Dubai is a far cry from its original state as a desert city. Today it's a modern metropolis quickly becoming a magnet for tourism and development. The city mixes both the contemporary and the conventional for a unique atmosphere you will find nowhere else.

Basics about Dubai City

Dubai is an Emirate ruled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammaed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and has a population of over 1.3 million people. It's officially an Islamic city but is well-known for its tolerance of other religions and cultural practice. English is spoken throughout the Emirate, though Arabic is the official language. People there also speak Urdu and Farsi.

The currency in Dubai is the dirham, and overall the nation is quite wealthy. The average per capital income is more than $15,000 USD. And regardless of the modern amenities, Dubai is still located in the desert. The climate is very hot as well as humid. High temperatures of 45C (113F) in the summer. Thankfully, many places are well air-conditioned.

Things to See in Dubai

To cater to the huge tourist crowd, there are many attractions in the city that you should plan on visiting. A few examples of tourist destinations are:

• Dubai Museum

• Jumeirah Beach

• The Grand Mosque

• Wild Wadi Water Park

• Dubai World Trade Center

• Dubai Heritage Village

• Nad Al Sheba Racecourse

• Jumeirah Archaeological Site

• Ski Dubai

• And many more

There are also tours around the city, bars, night clubs and casinos to provide even more entertainment.

Hotels and Restaurants

People come to Dubai from all over the world, and that diversity is reflected in the many restaurants around the city. You can find places service dishes from such cuisines as Lebanese, Chinese, Arabian, French and American. There is even a Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai. Whatever kind of food you enjoy, you will find it in Dubai

As for your accommodation, there are hotels, resorts, short-term rental apartments and more. There are options for any budget, no matter how long (or short) your stay will be.

Shopping in Dubai

The shopping in Dubai ranges from a number of traditional markets (called souks) that sell gold, spices, perfumes, and carpets; to the sprawling shopping malls filled with modern wares.