There is no other place in the world like Dubai. If you have never been there before, now is the best time to plan your summer 2021 in Dubai. This futuristic dynamo of a city is all about superlatives– biggest, brightest, tallest and of course richest of everything.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 – by drone [Video by Mustafa Syed/YouTube]
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE); Arabic: الإمارات العربية المتحدة al-ʾImārāt al-ʿArabīyah al-Muttaḥidah, is a modest fishing and pearling port in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene like you’ve never seen before. Burj Khalifa, 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks that makes Las Vegas Nevada USA look like a walk in the Park.
Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language. The UAE’s oil reserves are the sixth-largest in the world while its natural gas reserves are the world’s seventh-largest. Sheikh Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first President of the UAE, oversaw the development of the Emirates and steered oil revenues into healthcare, education and infrastructure.
The earliest Christian site in the UAE was first discovered in the 1990s, an extensive monastic complex on what is now known as Sir Bani Yas Island and which dates back to the 7th century. Thought to be Nestorian and built in 600 CE, the church appears to have been abandoned peacefully in 750 CE. It forms a rare physical link to a legacy of Christianity which is thought to have spread across the peninsula from 50 to 350 CE following trade routes. Certainly, by the 5th century, Oman had a bishop named John – the last bishop of Oman being Etienne, in 676 CE.
Human occupation of the present UAE has been traced back to the emergence of anatomically modern humans from Africa some 124,000 BCE through finds at the Faya-2 site in Mleiha, Sharjah. Burial sites dating back to the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age include the oldest known such inland site at Jebel Buhais. Known as Magan to the Sumerians, the area was home to a prosperous Bronze Age trading culture during the Umm Al Nar period.
Today, the UAE’s economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council, while its most populous city of Dubai is an important global city and international aviation and maritime trade hub. Consequently, the country is much less reliant on oil and gas than in previous years and is economically focusing on tourism and business. The UAE government does not levy income tax although there is a system of corporate tax in place and Value Added Tax at 5% was established in 2018.
Business
The UAE offers businesses a strong and stable political and macroeconomic environment, a future-oriented Government, good general infrastructure and ICT infrastructure. Moreover, the country has made continuous and convincing improvements to its regulatory environment and is generally a top country for doing business.
Blasphemy Law
Apostasy is a crime punishable by death in the UAE. Blasphemy is illegal; expatriates involved in insulting Islam are liable for deportation. UAE incorporates hudud crimes of Sharia (i.e., crimes against God) into its Penal Code – apostasy being one of them. Article 1 and Article 66 of UAE’s Penal Code requires hudud crimes to be punished with the death penalty; therefore, apostasy is punishable by death in the UAE.
Tourism
Tourism acts as a growth sector for the entire UAE economy. Dubai is the top tourism destination in the Middle East. According to the annual MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index, Dubai is the fifth most popular tourism destination in the world. Dubai holds up to 66% share of the UAE’s tourism economy, with Abu Dhabi having 16% and Sharjah 10%. Dubai welcomed 10 million tourists in 2013.
Summer (June to September) in UAE can be very hot, with temperature reaching 113 degrees F (45 degrees C) during the day thereby making walking around during the day unbearably. Because these are the hottest months, they are also the cheapest months to travel to UAE since very few people will be there during those months.
The best months to visit Dubai are between October and April because of the low comfortable temperatures during the day. Please don’t visit the UAE during Ramadan because you cannot eat or drink in public until after sunset. Be aware that Ramadan period changes every year.
The UAE has the most advanced and developed infrastructure in the region. Since the 1980s, the UAE has been spending billions of dollars on infrastructure. These developments are particularly evident in the larger emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The northern emirates are rapidly following suit, providing major incentives for developers of residential and commercial property.
On January 6, 2020, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that the tourist visa to the United Arab Emirates, which was earlier valid for 30–90 days, was extended to five years.
Dubai is a Muslim country and you need to respect the custom of the land even though it’s not illegal and you won’t be thrown in jail. This means you can dress anyway you like in your Hotel premises but no revealing dress like tank tops or flip flops in public places. Even if you’re married, under no circumstances are you allowed to show affection in public places.
It’s not a joke, your drinking will be limited to Hotel restaurant or bar since you won’t find liquor stores anywhere in the UAE, due to religious reasons. If you’re going outside Dubai to neighboring cities like Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, it’s highly recommended you rent a car since Dubai doesn’t have a good public transportation between cities and towns.
Arabic food is delicious! From vegetarian cuisines to non-vegetarian delicacies, there is something for all kinds of travelers. These Dubai cuisines will also take you on a cultural tour of the country as some of them are traditional and made from home-grown ingredients. Take a look at the delicious food to try in Dubai on your vacation!
- Manousheh – Pizza Of Dubai
- Iranian Sangak – One Of The Most Popular Dishes
- Chelo Kebab – A Heavenly Taste
- Al Harees – Taste The Tradition
- Al Machboos – Surprisingly Delicious
- Mandi – A Rendezvous With Tradition
- Oozie – Ramadan Special
- Tabbouleh – For Those Who Are Health Conscious
- Kousa Mahshi – Taste The Classic Spices
- Shirin Polo – For An Authentic Dining Experience
- Baba Ganoush – An Epic Starter
- Fatteh – All Things Good In One
- Kellaj – A Cheesy Delight
- Falafel – Prepared With Love
- Fattoush – Healthy And Yummy
- Madrouba – Healthy Food
- Shish Tawook – Have It Like The Locals
- Lahem Bl Ajin – The Arab Pizza
- Taboon Bread – Not Just A Bread
- Shawarma – The Popular Street Food Item
- Samboosa – The Dish With A Twist
- Oman Chips Roll – Childhood Favorite
- Mahalabiya – Can’t Afford To Miss
- Luqaimat – You Can’t Have Just One
- Knafeh – Cheese Pastry Redefined
- Khanfaroosh – For Teatime
Author: eCommunicator
ECWA Editorial Board: Our editorial board or advisory board consists of a group of well published, prominent professors, with academic credentials and a detailed knowledge of their subject area.
