Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The way the emirates function is pretty unique on a world stage, with many federal decisions left to the country’s government, but many more decisions relating to things such as local law left down to each individual emirate – Dubai also has the power to veto proposals for the entire nation, thanks in no small part to the ruler of the region, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also being the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. Dubai sits on the northern coastline of the UAE and is the second largest of the emirates, after Abu Dhabi, and the region is mostly mountainous and desert-covered – though the desert areas are sometimes covered with grass, as a show of wealth in the region. Dubai is a very rich nation, with GDP for the emirate and the UAE as a whole comparable to that of larger western nations – whilst this is thanks in a small part to oil and natural gas deposits, the main source of income for the emirate comes from both tourism and trade in the Jebel Ali free zone, an area where businesses are offered lucrative tax incentives. Dubai is often called ‘Pearl of The Gulf’ and it is easy to see why – luxury meets those that visit at every turn, and this is one of the most forward-thinking and open places in the entire Middle East, hugely encouraging foreign investment and immigration to help solidify the incredible riches the country as a whole is holding. As a result it really isn’t the cheapest of places to go, but with lavish sights and sounds ready for anyone to indulge themselves in, Dubai is certainly one to look out for – if you can afford it.

The known history of the UAE as a whole stretches back to around 3BC, and the country saw power change hands many times over the centuries, with the Greeks, Portuguese and British all poking their noses in for different amounts of time. Dubai itself was first mentioned in the 1095 Book of Geography, then again in 1580, but records of the region didn’t start in earnest until around 1799. The British presence in the nation was mainly out of convenience – it was a good way of keeping tabs on events in and around India, which Britain had a vested interest in. The UAE and Dubai were largely left alone, with a peace treaty in place with nine main sheikdoms in the region. Dubai itself was officially established in the early 18^th century and the region remained under British protection for many years – though mainly because of British interests. The ‘Pearl of The Gulf’ was well-known (surprisingly) for its pearl exports, and this business continued until around the 1930s, when it became apparent that both the First World War and the depression of the 20s had made the business unworkable – this loss of a stable economy saw mass migrations to other regions in The Gulf and left the region looking for other ways to supplement its income – the discovery of oil in 1950 solved this particular problem in one fell swoop. In 1947 a border dispute between Dubai and Abu Dhabi escalated into all out war, and the British had to step in to arbitrate a ceasefire – whilst hostilities were still simmering, the British pulled out of the region, and in 1971 the United Arab Emirates were officially created, though it wasn’t until 1979 that a formal compromise was reached and hostilities came to an end, as well as the Jebel Ali Free Zone being established. It was through wars and civil unrest that Dubai became such an economic powerhouse though and thanks to events in the first and second Gulf Wars, as well as the Shia unrest in Bahrain the region saw a massive influx of foreign businesses – the rise in prices of oil thanks to the Gulf conflicts also made the emirate concentrate on other means of increasing its wealth, with tourism and free trade pushed heavily. The last decade or so has seen the emirate increase in popularity no end, with real estate a huge market in the area. With a strong, stable economy, some wonderful opulence on show and strong ties with many western powers, Dubai (and the UAE as a whole) looks to have an even brighter future ahead of it.

The economic powerhouse that is Dubai looks set to increase in both financial clout and influence in coming years, and the forward-thinking nature of the emirate is testament to the success it has. With many specific free zones already set up – Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, for example – and more planned, things are certainly looking up. Many major, major worldwide businesses have headquarters in the emirate, including Microsoft and IBM – this alone should convince anyone that the region has some solid economic ground to stand on. Real estate is big business in the region, and though prices are likely to be very high, those that can afford it really should look into it – Dubai is essentially a purpose-built playground for the rich, and home to the fastest growing city in the world.

The standards of healthcare in Dubai are good, though the completion of Dubai Health City by around 2010 will see these standards rise massively. Health insurance is essential, as treatment can prove very expensive.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across the country, though coverage in remote regions cannot be guaranteed. Landlines are widely available and lines are of an excellent standard. Internet cafes are widespread throughout the emirate.