Just as the sand dunes of the desert surrounding Dubai change shape constantly, so does the city itself. It is a city of the future with phenomenal new attractions springing up on the land and along the coastal Arabian Gulf waters.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are situated along the Arabian Gulf and bordered by Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Emirates embrace a wide variety of scenery in a very small area, consisting of Abu Dhabi – the largest and richest in terms of oil; Dubai – the commercial centre; Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm al Qawain and Ajman. In a single day, one can experience everything from rugged mountains, awe-inspiring sand dunes, to sandy pristine beaches and lush green parks, from ancient houses with wind towers to ultra-modern shopping malls and skyscrapers with remarkable architectural designs.
Once these seven Emirates, each with its own hereditary Emir as Ruler, obtained independence from the British in 1971, they united and formed a Supreme Council made up of these rulers, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, was elected as the first President and held the position until his death in November 2004. His son, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has now taken his place as President. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai held the position of Vice-President until 1990 at which point the position went to his son Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is now the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. By combining traditional and modern political ways they have created a unique and stable administrative system which benefits the whole region. Though the capital city is Abu Dhabi, Dubai is the most important city in the region.
Prior to oil discovery in the 1950s, the UAE’s economy was built on fishing and pearling. When Abu Dhabi became the first of the emirates to begin exporting oil in 1962, the country’s economy was completely transformed, leading to a large influx of foreign workers, from India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia to the UAE. Political unrest in neighbouring Iran caused Iranian families to emigrate there in the 1970s. these Iranian families are now recognised as some of the most established families in the region. Abu Dhabi still enjoys a large trade surplus because of its petroleum exports, but Dubai has developed and entirely new economy.
Trade is the lifeblood of this traditionally Arabic and tolerant society, where business and commerce bring the best and brightest from across the world to help build Dubai’s future. Since the dawn of time, Dubai has been a meeting place, bringing together the Bedouins and the pearl-divers, the merchants of the city with the sea-faring cargo ships. Currently, Dubai’s population is the fastest growing in the world and its foreign population makes up about three quarters of the entire UAE population. Dubai has also been quick to understand the need to look to its economic future, and has successfully embarked upon a major diversification program aimed to make the city a find-everything-under-the-sun destination.
To accomplish this Dubai has looked to the future with a view to create the most phenomenal real estate projects imaginable and through these developments drawing thousands of people to live, work and play there. The recent change in their real estate laws enables foreigners to own property in certain areas of Dubai which up until recently was not possible. This is a major accomplishment for the property developers who are designing residential, business and leisure complex that inspire awe at the boldness of their design plans.
There are three Palm projects (www.thepalm.ae) and The World (www.theworld.ae) currently being built off the Dubai coastline. These, and the new marina, are the most prominent sites at the moment. Three man-made islands extending out from the shore in the shape of palm trees are already visible above the water. They will have luxury residential and tourist developments on them including hotels, marinas and shopping malls.
The World will be a group of 200 man-made islands built and clustered in the shape of the world mp, only reachable by boat, and located two kilometers inside the Arabian Gulf adjacent to world famous Burj Al Arab, 7 star hotel. The new developments can already be seen above the water and before long will be just another extension of this ruly remarkable city which will no doubt astound people looking down on it from passing airplanes. Music and football icons like Rod Stewart and David Beckham reportedly have already bought into these new projects to claim their part of ‘The World’.
Other development being worked on are the Hydropolis Hotel (Underwater Hotel). If it gets too hot in the summer months for you then you can stay at this hotel which will be built down to a depth of 20 metres, some 300 metres off the Jumeirah coast.
Then you might want somewhere other than the desert to go for a day out so they are building Aqua Dubai (Water World) for that. There will be 60 water-based activities with an Aquarium and Dolphinarium to roam about.
The world’s tallest hotel, the largest mall, the biggest marina, residences built around lakes springing out of the desert, they are all in the process of being built. Each time you visit Dubai another architectural impossibility will have sprung out of the desert or the sea surprising you yet again with what they can achieve here.
For a taste of the old Dubai you can still visit The Gold Souk with its many lanes full of glittering gold and spend the day bargain hunting there. Or walk a bit further over to the nearby Spice Souk with its mishmash of everything from textiles to pots and pans, and spices to suitcases, ending up beside The Creek. Here you are surrounded by the bustle of all sorts of goods being unloaded from the wooden dhows giving you a taste of what this trading city was – and still is – all about.
These fascinating contrasts – a distinctive melange of modern vision and traditional customs give Dubai its unique flavour and personality. A cosmopolitan society with an international lifestyle, yet with a culture deeply rooted in Islamic traditions. For many, it is the Hong Kong of the Middle East; a bubbling melting pot at the crossroads of time – and the quintessential home of sand, sea and shopping.
Dubai – Business
As the leading regional trading hub, Dubai is an international business centre with a wide range of opportunities for different activities and operations. It offers access to a market of outstanding potential for overseas companies in a wide range of sectors. In order to facilitate this they host several range Trade Shows, Forums and Seminars every year.
The biggest show to promote the retail trade in Dubai itself is the Dubai Shopping Festival (www.mydsf.ae). In January every year for one month Dubai celebrates ‘shopping’ with all kinds of attractions and prizes to lure people into its stores and markets.
They also host the largest food, hotel and equipment exhibition in the region called Gulfood (www.gulfood.com). This show occupies over eight halls, has over 2,000 exhibitors and is only open to trade customers.
The International Islamic Investment Forum (www.iirme.com)is held annually and is the premier event for the industry in this fast growing financial sector. It is an international networking opportunity.
Served by more than 170 shipping lines and 86 airlines, with no exchange controls, quotas or trade barriers, Dubai has always been an easy place to do business.
THE UAE AT A GLANCE
Full country name: United Arab Emirates
Area: 83,600 sq km
Population: 2.4 million
Capital city: Abu Dhabi ( pop 500,000 est.)
People: Arab (61%). South Asian (22%), Iranian (8%), other expatriates (9%)
Language: Arabic, English, Persian, Urdu, Hindi
Religion: Muslim (96%) Hindu, Christian and Other (4%)
Government: Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
GDP: USD40 billion
GDP per capita: USD17,400
Annual Growth: -5%
Inflation: 5%
Major Industries: Oil, gas, petrochemicals, fishing
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Japan, South Korea, India
Currency: UAE Dirhams
**This article was first published in The Halal Journal Mar/Apr 2005 edition, and was written by Remi Yahya-Ishmael and Salama Evans.