Dubai is the most populous city in the Arab Emirates and the capital of one of the country's Emirates, Dubai. It is not only the financial center of the Middle East, but also the main transportation hub for tourism and goods in the region, and it is the second largest emirate in terms of area after Abu Dhabi. It is located in the middle of the Middle East, a flat desert land facing the Persian Gulf. With an area of 411 square kilometers and a population of about 3.5 million, Dubai's GDP in 2016 was 376.8 billion dirhams, or about 102.9 billion yuan.
In the early days, Dubai relied on oil to promote economic development, but due to limited reserves and low production levels, the oil industry accounted for only 5% of Dubai's GDP after 2010. Since then, Dubai has begun to change direction and now relies on tourism, aviation and financial services to grow its economy. In order to attract the attention of the world, Dubai has added large-scale architectural and sports events, according to statistics, Dubai accounts for 14 of the 100 tallest skyscrapers that have been built in the world.
Dubai is one of the world's most famous tourist destinations, and many people visit Dubai as their first choice. Today's Dubai has the world's tallest man-made structure "Burj Khalifa" and the world's largest man-made "Palm Island". It's hard to imagine a trip to Dubai, a city in the desert. This feeling is especially true when you're racing towards the Burj Al Arab on the beach or enjoying a good time at the Palace Hotel in the desert. Dubai has many world-class tourist attractions, such as World Island, Dubai Miracle Garden, etc. When visiting Dubai, there are 4 places you must experience:
One is the Dubai Musical Fountain. It is the largest fountain in the world, and even if you are on the high floor of the Burj Khalifa, you can still hear the sound of the fountain. When the fountain is at its highest, it can reach 150 meters, which is equivalent to the height of a building, and the momentum is very spectacular. The second is the Burj Khalifa. With a height of 828 meters, the tower is a landmark in Dubai and the tallest in the world. Take the high-speed elevator to the top floor in just 60 seconds. Observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors overlook the whole of Dubai.
The third is Palm Jumeirah. It is an artificial island that cost $14 billion to build and is known as the "eighth wonder of the world". Visitors can take the Skytrain to tour the entire island on the ground, or choose to skydive to see it from the air. The fourth is the Burj Al Arab Hotel. It is the only seven-star hotel in the world. The shape of the hotel is designed according to the style of sailboats, the hotel is the world's top luxury brand, and there is a tarmac on the top floor. Hotel accommodation is expensive, even in the low season, the minimum consumption per night is more than 8,000 yuan.
Dubai looks prosperous, rich and modern on the surface, and is recognized as the world's most drunken city, but its GDP is very shabby, only 110 billion US dollars, or about 7,300 yuan, in 2021, which is equivalent to the GDP level of China's third-tier cities. Nevertheless, Dubai has been ranked as a first-tier city in recent years, because the criteria for ranking city levels are not just GDP. Hope one day you bring your most beloved and stand on the Burj Khalifa overlooking this beautiful city. Starting from November 1, 2016, the UAE will be visa-free for Chinese citizens for 30 days, and there is no need to apply for a visa to go to Dubai for 4 weeks.