Explore Dubai

Dubai, Gulf Arabic pronunciation: is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai.[5][6][7] Established in the 18th century as a small fishing village, the city grew rapidly in the early 21st century into a cosmopolitan metropolis with a focus on tourism and hospitality. Dubai is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.[8] It has the second most five-star hotels in the world[9] and the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.[10]

Located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai aims to be the business hub of Western Asia.[11] It is also a major global transport hub for passengers and cargo.[12] Oil revenue helped accelerate the development of the city, which was already a major mercantile hub. A centre for regional and international trade since the early 20th century, Dubai’s economy relies on revenues from trade, tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services.[13][14][15][16] Oil production contributed less than 1 percent of the emirate’s GDP in 2018.[17] The city has a population of around 2.9 million (as of 2017).[3]

From 1929 it was the primary state, and from 1953 the capital of the Trucial States.