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The earliest records of the town of Dubai date back to 1799. Sometime before that in the 18th Century, the Al Abu Falasa branch of the Bani Yas clan established itself there.
The Al Maktoum lineage of the Bani Yas clan left Abu Dhabi to peacefully take control of Dubai in 1833. Before too long, the newly independent emirate was continually coming into conflict with Abu Dhabi. As is the case with its neighbors, its positioning along the route to India gave it an extremely strategic location. Dubai became a significant port for the foreign traders who wound up settling there. Up to the 1930s, the town was most famous for its pearl exports. Dubai is also world-renowned for its gorgeous, sparkling beaches.
In December 1971, Dubai, along with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, came together to form the United Arab Emirates.
Dubai’s official language is Arabic, but one can also commonly hear English and Urdu, along with a whole host of other Middle Eastern dialects. Islam is the official religion of Dubai, and all four of the other emirates. Most of the locals are Sunnis, but you can also meet Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians there.
Some of the highlights:
Dubai is home to many shopping centers, like the Mall of the Emirates, Lamcy Plaza, Al Ghurair City, Mercato Mall, and the Oasis Centre. They include a wide variety of shops, including international stores, theatres, video game arcades, markets and restaurants. Two additional shopping centers have been opened in recent times: the Mall of Emirates, possibly the largest mall in the world, featuring the third-largest indoor ski slope in the world, and the Ibn Battuta Mall. But the Mall of Emirates won’t be the world's largest for long; soon to be completed is the Dubai Mall, part of the Burj Dubai project which will eventually include the world’s tallest building.
Dubai’s two water parks are called Wonderland and Wild Wadi, but like the Mall of Emirates, they will soon be dwarfed by a new project, Dubailand. An entertainment metropolis loosely based on Disneyland, construction on Dubailand was initiated in 2003. Eventually, the park will cover more than 3 billion square feet (300,000,000 m²), with the first opening to the public set for 2008.
Dubai also boasts a unique and lively nightlife scene, with modern nightclubs and bars distributed liberally across the entire Emirate. Although they routinely close at three in the morning, perhaps earlier than some might desire, the opening hours are truly action-packed.
Depending on the time of year, one can attend numerous sports events while visiting Dubai. These include the Dubai Tennis Open, Dubai Desert Golf Classic, and the Dubai World Cup. The World Cup is the world's highest stakes horse race, where more than $15 million is given out as prize money. Dubai also hosts the Rugby Sevens tournament, which is becoming quite a hit in other rugby-playing countries.
Dubai has an immense variety of quality international restaurants. One of the most popular sites to dine in is on the deck overlooking The Creek at Vivaldi in the Sheraton.
Lebanese and Turkish food is the standard on many local menus, but there are also cheap Indian and Pakistani restaurants all over the place. Of course, American fast-food joints can be spotted all over town, especially inside the shopping centers.
The deals you can get on Persian carpets have to be the best possible outside of Iran. Of course, the deals are even better if you have some experience with carpets and bargaining. The Blue Souk (Central Market) in Sharjah is world-renowned for its carpet and gold shops.
Let’s not forget about Dubai’s most beautiful assets, its beaches. The main beach can be found along Jumeira Road, and is distinguished by its soft white sand and shallow, warm turquoise water. The private, hotel-owned beaches are immaculately kept, with beachside food and beverage service. Anyone can gain access to hotel beach clubs for a daily charge, which ranges from $10 to $50. The public beach in Al Mamzar Park includes playgrounds, barbecue sites, food kiosks, and picnic areas for families.
Besides all the theme parks, you can also visit natural parks, gardens and the Dubai Zoo. Creekside Park is a particularly nice spot, offering an opportunity to ride in the water taxis which are always used to transport people across the Creek.
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