Dubai, often recognized around the world for its mega-structures and luxurious hotels with breathtaking views, is the capital of one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is the main city of the emirate of Dubai, often called “Dubai City” to prevent it from being confused with the emirates. The Emirates of Dubai is the second largest of the seven emirates and is the wealthiest among them.
Just a decade ago, the sand was the only thing in Dubai as it is located on the edge of the Arabian Desert with no discernible natural advantages. But now the tides have turned as Dubai is full of luxurious futuristic skyscrapers and the exclusive cozy villas scattered around the coastline. Today Dubai is a metropolis that boasts the world’s biggest mall, tallest tower, biggest dancing fountain, and several highest-rated hotels. Dubai constantly competes with itself, trying to magnetize tourists to a dream-like world of attractions.
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Where Is It Located?
Located in the Middle East on the beautiful Arabian Gulf, Dubai is roughly at sea level, whereas the Emirate of Dubai shares its borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, Sharjah in the northeast, and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast.
Cities Near Dubai
Dubai is a complete world in itself and is known for its vibrancy but there comes a time when it all gets to you. So many neighboring places are close to Dubai and can serve as a perfect answer to the need of getting away from the glitz and glamour to relax in the lap of serenity and calmness.
If you are on a trip to Dubai, you might want to visit those cities for a once in a lifetime experience of the Arabian Gulf.
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Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is continuously ranked as one of the best cities to live in the world and as being a capital city of UAE, it makes up for a comprehensive tourist destination as it is not commercially busy as Dubai is. Abu Dhabi is just a 1hr and 20 min drive away from Dubai.
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Sharjah
Sharjah is declared as the cultural capital of the UAE by UNESCO for its abundant sites and attractions. In case you want to get away from the glitziness of Dubai, Sharjah serves as a perfect destination as it allows you to discover the true beauty of the Arab Culture and Islamic Religion as it is for sure the best place to a heritage of the Arab World. You can get there by car in under 45 mins.
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Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the most beautiful emirates, reflecting the complete picturesque of UAE. The fierce Hajjar Mountain surrounds the emirates and the sandy beaches give it a serene feel, a perfect destination for adventure enthusiasts. It is 112km away from Dubai.
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Fujairah
This city is known for its pristine beaches and its borders of the Hajjar Mountains, making it one of the most beautiful cities of Emirates. It is home to the colossal Sheikh Ayed Mosque and the breathtaking Fujairah Fort that features mesmerizing famous square and round towers. It is 120km away from Dubai and would require a 1hr and 20 min of car travel.
Population In Dubai
The population of Dubai is well over 3 million people, comprising one-third of the national UAE population. It has also the largest foreign-born population in the world with 83 per cent of the emirate compromising residents from other countries.
How many tourist Dubai gets in a year
Being a city that boasts mega-structure with many large shopping destinations and luxurious hotels, along with the possession of many of the ancient and modern attractions, Dubai has always been in the bucket list of many people around the globe. Because of its mesmerizing attractions, Dubai had seen record-breaking 15.8 million international travelers who visited the emirate in 2017. In 2020, Dubai is preparing to welcome a humongous 20 million visitor’s count.
These figures have further cemented Dubai’s global position as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. Dubai is not just home to iconic towers and world-class infrastructures; the city appeals to travelers from around the globe and offers superlative destination experience.
Dubai Tourism Popularity
How much money does Dubai generate in tourism compared to other cities in the UAE
What was once a sleepy little port on the Arabian Peninsula has now grown into one of the epicenters of the global tourism industry. Dubai City has been given the central role in the UAE’s government’s push to make the country into one of the premier tourist destinations in the world. This includes a burgeoning list of tourist attractions including many iconic buildings and structures located in and around the city.
In 2015, the sector’s total contribution to the country’s GDP was AED133.8 billion (US$36.43 billion) or 8.7 per cent, growing by 4.4 per cent in 2016 and then 5.4 per cent annum to hit a predicted AED236.8 billion ($64.47 billion), or 11.2 per cent of GDP, by 2016.
What Are The Things Dubai Is Famous For?
Dubai is the UAE’s holiday hotspot. This city of high-rises and shopping malls has transformed itself from a desert outpost to a destination du-jour because of many attractions. It is also famous for its high-skyscrapers such as Burj Khalifa (world’s tallest building) and many shopping malls such as Dubai mall that comes with complete mammoth aquariums and indoor ski slopes.
It is also famous for its Dubai Museum and for Bastakia(Old Dubai) where you can witness the ancient culture and tradition of Dubai. This city is also famous for its mosques and aquariums. Not to mention the world’s only 7-star hotel that is Burj Al Arab. I have shared a post on the most affordable way to visit Burj Al Arab on the blog too.
Nearby countries to Dubai that are within easy reach
After enjoying the glitzy and mesmerizing beauty of Dubai, you can visit various countries that are not only close to Dubai but are also rich in culture, shopping, entertainment and the sort of architectural grandeur that will take your breath away. Some of these countries are
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Georgia
This beautiful country with all its mesmerizing outdoor excursions is a perfect destination to visit when you’re in Dubai.
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Sri Lanka
This beach paradise is just about 3 hour’s flight from Dubai. With its vibrant culture, festivals, traditional attractions, and lifestyle, this country will be perfect to visit in summer weather. There are plenty of cool and amazing tours in Sri Lanka to help you make the most of a quick visit from Dubai. In addition to stunning holiday homes by the beach to chillax in.
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Egypt
Egypt is a traveler’s delight as it is a repository of ancient history, fantastic museums, mesmerizing ancient architectures and a soothing tourism interaction with the locals. If you are into diving, The Red Sea is among one of the most beautiful spots to dive in in Africa.
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Qatar
Qatar, particularly its capital Doha, has a fair share of modern shopping malls, golf clubs, souks, theme parks, mystical red dunes of desert and desert adventure activities. If you love Dubai then you will surely love Qatar.
Also See:
- Best Apartments On Dubai Marina
- How To Visit Dubai In 10 Days
- Why Dubai Is The Best Winter Destination
- Is Dubai Expensive
- Dubai Airport Guide
- The Best Currency To Take To Dubai
- Romantic Things To Do In Dubai
- What To Wear In Dubai For Women Travellers
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