Dubai is a cosmopolitan city and the second largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates. The city of Dubai is the second largest developing city in the world after Shanghai, with enormous construction projects and other developments that has attracted worldwide attention.
Dubai began as a colony of the settlement of Abu Dhabi until 1833. Dubai
was best known for its pearl exports until the 1930's and then the discovery of oil in the latter part of the 1960's. Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates in 1971.
The official language of Dubai is Arabic, but English and Urdu are also widely spoken. Over 70 different nationalities have made Dubai a cultural melting pot.
The month long Dubai Shopping Festival is an annual event that draws shoppers from around the world, over 3 million visitors take advantage of special discounts from mid-January to mid-February. Another festival is the Dubai Summer Surprises, offering discounts on hotels and numerous events is perfect for families during the hot summer months.
Dubai offers Arabian lifestyles and traditions, both old and new, clean sandy beaches, lots of sunshine and the lure of a shopper's paradise. Tourists can also enjoy the theme parks, water parks, a zoo and many museums.