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Dubai Attractions and Things to See

Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the UAE, United Arab Emirates, located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula, with the biggest population and second biggest land mass of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi. These two emirates have veto power over important matters in the nation's legislature. The earliest mention of this country would be back in 1095 AD, and the earliest settlement that was called Dubai dates from 1799, and formally established in the 19th century by the Al Abu Falasa clan of Bani Yas, staying under its control until the UK took over control in 1892. Its significant geographical location would make it an important trading center and at the start of the 20th century, it would become a significant port. In 1966, oil was discovered, Dubai and the emirate of Qatar would set up a new monetary unit to replace the Gulf rupee, and would bring in a huge influx of foreign workers that would expand the city's population by 300%, as well as bring in international oil interests. The Gulf War of 1990, would create a negative financial effect, on the city, when depositors took their money out and the traders took their trade elsewhere, until is recovered in a changing political climate and began to grow.

Today, it is a global city and business center, and like Qatar, it is moving away from an oil economy, gaining more revenues from real estate, tourism and financial services. It has attracted world attention with its innovative huge construction projects and sports events, that have brought attention to the labor rights and human rights that concern the huge South Asian workforce. It has a long history, since some stone tools have been discovered at numerous sites, but there isn't that much known about its history, although some small settlements have been uncovered. Numerous ancient towns had been trading centers between the East and West nations, with the remains of a mangrove swamp, dated about 7000 BC that had been discovered during the construction of sewer lines near Dubai Internet City. The city had been covered with sand 5,000 years ago, until the coast retreated inland, that has become part of the city's current coastline, where pre Islamic ceramics has been found that dated from the 3rd and 4th centuries.

Dubai's tourism industry has continued to grow, offering the best shopping in the world, as well as ancient and modern attractions. In 2007, it was the 8th most visited city in the world, and by 2015, it is believed to welcome more than 15 million visitors. It is the most populated of the seven emirates in the UAE, enjoying the attractions that bring tourists here, where the other countries still maintain an oil based economy while striving to expand into other areas of business, once the bubble bursts, at it usually does. Dubai's shopping investments have made it "the shopping capital of the world", with over 70 shopping malls, including the world's seventh biggest.  Dubai has also become known as the "City of Gold", since there are almost 250 gold retail shops that will sell any type of gold, jewelry or object. At the Dubai International Airport, they have a duty free shopping area that offers goods the cater to multinational passengers that pass through the airport.

The country has an Islamic, Arab and Bedouin culture, although it is more cosmopolitan in Dubai, than the outskirts. The Arabic food that is served here is quite popular, and can be found just about anywhere in the city, from the small shwarma diners in Al Karama and Deira to the luxurious restaurants in the hotels that lace the city. Fast food joints, Chinese and Asian food is becoming more popular and can be found in many areas of the city, although the sale of pork is regulated and sold only to non-Muslims. The same can be said of alcoholic drinks, and a liquor permit must be obtained to buy it. But, it is available in the bars and restaurants in the local hotels; and the populace always seem to have a home made brew that is very intoxicating. The meats that are used more traditionally include lamb and chicken, with camel and beef used in less dishes, with other types of poultry used in some of the outlaying regions; but pork is absolutely prohibited, for Muslim Arabs, since it is prohibited in Islamic law and a cultural taboo, with quite a large group of Christian Arabs abstaining from pork, since they never acquired a taste for it and never had it in their meals.