A bustling metropolis, Dubai is the commercial nerve-center of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an Arabian Gulf country and federation of seven emirates - Abu Dhabi , the capital city, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Ajman. The second largest emirate in the UAE, Dubai is located in the northern part of the country and
stretches over 115 km (72 miles) on the Gulf coast. With an area of 3,885 sq km (2,428 sq miles) and a population of 1.3 million (2004 estimate), Dubai is an amazing meeting place of the East and West, and fascinating the world with its famed four S's - the Sun, Sand, Sea and Shopping.

Dubai Economy: An Overview
Dubai is the second largest and wealthiest emirate in the UAE. Trade has been the basis of its economy with pearl diving being the principal activity in the late 19th century. Re-export of gold to India helped Dubai gain status as one of the world's main gold trading centers.
The discovery of oil in 1966 brought a radical transformation to the emirate. Under the guidance of Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler from 1958 to 1990 and regarded as the Father of Dubai, the emirate diversified its economy, ploughing in the proceeds of oil into building infrastructure.

Today, as the regional hub for information technology, media, property, tourism and retail, Dubai has one of the most advanced building, transport and telecommunications infrastructure.

Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has concentrated on attracting foreign direct investment by improving docking, airport and road facilities and strengthening free trade zones, where foreign firms and individuals can conduct business in a 100 per cent tax-free environment.

Dubai 's construction sector is booming, driven by tourism, retail, residential and commercial developments. The city has now over 300 hotels, 30 shopping malls and hosts more than 5 million foreign visitors every year.

Investment Hotspot
Dubai 's economy grew around 16 per cent in 2005 to an estimated $37 billion according to the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). The contribution of the non-oil sector to Dubai's GDP was 94 per cent in 2005.

Dubai is one of the most competitive economies with an overall competitiveness ranking of (17) against (61) economies worldwide, according to the Dubai in World Competitiveness Report 2005.
Dubai 's Business Efficiency has been ranked at 21 and ranking for Dubai's basic infrastructure is strong at 16 although the Emirate's overall ranking for infrastructure spanning various forms of infrastructure is at 32.

Dubai is at the 5th place in the criteria of Ease of Doing Business, second in employment, first in Fiscal Policy, ninth in Public Finance, eighth in Labour Market, and third in Adaptability of Government Policy to change in the economy.

Economic Indicators: Total trade: Dhs480 billion Direct trade: Dhs280 billion Free zone trade: Dhs178 billion Customs warehouse trade: Dhs21 billion Total imports: Dhs308.3 billion Exports: Dhs92.4 billion Re-exports: Dhs78.8 billion Local time, climate: Dubai is four hours ahead of GMT. The city has a sub-tropical, arid climate with sunny blue skies and warm weather most of the year. Infrequent and irregular rainfall falls mainly in winter, and amounts to an average 13 centimeters a year.

Temperatures range from a low of about 10 degrees Celsius to a high of 48 degrees Celsius. The mean daily maximum is 24 degrees in January rising to 41 degrees in July.

Language :
The official language is Arabic. English is widely understood and ranks alongside Arabic as the language of commerce. Hindi, Urdu, Farsi and Malayalam are widely spoken by the expatriate population.

Religion:
Islam is the official religion of the UAE but other religions are respected and followers are allowed to practise their faith.

Currency:
The monetary unit is the dirhams, which is divided into 100 fils. Notes come in denominations of Dhs5, Dhs10, Dhs20, Dhs50, Dhs100, Dhs200, Dhs500 and Dhs1000. Coins are in denominations of 25 fils, 50 fils and Dhs1.

The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar at the rate of approximately US$1 = Dhs3.67. The exchange rates of all major currencies are published daily in the newspapers, and cash and travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks, licensed money exchange houses, and international hotels.

Clothing:
Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year. Sweaters and jackets might be needed during winter, especially in the evenings and early mornings.
The dress codes could vary with the emirates, and revealing clothing is best avoided.