Dubai is the second largest of the seven Emirates that make up the remarkably stable conglomeration that is the United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s economy first began to prosper after 1894, when Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher al Maktoum gave tax exemption to foreign traders. During its breakneck development that started to snowball in the early 1970s, Dubai has managed to avoid taking on the less salubrious features of many modern cities, with an affluent population, few traffic jams, zero unemployment and minimal crime rate.

In just over three decades, Dubai has been transformed from a small settlement of palm frond and sea stone dwellings into an ultramodern city of gleaming skyscrapers, air-conditioned malls and luxury hotels. Dubai today is a confident city, a city where people work hard, live well and enjoy life, as evidenced by the countless leisure opportunities on offer. Traces of the old way of life still filter through however, with spice-filled souks (markets) and ancient trading dhows (wooden fishing boats) a common sight. The Emirate is a place of endless contrasts, a distinctive blend of modern city, timeless desert, east and west, old and new, merging the past, present and future.

The warm and tolerant society is as much due to the open-minded Emirati locals, as to the reality of having a majority population of temporary immigrants from all over the world. Professionals flood to Dubai on short-term contracts, whether they are oil executives from Dallas or Internet designers from London. Accompanying this economic immigration in recent years has been a new influx - the steadily increasing flow of tourists who are discovering that Dubai may be a city built on oil, but it also undoubtedly one of the world’s most exciting new travel destinations. Lying on the blue waters of the southern Gulf and backed by the majestic desert, Dubai offers visitors a unique Arabian experience. A remarkable choice of leisure activities, some of the finest hotels in the world and year-round sunshine are complemented by the charming Arab tradition of courtesy and hospitality.

Dubai International Airport is one of the worlds busiest serving more than 7.2 million passengers, and is the home base of award-winning Emirates Airline. A US$540 million expansion programme is currently underway, which is set to transform the airport into a state-of-the-art facility.

Dubai’s population is estimated at around 860,000. The city’s ethnic mix is 60% Indian, Pakistani and Filipino, 25% Emirati, 12% Arab and 3% Western expatriates. Most major religions are represented with the division being roughly 57% Muslim, 20% Hindu, 20% Roman Catholic and 3% other.