About Dubai 

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that constitute United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the eastern Arabian Peninsula . The modern emirate of Dubai was created with the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Dubai shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi . As of 2007, 800 new residents were setting up home in Dubai every day. With Abu Dhabi , it is one of only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the UAE. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

Geography
Dubai is situated on the northeast coast of the United Arab Emirates and is roughly at sea level (16 m above). The emirate of Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, Sharjah in the northeast, and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast. Hatta, a minor exclave of the emirate, is surrounded on three sides by Oman and by the emirates of Ajman (in the west) and Ras Al Khaimah (in the north). The Persian Gulf borders the western coast of the emirate. Dubai is positioned at 25.2697° N 55.3095° E and covers an area of 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²).

Demographics
According to the census conducted by the Statistics Center of Dubai, the population of the emirate was 1,422,000 as of 2006, which included 1,073,000 males and 349,000 females. As of 1998, 17% of the population of the emirate was made up of UAE nationals. Approximately 85% of the expatriate population (and 71% of the emirate's total population) was Asian, chiefly Indian (51%), Pakistani (16%), Bangladeshi (9%) and Filipino (3%). About 3% of the total population of Dubai was categorized as "Western". A quarter of the population however reportedly traces their origins to neighboring Iran .

Economy
Dubai 's gross domestic product as of 2006 was US$46 billion. Although Dubai 's economy was built on the back of the oil industry, revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for less than 3% of the emirate's revenues. It is estimated that Dubai produces 240,000 barrels of oil a day and substantial quantities of gas from offshore fields. The emirate's share in UAE's gas revenues is about 2%.The government's decision to diversify from a trade-based but oil-reliant economy to one that is service and tourism-oriented has made real estate more valuable, resulting in the property appreciation from 2004–2006. Large scale real estate development projects, undertaken by firms such as Emaar Properties, have led to the construction of some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world such as the Emirates Towers , the Pentominium and the world's tallest hotel, the Burj al-Arab. As of July 2007, Burj Dubai -also being constructed by Emaar Properties- is already the world's tallest structure and is expected to be taller by several hundred feet.

Transportation
Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB), the hub for Emirates Airlines, services the city of Dubai and other emirates in the country. The airport served a total of over 28 million passengers and over 230,000 flights in 2006. The Dubai International Airport ranks 17th among international airports for total cargo traffic in 2006. A third terminal is currently under construction and is due to open in 2007. The new terminal will be dedicated to Emirates Airline and will fully support the new Airbus A380.
Dubai has a large bus system that services 69 routes and transported over about 90 million people in 2006. The (RTA) announced in 2006 that an additional 620 new buses will be added to its fleet of 170 double decker buses. Although the main mode of transportation in Dubai is by private vehicle, Dubai also has an extensive taxi system.

Health Risks
Medical certificates are not required to enter Dubai, unless you come from areas infected with cholera or yellow fever. Malaria and cholera are not particularly considered health risks in Dubai and other cities of the UAE. However, precautions are needed when travelling to rural and mountainous areas of the northern states. Vaccinations against hepatitis, malaria, and typhoid are advised as well as mosquito and insect repellents.

In Dubai , hospitals are well equipped and are among the more superior in the UAE. Health insurance while travelling is recommended, as medical care in Dubai is rather costly. Tap water in Dubai is safe for drinking, but in rural areas stick to bottled or boiled water. Always choose well-cooked meats and avoid dairy products, which may be made from unpasteurised milk.

Business Hours
Banks and private offices are open from Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During the month of Ramadan, most offices are closed in the afternoon. Shops are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ; on Thursdays, shops close earlier. Shopping Malls are open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm . As of September 2006, the weekends have been officially changed to Friday and Saturday, however, some businesses may not have implemented this change yet, it is best to check beforehand.

Climate
Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. It is sunny, hot and dry most of the year. June to September are particularly hot months, with little or no rainfall; temperatures may shoot up to 45 degrees Celsius. The most pleasant months to visit Dubai are from November to March, when temperatures are more comfortable at around 10 to 30 degrees Celsius. The winter months of January and February may bring rain showers, cooling down the area's temperatures.

Clothing
Office attire consists of lightweight slacks; long or short sleeved shirts and ties. Jackets and or business suits are worn for more formal occasions and important meetings. For women, smart, conservative corporate wear such as long sleeved blouses and skirts are appropriate. Revealing outfits such as low necklines, mini-skirts or tight shirts are not acceptable in public places.

Business entertaining will often be extravagant, a suit or a dinner jacket may be required of men. Women are expected to wear evening dresses and skirts. Women are advised to bring shawls or stoles, as air-conditioning in hotels and restaurants can be chilly.

Lightweight clothes are generally suitable the whole year round including winter. However, you might want to bring a light sweater or cardigan for winter nights when temperatures may drop. At the beach or at the pool, trunks, swimsuits, and bikinis are acceptable.

Some useful facts about Dubai

Information provided is true and correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publishing.

• No taxes on income and capital gains
• Freehold title & ownership
• Simplified Purchase, Ownership and
  Sale Experience
• Residence Visas arranged for purchasers and family
• No EU reporting of income or investments
• Outstanding modern facilities
• Served by one of the worlds best airports, with over 100 airlines connecting to over 140 destinations
• Stable Government committed to the prosperity of the Emirate
• Beautiful pristine beaches overlooking the Palm Islands
• The fastest growing leisure & sporting destination in the World
• Unbeatable tax free shopping
• Modern banking and e-business facilities
• Regional free zones, media and internet hubs

Credit Cards
American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in larger and more expensive establishments.

Currency
The United Arab Emirates dirham is divided into 100 fils. Bills come in 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, and 5 dirham notes. Coins are minted in 1 dirham, 50 and 25 fils. Most banks, hotels and legal moneychangers will handle the exchange of foreign currency. Banks offer the best rates. If you are given grubby and soiled notes, hand it back as these may be refused by other establishments. No exchange controls are in place.

Visas
Before arriving, all tourists are issued a limited term visit or tourist visa by the Immigration & Naturalisation Department. Citizens from Bahrain , Kuwait , Oman , Qatar and KSA do not require visas. Those wanting to stay in Dubai for a long time need permission in the form of a residence permit. Unless you are joining a spouse who is already a resident and working in Dubai , you must have a job to get a residence permit.

All visit visas only allow one entry to Dubai . Some nationalities can extend their visit for another 30 days but after that you must leave the country. Please contact your local UAE Embassy or Consulate for more information on visas to the United Arab Emirates .

Tipping
Hotels and restaurants often include a 10% service charge, which makes tipping unnecessary. However, if a service charge has not been included to your bill, tip 10% to 15% of the bill to the service staff. Hotel porters are tipped a couple of dirhams per piece of luggage. Cab drivers need not be tipped.

Useful Numbers
Country dialling code - 971
Dubai Area Code - 4
Police - 999
Ambulance - 998
Fire - 997

Time Zone
GMT+4, same as Muscat . Dubai is three hours behind Bangkok and eight hours ahead of New York .

Holidays
Jan 1 2005 New Year's Day
Jan 21 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
Feb 10 Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year)
Apr 21 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
Aug 6 Accession of HH Sheikh Zayed
Sep 1 Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet)
Nov 3-5 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Dec 2 National Day