Dubai is one of those cities that makes you look up at the sky the moment you step on its soil. In the United Arab Emirates, this exquisite emirate is bursting with modern marvels and astounding skyscrapers. It has always stood out for its brilliance and its perseverance to be the world’s most innovative city. Dubai demonstrated its intention to become the most futuristic city in the world, but it retains its cultural roots, which can be seen in many of its iconic landmarks. All this offers a surprising amount of trivia and fascinating facts about the emirate and it is one of the factors that keeps visitors interested. Let’s take a look at the 15 most interesting facts about the Dubai emirate.
List of some amazing facts about Dubai
1.Earliest Civilizations included less than 1000 People.
Did you know that Dubai’s first settlements consisted of less than 1000 people? The city was once a small tribal village of fishermen near the Dubai Creek, and by the mid-19th century, it had grown into a metropolitan city of more than 3 million people!
2. Around 85% Population are Foreigners.
However, out of those millions of people, roughly 15% of them are emiratis. Everyone else is a foreigner earning their living in Dubai. Due to this, Dubai is multicultural and welcomes people from around the world. One of the reasons for its popularity among expatriates is its impeccable infrastructure and comfortable lifestyle.
3. The City has no Postal Codes.
Another Amazing Fact about Dubai is that it has no postal codes or a standard address system. All mail and couriers are delivered to designated post boxes in the city. Addresses in Dubai are only referred by the building names, landmarks, and sectors they correspond to. Since 2015, buildings have been assigned unique 10-digit numbers called Makani numbers to facilitate easy identification.
4. The Largest Automated Metro System.
The Dubai Metro has the largest automated metro system in the world. With a length of 75 kilometers combined, the red and green metro lines seamlessly connect Dubai City’s major hubs.
5. Dubai Uses the most water in the UAE.
Despite Dubai’s desert location, there are plenty of water elements to enjoy. Interestingly, Dubai utilizes the maximum amount of water in the UAE. Apart from using water for day-to-day needs and to keep the towering skyscrapers cool, Dubai uses water elements in a variety of extravagant styles such as maintaining two amazingly colossal water fountains – Dubai Fountain and The Palm Fountain. Dubai is also home to the most number of water parks in the UAE. These are Aquaventure waterpark, Legoland water park, Laguna waterpark, Wild Wadi water park, Jungle Bay water park, and Splash ‘n’ Party Dubai.
6. World’s Largest Man-made Island.
Dubai’s prestigious man-made island, The Palm Jumeirah, is visible from space, just like the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Wall of China. It is the world’s largest manmade island.
7. Dubai and its weird Guiness Records.
Another one of the fascinating facts about Dubai is that it holds more than 100 Guinness World Records. A few of its records are weird such as the world’s largest cup of hot tea, the world’s longest handmade gold necklace, and the majority of nationalities washing their hands simultaneously.
8. The City of Superlatives
Dubai didn’t get tagged as ‘the City of Superlatives’ by chance. It is common to find Dubai’s attractions being described in terms such as longest, tallest, biggest, etc. The reason is that Dubai has unparalleled attractions that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. One single destination – Dubai – offers the tallest tower in the world – Burj Khalifa, the largest fountain in the world – Palm Jumeirah, the largest natural flower garden in the world – Dubai Miracle Garden, and so much more.
9. Robotic Jockeys in Camel Races
Camel races are popular in the UAE. By introducing robotic jockeys to camel races in Dubai, it has taken the excitement to new heights.
10. You Can Witness Sunset Twice in a day.
Do you know there is a place in Dubai where you can watch the sunset twice during a single day? It’s at the Burj Khalifa. That’s right! You can watch the sunset from the ground level and then, as the sun disappears on the horizon, take the elevator up to its observation deck on the 124th floor. You can witness the spectacle of the sun setting on the horizon of Dubai once again right from here.
11. City of Gold
This is one of the most amazing facts about Dubai and it is related to its banking. ATMs in Dubai offer more than just cash currencies. Customers can also purchase gold bars at ATMs! There are vending machines in Dubai that can dispense gold bars at the touch of a few buttons. No wonder Dubai is known as the City of Gold.
12. The Most Luxurious Hotel in the World
The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is hailed as the most luxurious hotel in the world. In this iconic hotel, the interiors are adorned with more than 1790 square metres of real 24-carat gold leaves. The approximate price of a night in this opulent hotel is over 2000 US dollars!
13.Dubai and its Strict Laws.
It is one of the scary facts about Dubai, especially for its visitors. Dubai has enacted stringent laws that make it one of the world’s low-crime cities. But visitors need to be aware of the laws as simple things like jaywalking, eating food in the metro, public display of affection and even dancing in public can attract hefty fines. There is zero tolerance for debt and drugs in Dubai. In fact, anyone carrying poppy seeds which is used as a common ingredient in many cuisines, especially Indian dishes, can face severe penalties or deportation. Regarding debts, if a person is not able to clear their debt, he will be tried in a court of law and imprisoned.
14. Police uses Bugatti cars
If you see a suave luxury sports car in Dubai, chances are it belongs to a policeman rather than a wealthy millionaire. In Dubai, police officers drive super-fast cars. Among its fleet of patrol cars such as Lamborghini and Ferraris, stands the fastest police car – The Bugatti Veyron! That is one good reason not to mess with law enforcement. When the Dubai police are chasing a lawbreaker in one of these exquisite sports cars, you are powerless to outrun them!
15. World’s Largest Expo Held in 2021.
Another one of the amazing facts about Dubai is that the city of Dubai is host to some of the world’s largest events. 2021 saw Dubai host the world’s largest EXPO – Dubai EXPO 2020. For this purpose, the emirate built a mini-city to house the best and most innovative wonders from around the world. Dubai hosts a seasonal mega-cultural event known as Global Village every year that showcases destinations from around the world and is tagged as the world’s largest expo-culture event. Dubai Shopping Festival takes place in December and January, and it is regarded as the biggest shopping festival in the world.
Conclusion
Dubai is awe-inspiring, shocking, surprising, and fascinating at the same time. There is no doubt that Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world and has completely defied all odds to emerge in the middle of the desert. The city moulds its skyline every year and can contribute a piece of information in world history each year with its upcoming dynamic attractions and extraordinary landmarks. While Dubai keeps pursuing its dreams and visions to create the best version of what it has already established, the list of amazing facts Dubai is exhaustive. In the end, for this emirate, competition to excel is not with other destinations, but with Dubai itself.
Hi there! I’m Vishnu. I was born and raised in Delhi, India. I am a freelance content writer and a blogger. I am currently a student studying at a prestigious Business school in India. I am an avid reader and writer.
