Introduction to Dubai

In preparing for my trip to Kenya via the Middle East and Dubai, I read as much as I could so that I would have some understanding of this exotic region of the world when I first stepped off my 15 hour 50 minute nonstop flight on Emirates from Los Angeles (or you can fly nonstop on Emirates from San Francisco - 16 hours).  Below are some of the things that I learned.  

Dubai, the city, is located in the United Arab Emirates in the Emirate of Dubai. The Emirate of Dubai is located southeast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and is one of seven emirates that make up the country of the United Arab Emirates.  The UAE borders the countries of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman and across the Persian Gulf is Iran.  Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.

The city of Dubai was founded in 1833 by Shiekh Maktoum bin Butti Al-Maktoum when he persuaded members of his Bani Yas tribe, to settle with him by Dubai Creek.  The Sheikhdom  became a protectorate of the United Kingdom in 1892 and when it gained independence in 1971 it became part of the United Arab Emirates.  The Emirate is still ruled by the Al Maktoum family.  The government is a constitutional monarchy and the Ruler is Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Crown Prince is Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.   There are over 2 million people living in the Emirate and Dubai is now the 22nd most expensive city in the world. Dubai is known for being the "biggest and the best" and it is here that I will see the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa; the best hotel tower, Burj Al Arab; and the three largest artificial islands in the world, the Palm Islands.  The Palm Jumeirah is the only one open and the others are incomplete - Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira, and "The World" islands.
 

Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East" and it has over 70 shopping malls, including the world's largest, Dubai Mall.    The Mall of the Emirates has  the world's only ski resort in a mall.  Dubai is also known as "the City of Gold" and the Gold Souk in Deira (sister city to Dubai) houses nearly 250 gold retail shops. The world's largest natural flower garden in the world, the Dubai Miracle Garden in Dubailand, is now open although not complete.  When it is done it will have over 45 million flowers.

To learn more about Dubai you can go to: http://wikitravel.org/en/Dubai. Check our blog to see photos of the interesting things you can do when you are in Dubai: 

http://yourtravelsourcefairfield.blogspot.com.