DUBAI City Drive

Dubai
دبي
Metropolis
From top, left to right: Dubai Creek; Dubai's skyline; Palm Islands; Burj Al Arab; dune bashing; and Dubai Marina
From top, left to right: Dubai Creek; Dubai's skyline; Palm Islands; Burj Al Arab; dune bashing; and Dubai Marina
Flag of Dubai
Flag
Coat of arms of Dubai
Coat of arms
Dubai is located in United Arab EmiratesDubaiDubai
Location within the United Arab Emirates
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Coordinates: 25°15′47″N 55°17′50″ECoordinates: 25°15′47″N 55°17′50″E
Country United Arab Emirates
Emirate Dubai
Founded by Ubaid bin Saeed and Maktum bin Butti Al Maktoum
Subdivisions
Towns & villages
Government
• Type Absolute monarchy
• Director General of Dubai Municipality Dawoud Al Hajri
Area[2]
• Total 3,885 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
Population (2017)[3]
• Total 2.9 million
Demonym(s) Dubaian
Time zone UTC+04:00 (UAE Standard Time)
Nominal GDP 2018 estimate
Total USD$102.67 billion[4]
Website Official website
Dubai (/duːˈbaɪ/ doo-BY; Arabic: دبي, romanized: Dubayy, IPA: [dʊˈbajj], Gulf Arabic pronunciation: [dəˈbaj]) 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.