchant Gaspero Balbi visited the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (''Dibei'') for its [[Pearl hunting|pearling]] industry.<ref name=balbi /> Documented records of the ''town'' of Dubai exist only after 1799.<ref name=dubaienv>[http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:KcJGC0pgYMIJ:webhost.bridgew.edu/dleuenberger/student/Sustainability-Dubai%26Hawaii.pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=42&gl=us Economic and Environmental Impacts of tourism on Dubai and Hawaii]. McEachern, Nadeau, et al</ref> 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.<ref name=loc>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/UAE.pdf Country Profile: United Arab Emirates. United States Library of Congress]</ref> On [[8 January]] [[1820]], the [[sheikh]] of Dubai and other sheikhs in the region signed the "General Maritime Peace Treaty" with the British government.<ref name=hist_trad /> 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.<ref name=loc /> 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]].<ref name=loc /> 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, Dubai|Deira]]. Then, in 1894, fire swept through Deira, burning down most homes.<ref name=hist_karim>[http://www.alshindagah.com/september99/architecture.htm Modernity and tradition in Dubai architecture. Karim, Luiza]</ref> 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.<ref name=asianaffairs>THE EMIRATES OF ABU DHABI AND DUBAI:CONTRASTING ROLES IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM. Davidson, Christopher. March 2007</ref><ref name=hist_karim /> [[Image:Al Fahidi Fort.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1799, is the oldest existing building in Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The old...turned new |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/01/10/25/30288.html |publisher=''[[Gulf News]]'' |date=2001-10-25 |accessdate=2008-03-15}}</ref>]] 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.<ref name=hist_trad /> 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.<ref name=dxbadconflict>[http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/Leafcopy/575-9.html The UAE: Internal Boundaries And The Boundary With Oman]. Archived Editions. Walker, J. </ref> [[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.<ref name=rashasian>The Middle East and North Africa. Schofield, C. p 175</ref> 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.<ref name=lonelyplanet>Dubai. Carter, T and Dunston, L. <u>Lonely Planet Publications</u></ref> Electricity, telephone services and an airport were established in Dubai in the 1950s, when the British moved their local administrative offices from [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] to Dubai.<ref name=jstordubai>[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0016-7428%28198907%2979%3A3%3C345%3ADC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7 Dubai City]. Melamid, Alexander. Jul 1989</ref> In 1966 the town joined the newly independent country of [[Qatar]] to set up a new monetary unit, the [[Qatari riyal|Qatar/Dubai Riyal]], after the [[deflation]] of the [[Gulf rupee]].<ref name=dubaienv/> 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.<ref name=pop7>[http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AB00H5001.pdf Historic population statistics]</ref> 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.<ref name=nyt1971>"Six Persian Gulf Emirates Agree to a Federation". <u>New York Times</u>. Jul 19, 1971. pg. 4</ref> In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a uniform [[currency]]: the UAE [[United Arab Emirates Dirham|dirham]]. In the 1970s, Dubai continued to grow from revenues generated from oil and trade, even as the city saw an influx of [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] immigrants fleeing the [[Lebanese civil war|civil war]] in [[Lebanon]].<ref name=nyt2>"Beirut Showing Signs of Recovery From Wounds of War". <u>New York Times</u>. May 26, 1977. pg.2</ref> 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.<ref name=jafz>The United Arab Emirates: Economic Vibrancy and US Interests. <u> Asian Affairs</u>. Peterson, JE. July 2002, Vol 34, Issue 2.</ref> 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 &mdash; first from [[Kuwait]], during the Persian Gulf War, and later from [[Bahrain]], during the [[Shia]] unrest, moved their businesses to Dubai.<ref name=asianaffairs /> 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.<ref name=propertyfront>[http://www.propertyfrontiers.com/pdfs/dubaireport.pdf Dubai Focus]</ref> 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<ref name=propertyfront /> 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.<ref name=kuwaittimes>[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NDI4Mzk1MzI0 Robust growth poses threat of inflation to high-flying Dubai]. <U>Kuwait Times</u>. Mar. 8, 2007</ref> == Geography == [[Image:Dubai map city.svg|thumb|right|200px|City level map of Dubai]] Dubai is situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates and is roughly at [[sea level]] ({{convert|16|m|abbr=on|disp=s}} above). The emirate of Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] in the northeast, and the [[Sultanate of Oman]] in the southeast. [[Hatta, United Arab Emirates|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 {{coor d|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.<ref name=geo1>[http://uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/14.pdf Environmental Development and Protection in the UAE]. Aspinall, Simon</ref> 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]].<ref name=pop7 /> 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 [[gorge]]s and [[waterhole]]s 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]]. [[Seismic]]ally, Dubai is in a very stable zone &mdash; the nearest seismic fault line, the ''Zargos Fault'', is 120 km from the UAE and is unlikely to have any seismic impact on Dubai.<ref name=seismic>[http://uaeinteract.com/news/default.asp?ID=51 Earthquake risk in Dubai 'lower ]than that of London']. UAEInteract.com</ref> Experts also predict that the possibility of a [[tsunami]] in the region is also minimal because the Persian Gulf waters are not deep enough to trigger a tsunami.<ref name=seismic /> The sandy desert surrounding the city supports [[grass|wild grass]]es and occasional [[date palm]] trees. Desert [[hyacinth]]s grow in the ''sabkha'' plains east of the city, while [[acacia]] and [[prosopis cineraria|ghaf]] trees grow in the flat plains within the proximity of the Western Al Hajar mountains. Several indigenous trees such as the date palm and [[neem]] as well as imported trees like the [[eucalypts]] grow in Dubai's natural parks. The houbara [[bustard]], striped [[hyena]], [[caracal]], [[desert fox]], [[falcon]] and [[Arabian oryx]] are common in Dubai's desert. Dubai is on the migration path between [[Europe]], Asia and Africa, and more than 320 migratory birds pass through the emirate in spring and autumn. The waters of Dubai are home to more than 300 species of fish, including the [[hammour]]. [[Dubai Creek]] runs northeast-southwest through the city. The eastern section of the city forms the locality of [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] and is flanked by the emirate of [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] in the east and the town of [[Al Aweer]] in the south. The [[Dubai International Airport]] is located south of Deira, while the [[Palm Deira#The Palm.2C Deira|Palm Deira]] is located north of Deira in the [[Persian Gulf]]. Much of Dubai's real estate boom is concentrated to the west of the Dubai Creek, on the [[Jumeirah]] coastal belt. [[Port Rashid]], [[Jebel Ali]], [[Burj Al Arab]], the [[Palm Jumeirah]] and theme based free zone clusters such as [[Business Bay]] are all located in this section. Five main routes &mdash; [[E 11]] (Sheikh Zayed Road), [[E 311]] (Emirates Road), [[E 44]] (Dubai-Hatta Highway), [[E 77]] (Dubai-Al Habab Road) and [[E 66]] (Oud Metha Road) &mdash; run through Dubai, connecting the city to other towns and emirates. Additionally, several important intra-city routes, such as [[D 89]] (Al Maktoum Road/Airport Road), [[D 85]] (Baniyas Road), [[D 75]] (Sheikh Rashid Road), [[D 73]] (Al Dhiyafa Road), [[D 94]] (Jumeirah Road) and [[D 92]] (Al Khaleej/Al Wasl Road) connect the various localities in the city. The eastern and western sections of the city are connected by [[Al Maktoum Bridge]], [[Al Garhoud Bridge]], [[Al Shindagha Tunnel]], [[Business Bay Crossing]] and [[Floating Bridge, Dubai|Floating Bridge]]. Dubai has a hot and, at times, humid climate (drier during extreme heat) with many months recording temperatures of over {{convert|40|C|lk=on}} (refer to accompanying table for recorded mean minimum and maximum temperatures during the year). Rainfall is generally light, with a mean of about {{convert|150|mm|0}} per year; precipitation is usually centered around January, February and March. However, heavy rain is not uncommon in Dubai during the winter months and January 2008 saw a record of 120mm (or 5") of rain falling in just 24 hours, <ref name=rainfall>[http://www.uaemet.gov.ae/upload/filedownload_backend.php?file=uae_climate_files%2fsheet010.htm Average mean rainfall for Dubai]. UAEInteract.com</ref> The mean [[humidity]] in Dubai is about 60% and is higher during the cooler winter months. <!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather |metric_first=Yes |single_line=Yes |location = Dubai |Jan_Hi_°C = 24.0 |Jan_REC_Hi_°C = |Feb_Hi_°C = 25.4 |Feb_REC_Hi_°C = |Mar_Hi_°C = 28.2 |Mar_REC_Hi_°C = |Apr_Hi_°C = 32.9 |Apr_REC_Hi_°C = |May_Hi_°C = 37.6 |May_REC_Hi_°C = |Jun_Hi_°C = 39.5 |Jun_REC_Hi_°C = |Jul_Hi_°C = 40.8 |Jul_REC_Hi_°C = |Aug_Hi_°C = 41.3 |Aug_REC_Hi_°C = |Sep_Hi_°C = 38.9 |Sep_REC_Hi_°C = |Oct_Hi_°C = 35.4 |Oct_REC_Hi_°C = |Nov_Hi_°C = 30.5 |Nov_REC_Hi_°C = |Dec_Hi_°C = 26.2 |Dec_REC_Hi_°C = |Year_Hi_°C = 33.4 |Year_REC_Hi_°C = |Jan_Lo_°C = 14.3 |Jan_REC_Lo_°C = |Feb_Lo_°C = 15.4 |Feb_REC_Lo_°C = |Mar_Lo_°C = 17.6 |Mar_REC_Lo_°C = |Apr_Lo_°C = 20.8 |Apr_REC_Lo_°C = |May_Lo_°C = 24.6 |May_REC_Lo_°C = |Jun_Lo_°C = 27.2 |Jun_REC_Lo_°C = |Jul_Lo_°C = 29.9 |Jul_REC_Lo_°C = |Aug_Lo_°C = 30.2 |Aug_REC_Lo_°C = |Sep_Lo_°C = 27.5 |Sep_REC_Lo_°C = |Oct_Lo_°C = 23.9 |Oct_REC_Lo_°C = |Nov_Lo_°C = 19.9 |Nov_REC_Lo_°C = |Dec_Lo_°C = 16.3 |Dec_REC_Lo_°C = |Year_Lo_°C = 22.3 |Year_REC_Lo_°C = <!-- Optional --> |Jan_Rain_mm = 15.6 |Feb_Rain_mm = 25.0 |Mar_Rain_mm = 21.0 |Apr_Rain_mm = 07.0 |May_Rain_mm = 00.4 |Jun_Rain_mm = 00.0 |Jul_Rain_mm = 00.8 |Aug_Rain_mm = 00.0 |Sep_Rain_mm = 00.0 |Oct_Rain_mm = 01.2 |Nov_Rain_mm = 02.7 |Dec_Rain_mm = 14.9 |Year_Rain_mm = 07.4 |source=Dubai Meteorological Office<ref name=Weatherbox1>{{cite web |url=http://www.dubaiairport.com/dubaimet/MET/Climate.aspx |title=Climate |accessmonthday=[[April 13]] |accessyear=2008 |publisher=Dubai Meteorological Office |language=English}}</ref> |accessdate=[[13 April]] [[2008]] }}<!--Infobox ends--> == Governance and politics == {{Main|Politics of the United Arab Emirates}} [[Image:Dubai Municipality on 31 May 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Dubai Municipality]] building across the [[Dubai Creek|creek]] in [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]]]] Dubai's government operates within the framework of a [[constitutional monarchy]]{{Fact|date=March 2008}}, and has been ruled by the [[Al Maktoum]] family since 1833. The current ruler, [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], is also the Prime Minister of the [[United Arab Emirates]] and member of the Supreme Council of the Union (SCU). Dubai appoints 8 members in two-term periods to the [[Federal National Council]] (FNC) of the UAE, the supreme federal [[legislature|legislative]] body.<ref name=uaegovt>[http://countrystudies.us/persian-gulf-states/90.htm Executive and Legislative Branches]. US Library of Congress</ref> The [[Dubai Municipality]] (DM) was established by the then ruler of Dubai, [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]] in 1954 for purposes of city planning, citizen services and upkeep of local facilities.<ref name=dmhistory>[http://emp.dm.gov.ae/wps/wcm/connect/e38aad004410d834bdd1bfd6bee7af10/OrganizationalChart.pdf?MOD=AJPERES Organizational Chart]. Dubai Municipality</ref> DM is chaired by [[Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], deputy ruler of Dubai and comprises several departments such as the Roads Department, Planning and Survey Department, Environment and Public Health Department and Financial Affairs Department. In 2001, Dubai Municipality embarked on an [[e-Government]] project with the intention of providing 40 of its city services through its [[web portal]] (Dubai.ae). Thirteen such services were launched by October 2001, while several other services were expected to be operational in the future. Dubai and [[Ras al Khaimah]] are the only emirates that do not conform to the [[federal]] [[judicial system]] of the United Arab Emirates. The emirate's judicial courts comprise the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation. The Court of First Instance consists of the Civil court, which hears all civil claims, the Criminal Court, which hears claims originating from police complaints, and [[Sharia law|Sharia Court]], which is responsible for matters between [[Muslims]]. Non-Muslims do not appear before the Sharia Court. The Court of Cassation is the [[apex|apex court]] of the emirate and only hears disputes on matters of law.<ref name=judicial>[http://dubai.usconsulate.gov/dubai/The_UAE_Court_System.html The UAE Court System]. Consulate of the United States. </ref> The [[Dubai Police Force]], founded in 1956 in the locality of [[Naif]], has law enforcement [[jurisdiction]] over the emirate; the force is under direct command of Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. [[Image:Dubai constr workers.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dubai has approximately 250,000 labourers, mostly [[South Asia]]n, working on [[real estate]] development projects such as the [[Dubai Marina]].]] Article 25 of the [[Constitution of the United Arab Emirates|Constitution of the UAE]] provides for the equitable treatment of persons with regard to [[race (classification of human beings)|race]], [[nationality]], [[religious beliefs]] or [[social status]]. However, many of Dubai's 250,000 foreign laborers live in conditions described by [[Human Rights Watch]] as being "less than human."<ref>[http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/uae1106/ Human Rights Watch - Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates]</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/uae1106/uae1106web.pdf Human Rights Watch - Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates - PDF]</ref><ref name=hrw>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4861540.stm UAE to Allow Construction Unions]</ref><ref name="dubaifire>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6277613.stm Dubai Fire Investigation Launched]</ref> [[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." On [[21 March]] [[2006]], workers at the construction site of [[Burj Dubai]], upset over bus timings and working conditions, rioted: damaging cars, offices, computers, and construction tools.<ref>[http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2006/March/theuae_March745.xml&section=theuae Labour unrest hampers Burj Dubai work] Khaleej Times (AP report), 22 March 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2006/March/theuae_March779.xml&section=theuae&col= "Burj Dubai workers who protested may be sued"] Khaleej Times, 24 March 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.gulfnews.com/indepth/labour/index.html LABOUR IN THE UAE] Gulf News articles on Labour Law in the UAE, protests, etc</ref> Judicial rulings in Dubai with regard to foreign nationals were brought to light by the alleged attempts to cover up information on the rape of Alexandre Robert, a 15 year old French-Swiss national, by three locals, one of whom was [[HIV positive]]<ref name=nov1rapecase>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/world/middleeast/01dubai.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5087&em&en=a89b7518628ebf83&ex=1194062400 In Rape Case, a French Youth Takes On Dubai]. New York Times. Nov 1, 2007</ref> and by the recent mass imprisonment of migrant laborers, most of whom were from India, on account of their protests against poor wages and living conditions.<ref name=oct28strike>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indian_workers_strike_for_better_deal/articleshow/2510594.cms Indian workers strike for better deal]. Times of India. Times Network. Nov. 2, 2007</ref> [[Prostitution]], though illegal by law, is conspicuously present in the emirate because of an economy that is largely based on tourism and trade. Research conducted by the American Center for International Policy Studies (AMCIPS) found that [[Russia]]n and [[Ethiopian]] women are the most common prostitutes, as well as women from other African countries, while Indian prostitutes are part of a well organized trans-[[Oceania|Oceanic]] prostitution network.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.amcips.org/PDF_books/BookIV22.pdf |title = Globalising Prostitution in the Middle East |accessdate = 2007-05-10 |author = |last = Stoenescu |first = Dan |authorlink = |coauthors = |date = |year = |month = |format = |work = |publisher = American Center For International Policy Studies |pages = |language = |archiveurl = |archivedate = |quote = }}</ref> A 2007 [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] documentary entitled ''Dubai: Night Secrets'' reported that prostitution in clubs is tolerated by authorities and many foreign women work there without being coerced, attracted by the money.<ref>Mimi Chakarova. [http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/09/dubai_sex_for_s.html Dubai: Night Secrets], ''[[Frontline (US TV series)|PBS Frontline]]'', 13 September 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/world/middleeast/06dubai.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp&oref=slogin New York Times - Fearful of Restive Foreign Labor, Dubai Eyes Reforms]</ref><ref>[http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/11/07/strike_rages_on_at_worlds_tallest_tower_in_dubai/3172/ Middle East Times - Strike rages on at world's tallest tower in Dubai]</ref> {{Seealso|Human rights in Dubai}} ==Demographics== {{Main|Demographics of Dubai}} {{Population timeline of Dubai}} [[Image:Jumeirah mosque cc.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Jumeirah Mosque in [[Jumeirah]], Dubai.]] According to the [[census]] conducted by the Statistics Center of Dubai, the population of the emirate was 1,422,000 as of 2006, which included 1,073,000 males and 349,000 females.<ref name=pop1>[http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/OSI/webreports/Fig4.pdf Dubai in Figures 2006. Government of Dubai. Statistical Center]</ref> As of 1998, 17% of the population of the emirate was made up of [[Emarati|UAE nationals]]. Approximately 85% of the [[expatriate]] population (and 71% of the emirate's total population) was [[Asia]]n, chiefly [[Demographics of India|Indian]] (51%), [[Pakistani people|Pakistani]] (16%), [[Bengali people|Bangladeshi]] (9%) and [[Filipino people|Filipino]] (3%).<ref name=migrationinformation /> About 3% of the total population of Dubai was categorized as "[[Western world|Western]]". A quarter of the population however reportedly traces their origins to neighboring [[Iran]].<ref>''"[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E1EF839550C778CDDAB0994DD404482 Young Iranians Follow Dreams to Dubai]"'' The [[New York Times]], by HASSAN M. FATTAH. Published: [[December 4]] [[2005]]</ref> In addition, 16% of the population (or 288,000 persons) lived in collective labour accommodation were not identified by [[ethnicity]] or [[nationality]], but were thought to be primarily Asian.<ref name=pop2>[http://www.uae.hsbc.com/1/PA_1_1_24P/content/uae/pdf/eco_bull_04_eng_demo.pdf The Changing Demographics of the UAE]</ref> The [[median]] age in the emirate was about 27 years. The crude [[birth rate]], as of 2005, was 13.6%, while the crude death rate was about 1%.<ref name=pop4>[http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/OSI/webreports/872729764SYB05-02-15.pdf Basic Vital Statistical Indicators - Emirate of Dubai]</ref> Although [[Arabic language|Arabic]] is the official language of Dubai, [[Hindi]], [[Malayalam]], [[Urdu]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and other languages are spoken in Dubai. [[English language|English]] is the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of the city and is widely spoken. Article 7 of the UAE's Provisional Constitution declares [[Islam]] the official [[state religion]] of the UAE. The government subsidizes almost 95 percent of mosques and employs all [[imams]]; approximately 5 percent of mosques are entirely private, and several large mosques have large private endowments.<ref name=loc_religion>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/UAE.pdf Country Profile: United Arab Emirates (UAE)]. United States Library of Congress</ref> Dubai has large [[Hindu]], [[Christian]], [[Buddhist]], [[Sikh]] and other religious communities. Non-Muslim groups can own their own houses of worship, where they can practice their religion freely, by requesting a land grant and permission to build a compound. Groups that do not have their own buildings must use the facilities of other religious organisations or worship in private homes<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007 - United Arab Emirates]</ref>. Non-Muslim religious groups are permitted to openly advertise group functions; however, [[proselytize|proselytizing]] or distributing religious literature is strictly prohibited under penalty of criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and [[deportation]] for engaging in behaviour offensive to Islam.<ref name=loc_religion /> {{clear}} {{Seealso|Indians in the United Arab Emirates|Islam in the United Arab Emirates|Roman Catholicism in the United Arab Emirates|Bahá'í Faith in the United Arab Emirates}} ==Economy== {{Main|Economy of Dubai}} [[Image:Burj al Arab2 SvG.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Burj Al Arab]] is the world's tallest hotel.]] [[Image:Marina 1 Towers on 7 September 2007 Pict 1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Dubai Marina]], a residential district, is the world's second largest man-made [[marina]].]] Dubai's [[gross domestic product]] as of 2005 was [[US Dollars|US$]]37 billion.<ref name="ArBusEcon"/> Although Dubai's economy was built on the back of the [[oil industry]],<ref name=oilgas2>[http://www.usatoday.com/marketplace/ibi/dubai.htm "Dubai - Overview:"], USAToday.com, retrieved 22 July, 2007</ref> revenues from oil and [[natural gas]] currently account for less than 6% of the emirate's revenues.<ref name=oilrev/> It is estimated that Dubai produces 240,000 [[barrel]]s of oil a day and substantial quantities of gas from offshore fields. The emirate's share in UAE's gas revenues is about 2%. Dubai's oil reserves have diminished significantly and are expected to be exhausted in 20 years.<ref name=oilgas>[http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/oil_gas.htm "UAE Oil and Gas"]</ref> [[Trade]] (16%), ''[[entrepôt]]'' (15%) and [[financial services]] (11%) are the largest contributors to Dubai's economy. <ref name=dubchamber>[http://www.dcci.gov.ae/content/Bulletin/Issue10/SectorMonEn_ISSUE10.pdf Prospects of Dubai Economic Sectors]. Dubai Chamber of Commerce. 2003</ref> Dubai's top [[Re-exportation|re-export]]ing countries include [[Iran]] ([[United States Dollars|US$]] 790 million), [[India]] ([[United States Dollars|US$]] 204 million) and [[Saudi Arabia]] ([[United States Dollars|US$]] 194 million). The emirate's top [[import]]ing countries are [[Japan]] ([[United States Dollars|US$]] 1.5 billion), [[China]] ([[United States Dollars|US$]] 1.4 billion) and the [[United States]] ([[United States Dollars|US$]] 1.4 billion).<ref name=ecosector /> Historically, Dubai and its twin across the Dubai [[Creek (tidal)|creek]], Deira (independent of Dubai City at that time), became important ports of call for Western [[manufacture]]rs. 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. Dubai has a [[free trade]] in [[gold]] and until the 1990s, was the hub of a "brisk [[smuggling]] trade"<ref name=britannica>[http://concise.britannica.com/dday/print?articleId=31319&fullArticle=true&tocId=9031319 "Dubayy"]. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008</ref> of gold [[ingot]]s to India, where gold import was restricted. The [[Jebel Ali]] port in Dubai, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world and was ranked eighth globally for the volume of container traffic it supports <ref name=jebelali>[http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/worldportrankings%5F2006.xls World Port Rankings - 2006].American Association of Port Authorities. 2006</ref>. Dubai is also developing as a hub for service industries such as [[Information technology|IT]] and [[finance]], with the establishment of industry-specific [[free economic zone|free zones]] throughout the city. [[Dubai Internet City]], 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 [[Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC]], [[CNN]], [[Reuters]] and [[Associated Press|AP]]. The [[Dubai Financial Market]] (DFM) was established in March 2000 as a [[secondary market]] for trading [[securities]] and [[bond (finance)|bond]]s, both local and foreign. As of [[Fourth quarter of a calendar year|fourth quarter]] 2006, its trading volume stood at about 400 billion shares, worth US$ 95 billion in total. The DFM had a [[market capitalization|market capitalisation]] of about US$ 87 billion.<ref name=pop4 /> 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]].<ref name=burjalarab>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/545499.stm World's Tallest Hotel Opens Its Doors. British Broadcasting Corporation]</ref> {{seealso|Developments in Dubai|Tourism in Dubai}} ==Transportation== {{Main|Transportation in Dubai}} [[Image:Dubai Flusstaxi.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Abra (boat)|Abra]]s'' are the traditional mode of transport between [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] and [[Bur Dubai]].]] [[Dubai International Airport]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: DXB), the hub for [[Emirates Airline]], services the city of Dubai and other emirates in the country. The airport served a total of over 34 million passengers and over 260,000 flights in 2007.<ref name=airlines>{{Cite web |title=Dubai International - world's fastest growing airport in 2007 |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/143493.html |publisher=''[[AMEInfo]]'' |date=2008-01-09 |accessdate=2008-01-10}}</ref> The Dubai International Airport ranked 17<sup>th</sup> among international airports for total [[cargo]] traffic in 2006.<ref name=dxb2>[http://www.airports.org/aci/aci/file/Press%20Releases/2007_PRs/PR060307_PrelimResults2006.pdf World's Busiest Airports - Preliminary Rankings (PDF)]. Airports Council International</ref> A third terminal and a new concourse are currently under construction and are both due to open in mid-2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dubai International Airport maintains double-digit growth in the first half of 2007 |url=http://www.dubaiairport.com/DIA/English/TopMenu/News+and+Press/Arab+News/Dubai+International+Airport+maintains+double-digit+growth+in+the+first+half+of+2007.htm |publisher=Dubai International Airport |date=2007-07-05 |accessdate=2008-01-10}}</ref> The new terminal will be dedicated to Emirates Airline and will fully support the new [[Airbus A380]]. The development of [[Dubai World Central International Airport]], currently under construction in Jebel Ali, was announced in 2004. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2008, and once operational the new airport will host foreign airlines. Emirates (both the passenger and cargo operations) will remain in Dubai International Airport.<ref>[http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/10/27/10163098.html Emirates for corridor between DIA and new mega airport] ''[[Gulf News]]'' ([[27 October]] [[2007]]). Retrieved on [[3 November]] [[2007]].</ref> Dubai has a large [[bus]] system that services 69 routes and transported over about 90 million people in 2006. The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) announced in 2006 that an additional 620 new buses will be added to its fleet of 170 double decker buses.<ref>[http://www.7days.ae/en/2007/03/12/fleet-of-new-buses-for-dubai.html Fleet of new buses for Dubai] 7days 2007</ref> Although the main mode of transportation in Dubai is by private vehicle, Dubai also has an extensive [[taxicab|taxi]] system. A $3.89 billion [[Dubai Metro]] project is under construction for the emirate. The Metro system is expected to be partially operational by 2009 and fully operational by 2012. The metro will comprise two lines: the Green Line from Al Rashidiya to the main city center and the Red Line from the airport to [[Jebel Ali]]. The Dubai Metro (Green and Blue Lines) will have 70 kilometers of track and 43 stations, 33 above ground and ten underground.<ref name=dubaimetro>[http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/dm-metro-news01 Dubai Municipality signs Dhs12.45 billion Metro contract]. Dubai Metro. May 29, 2005</ref> One of the more traditional methods of getting across [[Bur Dubai]] to [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] is through ''[[Abra (boat)|abras]]'', small boats that ferry passengers across the [[Dubai Creek]], between abra stations in Bastakiya and [[Baniyas Road]]. In July 2007, the [[Salik (Road Toll)|Salik]] road toll network was installed on [[Sheikh Zayed Road]] and on [[Al Garhoud bridge]]; the tolling stations are fully automated and collect toll of [[United Arab Emirates Dirham|AED]]&nbsp;4 ([[United States Dollar|US$]]&nbsp;1.08) per transit. == Culture == [[Image:Deira Souk on 9 May 2007 Pict 2.jpg|thumb|200px|A traditional ''[[souk]]'' in [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]]]] [[Image:Dubai clock tower.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Deira Clock Tower]] is an important landmark in the city]] Dubai has a diverse and multicultural society. The city's cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogenous [[pearling]] community was changed with the arrival of other [[ethnic groups]] and nationals &mdash; first by the [[Iranian people|Iranians]] in the early 1900s, and later by [[India]]ns and [[Pakistan]]is in the 1960s. Despite the diversity of the population, only minor and infrequent episodes of [[ethnic tension]]s, primarily between expatriates, have been reported in the city. In 1994, [[Hindu]] and Muslim labourers clashed over the destruction of the [[Babri Masjid]] in [[Ayodhya]], [[India]], which resulted in the detainment and deportation of hundreds of Indian and Pakistani workers <ref name=babrimasjid>Kapiszewski, Andrzej. [http://books.google.com/books?id=S4ksRUcbbHMC&pg=PA145&dq=hindu+in+dubai&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ykpKSfhOo3jJ7-ANhEQI7A-4q_c Nationals and expatriates: Population and Labour Dilemmas of the Gulf]. Garnet & Ithaca Press. 2001</ref>. Major holidays in Dubai include ''[[Eid al Fitr]]'', which marks the end of ''[[Ramadan]]'', and [[National Day]] ([[December 2]]), which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Annual entertainment events such as the [[Dubai Shopping Festival]] (DSF) and [[Dubai Summer Surprises]] (DSS) attract over 4 million visitors from across the region and generate revenues in excess of [[United States Dollar|US$]]&nbsp;one billion <ref name=dsf>[http://www.econresearch.net/admin/articles/13(1).pdf Tourism and shopping in the UAE: Spending an extra day"]. Edwards Economic Research FZ</ref>. Large [[shopping mall]]s in the city, such as [[Deira City Centre]], [[BurJuman]], [[Mall of the Emirates]] and [[Ibn Battuta Mall]] as well as traditional ''[[souk]]s'' attract shoppers from the region. The diversity of [[cuisine]] in Dubai is a reflection of the cosmopolitan nature of the society. Arab food is very popular and is available everywhere in the city, from the small ''[[shawarma]]'' diners in [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]] and [[Al Karama]] to the upscale restaurants in Dubai's many hotels. [[Fast food]], [[South Asian cuisine|South Asian]], [[Chinese cuisines]] are also very popular and are widely available. The sale and consumption of [[pork]], though not [[illegal]], is regulated and is sold only to non-[[Muslim]]s, in designated areas.<ref name=pork>[http://www.stat-usa.gov/agworld.nsf/505c55d16b88351a852567010058449b/898e8206171d628385256d02006df0d7/$FILE/TC3003.PDF Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards]. ''GAIN Report''. United States Department of Agriculture</ref> Similarly, the sale of [[alcohol|alcoholic beverages]] is regulated. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is available in bars and restaurants within [[four star hotel|four]] or [[five star hotel|five star]] hotels. <ref name=alcohol>[http://www.marketnewzealand.com/common/files/dubai-cg.pdf Welcome to Dubai] New Zealand Trade and Enterprise</ref> ''[[Shisha]]'' and ''[[coffee|qahwa]]'' boutiques are also popular in Dubai. [[Hollywood]] and [[Bollywood]] movies are popular in Dubai. The city hosts the annual [[Dubai International Film Festival]], which attracts celebrities from [[Arab cinema|Arab]] and [[cinema|International cinema]]. Dubai has an active music scene, with musicians [[Amr Diab]], [[Diana Haddad]], [[Tarkan]], [[Aerosmith]], [[Santana]], [[Elton John]], [[P!nk|Pink]], [[Shakira]], [[Celine Dion]] and [[Phil Collins]] having performed in the city. [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] is rumored to play live in November for ₤7.5 million. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/madonna/36011|title=Madonna to play Dubai gig as part of world tour | News | NME.COM|publisher=www.nme.com|accessdate=2008-04-21|last=|first=}}</ref>.The [[Dubai Desert Rock Festival]] is also another major festival consisiting of Heavy metal and rock artists. [[Association football|Football]] and [[cricket (game)|cricket]] are the most popular sports in Dubai. Five teams &mdash; [[Al Wasl FC|Al Wasl]], [[Al-Shabab (UAE)|Al-Shabab]], [[Al-Ahli (Dubai)|Al-Ahli]], [[Al-Nasr Sports Club|Al Nasr]] and [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] &mdash; represent Dubai in [[UAE League]] football. Current champions Al-Wasl have the second-most number of championships in the UAE League, after [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]. Cricket is followed by Dubai's large South Asian community and in 2005, the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC) moved its headquarters from [[London, England|London]] to Dubai. The city has hosted several [[Indian cricket team|India]]-[[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]] matches and two new grass grounds are being developed in [[Dubai Sports City]]. Dubai also hosts both the annual [[Dubai Tennis Championships]] and [[The Legends Rock Dubai]] tennis tournaments, as well as the [[Dubai Desert Classic]] [[golf]] tournament, all of which attract sports stars from around the world. The [[Dubai World Cup]], a thoroughbred horse race, is held annually at the [[Nad Al Sheba Racecourse]]. Dubai is known for its nightlife. Clubs and bars are found mostly in hotels due to the liquor laws. The [[New York Times]] listed Dubai as its travel choice for partying in 2008.<ref name=nyt>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09party.html?ex=1212987600&en=f13e9687f3c7e636&ei=5087&excamp=GGTRdubaitravel&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_id=TR-S-E-GG-NA-CT-dubai_travel Clubs Bloom in the Desert]. New York Times. December 9, 2007</ref> {{Seealso|Music of the United Arab Emirates}} ==Education== {{Main|Education in Dubai}} [[Image:AUD campus.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The campus of the [[American University in Dubai]]]] The school system in Dubai does not differ from that of the [[United Arab Emirates]]. As of 2006, there are 88 public schools run by the Ministry of Education that serve [[Emirati]]s and expatriate [[Arab people|Arab]]s as well as 132 private schools.<ref name=pop1 /> The medium of instruction in [[public school]]s is Arabic with emphasis on [[English language|English]] as a second language, while most of the [[private school]]s use English as their medium of instruction. Most private schools cater to one or more expatriate communities. Delhi Private School, [[Our Own English High School]], the [[Dubai Modern High School]], and [[The Indian High School, Dubai]] offer either a [[CBSE]] or an [[Indian Certificate of Secondary Education|ICSE]] Indian [[syllabus]]. Similarly, there are also several reputable Pakistani schools offering [[FBISE]] curriculum for expatriate children. Dubai English Speaking School, Jumeirah Primary School, Jebel Ali Primary School, the Cambridge High School (or Cambridge International School), Jumeirah English Speaking School, King's School and the Horizon School all offer British primary education up to the age of eleven. Dubai British School, [[Dubai College]], [[English College Dubai]], Jumeirah English Speaking School, [[Jumeirah College]] and St. Mary's Catholic High School are all British eleven-to-eighteen secondary schools which offer [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSE]] and [[Advanced Level (UK)|A-Level]]s. [[Emirates International School]] provides full student education up to the age of 18, this is an International school and offers [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education|IGCSE]] and the [[International Baccalaureate|IB]] program. [[Wellington International School]], which caters education from 4-18, offers IGCSE and A-Levels. [[Deira International School]] also offers the [[International Baccalaureate|IB]] program including the IGCSE program. The Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates is responsible for school's accreditation. The Dubai Education Council was established in July 2005 to develop the education sector in Dubai.<ref>[http://www.dec.gov.ae/English/Media+Center/14072005_2.htm HH Sheikh Mohammed issues decree establishing Dubai Education Council], ''DEC'', [[14 July]] [[2005]]</ref> The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) was established in 2006 to develop education and human resource sectors in Dubai, and license educational institutes.<ref>[http://www.khda.gov.ae/en/qa.asp KHDA Q&A], ''KHDA'', 2006</ref> Approximately 10% of the population has [[university]] or [[postgraduate]] degrees. Many expatriates tend to send their children back to their home country or to [[Western world|Western countries]] for [[university]] education and even to India for technology studies. 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 [[Michigan State University Dubai]] (MSU Dubai), the [[Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani - Dubai]]([[BITS Pilani]]), [[Heriot-Watt University Dubai]], [[American University in Dubai]] (AUD), the American College of Dubai, [[Mahatma Gandhi University]] (Off-Campus Centre), [[SPJCM|SP Jain Center Of Management]], [[University of Wollongong in Dubai]], [[Institute of Management Technology]] and MAHE Manipal. In 2004, the Dubai School of Government in collaboration with [[Harvard University]]'s [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] and [[Harvard Medical School|Harvard Medical School Dubai Center]] (HMSDC) were established in Dubai. {{see also|List of universities and colleges in Dubai}} ==Media== {{see also|Radio and television channels of Dubai}} [[Image:Etisalat Tower 2 on 28 December 2007 Pict 2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Etisalat Tower 2]], on Sheikh Zayed Road. [[Etisalat]] held a virtual monopoly over telecommunications in Dubai prior to 2006.<ref name=etisalatmon>[http://opennet.net/sites/opennet.net/files/united_arab_emirates.pdf United Arab Emirates]. OpenNet Interactive. 2008</ref>]] Dubai has a well established network of [[print media|print]], [[radio]], [[television]] and [[electronic media]] which service the city. Multiple international channels available through [[cable television|cable]], while [[satellite television|satellite]], radio and local channels are provided via the [[Arab Media Group|Arabian Radio Network]] and [[Dubai Media Incorporated]] systems. Many international news agencies such as [[Reuters]], [[Associated Press Television News|APTN]] and [[Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC]] and network news channels operated out of [[Dubai Media City]] and [[Dubai Internet City]]. Additionally, several local [[network television]] channels such as [[Dubai One]] (formerly [[Dubai 33|Channel 33]]), [[Emirates Dubai Television|EDTV]] and [[Dubai TV]] provide programming in English and Arabic. Dubai-based [[FM radio|FM stations]] such as Dubai FM (93.9), Dubai92 (92.0), Al Khaleejia (100.9) and Hit FM (96.7) provide programming in English, Arabic and South Asian languages. Dubai is also the headquarters for several [[print media]] outlets. ''[[Dar Al Khaleej|Al Khaleej]]'', ''[[Al Bayan]]'' and ''[[Al Ittihad]]'' are the city's largest circulating [[Arabic language]] newspapers<ref name=alkhaleej>[http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/New_Chart.pdf Largest-Circulation Arabic Newspapers]. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. ''Arab Reform Bulletin'', December 2004</ref>, while ''[[Gulf News]]'' and ''[[Khaleej Times]]''<ref name=gulfnewskhaleejtimes>[http://archive.gulfnews.com/images/06/09/19/survey1.pdf We are the leading newspaper]. Gulf News. September 2006</ref> are the largest circulating [[English language|English]] newspapers. [[Etisalat]], the government owned telecommunications provider held a virtual [[monopoly]] over telecommunication services in Dubai prior to the establishment of other, smaller telelcommunications companies such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC &mdash; better known as [[Du (telco)|Du]]) in 2006. [[Internet]] was introduced into the UAE (and therefore Dubai) in 1995. The current network is supported by a [[internet bandwidth|bandwidth]] of 6 [[gigabytes|GB]], with 50,000 [[dialup]] and 150,000 [[broadband internet|broadband]] [[Computer port (hardware)|port]]s. Dubai houses two of four [[Domain Name System|DNS]] [[data center]]s in the country (DXBNIC1, DXBNIC2)<ref name=dxbittopology>[http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:PI_43k09hmsJ:www.ituarabic.org/2006/IPS-IDN/Documents/Doc11-UAEnic_ITU_Syria.ppt+Dubai+etisalat+network+topology&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us UAEnic at a glance]. Sultan Al Shamsi</ref>. Internet content is regulated in Dubai. Etisalat uses a [[proxy server]] to [[internet filtering|filter internet content]] that is deemed to be inconsistent with the values of the country, that provides information on [[proxy bypass|bypassing the proxy]], [[dating (activity)|dating]], [[Gay (term)|gay]] and [[lesbian]] networks, sites pertaining to the [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]] faith, and sites originating from [[Israel]]. Additionally, [[Voice over Internet Protocol|VoIP]] services such as [[Skype]] that challenge Etisalat's monopoly over international calling as well as [[multimedia]] sharing and [[social networking]] websites such as [[Flickr]], [[Lastfm]], [[Hi5]] and [[Orkut]] are blocked. <ref name=etisalat>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78865.htm Country Reports on Human Rights Practices]. US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy. March 6, 2007</ref><ref name=etisalatmon /> Emirates Media and Internet (a division of Etisalat) notes that as of 2002, 76% of internet users are male. About 60% of internet users were [[Asia]]n, while 25% of users were [[Arab people|Arab]]. Dubai enacted an Electronic Transactions and Commerce Law in 2002 which deals with [[digital signature]]s and electronic registers. It prohibits [[Internet Service Provider]]s (ISPs) from disclosing information gathered in providing services. The [[penal code]] also contains some provisions; however, it does not address [[cyber crime]] or data protection.<ref name=privacy>[http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-103788 Silenced - United Arab Emirates]. Privacy International.</ref> {{clear}} ==References== {{reflist|2}} {{refbegin}} *[http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS21852.pdf Congressional Research Service Report to Congress] {{refend}} ==External links== <!-- **** DO NOT ADD LINKS TO BLOGS, RETAIL OR COMMERCIAL ENTITIES OR TRAVEL WEBSITES. THEY WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED ** --> <!-- *** FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WIKIPEDIA'S EXTERNAL LINK POLICIES, PLEASE TYPE "WP:EL" IN THE SEARCH FIELD --> {{sisterlinks|Dubai}} *[http://www.dubai.ae/ dubai.ae] - Official Website of Dubai Government *{{wikitravel}} *[http://www.ansarburney.org Ansar Burney Trust] - human rights organisation operating in Dubai *[http://www.dubaitourism.ae/ DTCM] - Dubai Government Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing *[http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/ Sheikh Mohammed] - Official website of the ruler of Dubai *[http://www.dm.gov.ae/ Dubai Municipality] - Official website *[http://search.eb.com/eb/article?tocId=9031319 "Dubayy", Encyclopædia Britannica, 2005] - Reference source for historical information *[http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1708287,00.html "Boom town"] - ''[[The Guardian]]'', [[13 February]] 2006 *[http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17471 Urbanization of Dubai] at [[NASA Earth Observatory]] {{Geolinks-cityscale|25.2697|55.3095}} {{Dubai topics|state=collapsed}} {{Neighborhoods in Dubai}} {{Dubai landmarks}} {{Developments in Dubai}} {{United Arab Emirates}} [[Category:Dubai| ]] [[Category:Persian Gulf]] [[Category:Coastal cities]] [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in the United Arab Emirates]] [[ar:إمارة دبي]] [[frp:Doubayi]] [[ast:Dubai]] [[az:Dubay]] [[bn:দুবাই]] [[bcl:Dubai]] [[bs:Dubai]] [[bg:Дубай]] [[ca:Dubai]] [[cs:Dubaj]] [[da:Dubai]] [[de:Dubai]] [[et:Dubai emiraat]] [[es:Dubái]] [[eo:Dubajo]] [[eu:Dubai]] [[fa:دبی]] [[fr:Dubaï]] [[ga:Dubai]] [[gl:Dubai]] [[ko:두바이]] [[hi:दुबई]] [[hr:Dubai]] [[io:Dubai]] [[id:Dubai]] [[is:Dúbæ]] [[it:Dubai]] [[he:דובאי]] [[sw:Dubai]] [[lb:Dubai]] [[lt:Dubajus]] [[hu:Dubaj]] [[ml:ദുബൈ]] [[mr:दुबई]] [[ms:Dubai]] [[nl:Dubai (emiraat)]] [[ja:ドバイ]] [[no:Dubai]] [[nn:Dubai]] [[oc:Dubai]] [[uz:Dubay]] [[pms:Dubai]] [[pl:Dubaj]] [[pt:Dubai]] [[ro:Dubai]] [[ru:Дубай (эмират)]] [[simple:Dubai]] [[sk:Dubaj (mesto)]] [[sl:Dubaj]] [[sr:Дубаи]] [[fi:Dubai]] [[sv:Dubai]] [[tl:Dubai]] [[ta:துபாய்]] [[te:దుబాయ్]] [[th:ดูไบ]] [[vi:Dubai]] [[tr:Dubai]] [[ur:دبئی]] [[zh-yue:杜拜]] [[diq:Dubai]] [[zh:杜拜]]