Dubai – The Jewel of the Desert #6

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. Located along the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf, it has a population of around 4 million people as of 2025, with expatriates making up about 92%. Including the surrounding urban area of Sharjah, the wider population exceeds 5 million, and the Dubai–Sharjah–Ajman metropolitan region reaches about 6 million inhabitants. Founded in the early 18th century as a small pearling and fishing village, Dubai grew into a regional trade hub in the 20th century after declaring itself a free port in 1901 and later expanding its creek in 1961. While oil revenue contributed to its early growth, it has played only a minor role in the emirate’s economy since the late 20th century, representing less than 1% of GDP by 2018. From the 1990s onward, Dubai transformed through rapid construction, producing one of the world’s most impressive skylines, crowned by the Burj Khalifa — the tallest building on Earth. Ambitious land reclamation projects have created over 300 km of artificial coastline, further expanding its global reputation for innovation and luxury real estate. Dubai’s economy today is driven by trade, tourism, aviation, financial services, and real estate. The Dubai International Financial Centre ranks among the world’s leading financial hubs, and in 2024 the city was the seventh most visited in the world. Dubai International Airport (DXB) remains the busiest global airport for international passengers, handling more than 92 million travelers in 2024.