Dubai

DUBAI ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Unlike the other emirates in the UAE(United Arab Emirates), Dubai does not only rely on oil for it’s income. Oil revenues make up just 6% of Dubai’s gross national product. Dubai has relied on, as well as built up its importance as a port and trade centre.

Today, Dubai has a reputation of being one of the world’s most luxurious tourist destinations. Dubai’s most famous landmark is the “The Burj Al Arab Hotel”, the worlds tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. There is still development of more impressive and luxurious resorts and accommodation. Dubai is considered to be an important tourist destination and its port, Jebel Ali, is the largest man-made harbor in the world. High tech and media companies have been attracted by industry-specific free zones (no-tax areas) in the city, which now play host to international companies such as IBM, Reuters, Oracle Corporation, CNN and Microsoft.

Tourism in Dubai is expected to pass oil exports as the largest source of revenue in the near future. Dubai has 302 hotels and total of 30,648 rooms. Recently, Dubai has been involved with setting up the DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing) representative offices in many countries and have created very successful advertising campaigns around the world.

The national currency for the UAE including Dubai is called the Dirham. 3.6725 Dirham are equal to one U.S. Dollar.

Dubai Culture

UAE's Constitution declares Islam as the official religion of the UAE, therefore including the Emirate and the city of Dubai. Large shopping malls in the city as well as traditional “souks,” (highly fashioned commercial quarter in an Arab city) bring in shoppers from the region. The diversity of food and cuisine in Dubai