Interesting Facts about Dubai

Posted by PRavin on December 18th, 2019

The city of superlative, the futuristic township and luxury at its best - this sums up Dubai in a nutshell. We all know that Dubai is the ‘go-to’ destination for an extraordinary holiday. But what is it that makes Dubai so special and alluring to its visitors. Here are a few interesting facts about Dubai that will enhance your knowledge about this incredible emirate.

• Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language although English is widely spoken. The currency used in Dubai is Dirhams.
  
• In Dubai, Emiratis make up just 10-15% of the population. The rest of the population consists of expatriates that are mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Also, the majority of the population consists of youngsters that lies in the age bracket of 20 to 35.
  
• Dubai loves shattering world records and holds some amazing feat to its name. Dubai has more than 100 world records in its name. Here’s what Dubai has to offer which are the best of its kind in the world.
  - Burj Khalifa - the world’s tallest freestanding structure.
  - Dubai Fountain - the largest choreographed fountains in the world
  - Dubai Miracle Garden - The largest Flower Garden in the world.
  - Burj Al Arab Jumeirah – World’s only 7-star hotel.
  - Dubai Metro - the longest automated metro in the world
  - Dubai Mall - the largest shopping mall in the world
  - Palms Jumeirah – The largest Man-Made Island in the world
  - JW Marriott Marquis Hotel - the tallest hotel in the world
  - Dubai Frame - The biggest picture frame in the world
  - Ain Dubai - The largest observation wheel in the world
  
• Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is known as the most luxurious hotel in the world and has its interiors adorned in  real 24-carat gold leaf. It has 1790 square metres of its interiors etched in gold. Also, you can cherish an expensive cup of coffee that is topped with real gold flakes.
  
•  In fact, the city is so obsessed with gold that it has a tagline - ‘Dubai, city of gold’. Dubai has a whole bazaar dedicated to gold - The Gold Souk which is home to over 300 gold shops. And that’s not all, you can pamper yourself with a real gold facial treatments. Dubai also has the most expensive facial in the world offered by Raffles Dubai which uses 24-karat gold in its Egyptian Gold facial. The city also has ATMs that chug out real gold bars if you are interested in buying one.
  
• Dubai is also home to many international shows and talents. One of the biggest shows to witness here is the La Perle Dubai which will make your jaws drop in amazement as you witness an amazing performance of grace, skill and perfectly choreographed dance and acrobats.
  
• Don’t feel surprised if you see a Mercedes or Bugatti drove around by policemen in Dubai. Dubai’s Police do not have ordinary cars as service cars. They get to chase criminals in supercars for the sole purpose that the lawbreakers don’t stand a chance to outrun the police. Dubai’s police have the advantage over criminals with their fleet of cars that include Ferrari, Bugatti, Mercedes, Lamborghini to name a few.
  
• Public Display of Affection is illegal in Dubai and if caught can lead to severe penalties or deportation.
  
• Income Tax in Dubai is zero. Those working in Dubai do not have to pay any income tax thus making it a favourable country for foreigners to come for employment to earn a bit more. 
  
• Ever dreamt of snow in the desert? Dubai made that possible too! You can go skiing even though Dubai is a desert city. The SkiDubai is the first snow park in the Middle East where visitors can enjoy a day amid snowy terrains and have fun at amazing snow activities. SkiDubai is located inside the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.
  
• Alcohol consumption is only allowed for non-Muslim people in Dubai. Also, one will need to have a license to consume alcohol. Alcohol can only be found in  hotels and restaurants in Dubai
  
• Dubai transformed into a futuristic city from a humble village in a matter of 50 years. Previously, it was just a small settlement in the middle of the desert. Its transformation is quite unbelievable.
  
• Dubai has only two seasons - summer and mild winters. It is mostly hot throughout the year and has sunshine throughout the year. January is the coldest month and August is the hottest month.
  
• However, it does rain in Dubai. Rainfall is around 3.71 inches per year and it rains seldom once or twice a year. This is also the reason you would not find many drainage systems on the road due to lack of rain.
  
• In Dubai, almost all the places are air-conditioned. Since it has an arid and hot climate, train stations, bus stops, and public transports are fully air-conditioned.
  
• Weekends fall on Friday and Saturday. Sunday is the first working day of the week.
  
• Dubai is known as the shopping capital of the Middle East as it is home to over 70 shopping centres.
  
• Until 2015, Dubai did not need to have zip codes. Before the discovery of oil, the petite township didn’t have the need for any standard street address system. Since then it has flourished into a city swiftly and proper postal system has been implemented.
  
• Dubai is considered to have one of the world’s fastest growing economies. One of the main sectors for this growth factor is the tourism sector. On an average, more than 10 million visitors travel to Dubai in a year.
  
• Out of the seven emirates of UAE, Dubai along with Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates that have veto power over political and serious national matters of the United Arab Emirates legislature.
  
• Dubai also has a Ladies Taxi service dedicated exclusively to ply female customers. The cabs have a pink roof and female drivers.

These Dubai facts prove that the emirate is truly inspiring and the grit for perseverance to become a global holiday destination is amazing. A visit to this city is an incredible experience that will be etched on your mind for a long time.