99 Facts about Dubai

The city of Dubai is full of amazing and unbelievable facts. It is a podium performer for its unbelievable existence, performance, and operations. In fact; everything about Dubai is often attributed as the world's best, world's first, or world's largest. And facts keep on coming, improving, and updating all the time. Below are the 99 facts about the city of Dubai which one way or another have lifted the city to the height of its popularity.

Fact 1: Dubai was founded as a Shaykhdom in 1833 by approximately 800 people from the Bani Yas tribe.

The origin of Dubai dates back to 1833; when it was founded as a Shaykhdom. About 800 people from Al-Bu Falasah (a sub-section/sub-tribe of the core Bani Yas tribe) laid its foundation. Before that Dubai was established in 1822 as a small fishing village and ruled by Abu Dhabi. Initially; Dubai was jointly ruled by the two prominent members of Al-Bu Falasah tribe i.e., Obeid bin Saeed and Maktoum bin Butti. However; later after the death of Obeid in 1836, Maktoum bin Butti became the ruler of Dubai. This paved the way for the rise of the Maktoum dynasty.

Key Historical Milestones of Dubai

Event	Year
Emerged as a Village	1822
Foundation of Shaykhdom	1833
Became Emirate of UAE	1971

Fact 2: Dubai as a city is the capital of the Dubai Emirate which is also part of the 7 joint emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The city of Dubai is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. It is also the second-largest emirate (4,110 km2) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dubai became the emirate of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Al Maktoum Dynasty rules the Emirate of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al Maktoum has been the current ruler (emir) of Dubai since 2006. He is also the Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE. He is highly regarded as the key figure in transforming Dubai into a mega metropolis by taking fundamental initiatives. His son Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum is the current crown prince of Dubai. There are no political parties in Dubai therefore, political stability is guaranteed.

Emirates of the United Arab Emirates

Emirate	Area (sq km)
Abu Dhabi	67,340
Dubai	4,114
Sharjah	2,590
Ajman	260
Umm Al Quwain	720
Ras Al Khaimah	1,684
Fujairah	1,165

Fact 3: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al Maktoum is the current ruler of Dubai since 2006. He is also the prime minister of the UAE.

In Dubai, there is always political stability because of a lack of politics. It is ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty. The current ruler of Dubai is (His Highness) Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al Maktoum. He is the 10th ruler of Dubai from the Al Maktoum dynasty. He is also considered as the most successful ruler of Dubai for his transformative leadership.

Rulers of Dubai since 1833

Name	Tenure of Rule
Maktoum bin Butti bin Suhail	1833 - 1852
Said I bin Butti	1852 - 1859
Hushur bin Maktoum	1859 - 1886
Rashid I bin Maktoum	1886 - 1894
Maktoum II bin Hushur	1894 - 1906
Bati bin Suhail	1906 - 1912
Saeed II bin Maktoum (1st time)	1912 - 1929
Mani bin Rashid	1929
Saeed II bin Maktoum (2nd time)	1929 - 1958
Rashid II bin Saeed Al Maktoum	1958 - 1990
Maktoum III bin Rashid Al Maktoum	1990 - 2006
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum	2006 - Present

Fact 4: In Dubai and the UAE, every Emirati receives free education, free healthcare, subsidized fuel, wedding funds, interest-free loans, and many other social incentives.

Every Emirati in Dubai and throughout the UAE enjoys the privileges of free education, i.e., high school, university, and higher education abroad. Similarly, healthcare is free for all Emiratis, and they also benefit from discounted utilities such as subsidized fuels. Every Emirati man enjoys a wedding fund of $19000 if he marries an Emirati woman. Lastly, Emiratis benefit from interest-free loans for housing, businesses, and other purposes.

Fact 5: Islam is the official religion in Dubai while religious freedom can be witnessed throughout the city.

Islam is the official religion of the Dubai Emirate. The Jumeriah mosque is the most popular and the second largest mosque in UAE after Sheikh Zaid Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Dubai offers total religious freedom to all other religious practitioners. Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism are the other most prominent religions in Dubai. According to Reverend Andrew, it is easier to be Christian in the UAE than in the UK. The St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai is the oldest and most popular church. Similarly, Krishna Hindu temple in Dubai is one of the popular destinations for Hindu worshipers. Lastly, religious extremism and hatred are not tolerated at all in Dubai.

Percentage of Religion According to Population in Dubai

Religion	Percentage
Islam	76%
Christianity	9%
Hinduism	8%
Others (including Buddhism, Baha'i faith, etc.)	7%

Fact 6: Trade in Dubai takes place in Dirhams as the official currency of the UAE.

The UAE Dirham is the official currency of Dubai and the UAE. The acronym for Dirham is AED (Arab Emirati Dirham) on price tags, i.e., 100 AED. The currency is traded in 5 AED, 20 AED, 100 AED,200 AED, 500 AED, and 1000 AED. The coins are traded in 1 Fils, 5 Fils, 10 Fils, 25 Fils, 50 Fils, and 1 Dirham. The US dollar is also traded in some retail outlets in the UAE. 1 USD equals 3.67 AED. Credit and Debit cards are also frequently accepted throughout the city of Dubai. Money exchangers are very common in Dubai. One can easily exchange almost any currency into Dirhams and vice versa.

Currencies and Coins of the UAE

Currency Notes of UAE	Coins of UAE
5 AED	1 AED
10 AED	50 Fils
20 AED	25 Fils
50 AED	10 Fils
100 AED	5 Fils
200 AED	-
500 AED	-
1,000 AED	-

Fact 7: Previously, Fridays and Saturdays were the weekends in Dubai. Now Friday is a half-working day while Saturdays and Sundays are the official holidays.

Until 2021, Fridays and Saturdays were the official holidays in Dubai and the UAE. However, from January 1, 2022, Friday has become a half-working and Saturdays & Sundays are the official weekend holidays. Apart from that Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha, and the National Day of the UAE are the most popular holidays in Dubai.

Weekends in Dubai and UAE

Day	Status
Friday	Half Working Day
Saturday	Holiday
Sunday	Holiday

Fact 8: Dubai is a desert city, and it is common to experience high temperatures of 40°C and above in summer.

The weather in Dubai is extremely hot. But it is not always the case in Dubai. During winter (November to March), the weather in Dubai is quite moderate. Temperatures during the peak summer season can go beyond 40 C. The highest temperature ever in Dubai is 49 C. The lowest temperature ever recorded is 1.5 C. Rains are rare but when they happen, they do flood highways and streets. Light sandstorms occasionally occur during the seasonal transitions from winter to summer.

Fact 9: Even though Dubai is a desert city, water shortages are never heard of. Surprisingly, Dubai has the highest water consumption per capita.

Despite the fact that Dubai is desert and has the highest per capita water consumption of 500 liters per day, the city has never suffered from any water shortages. All areas throughout the city of Dubai are supplied with adequate water. The Jebel Ali Power and Desalination plant in Dubai is the largest one in the UAE as it produces 140 million gallons of water and 2000 MW of electricity per day. Other key water sources in Dubai include groundwater, wastewater treatment, and seasonal floods. The largest water reservoir within the Emirate of Dubai is the Hatta Dam which has a capacity of storing 1.7 billion gallons of water.

Fact 10: The Dubai Desert Safari is the most popular and profiled desert safari in the world.

The desert of Dubai offers the world's best safari experience. Each year millions of tourists enjoy this desert safari. This makes it the most popular and visited desert safari in the world. It offers a lot of adventures such as dune bashing, dirt & quad biking, sandboarding, camel riding, desert walking, belly dancing, cultural shows, and hot air balloon rides.

Fact 11: Dubai has a population of more than 3.1 million people which makes it the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai is the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates. It has a total population of 3.1 million people. Dubai is also the 3rd most populous city in the Gulf region after Baghdad and Riyadh. Males dominate the female population by 3 to 1. The majority of the population in Dubai is between 25 and 50 years old.

Fact 12: Dubai is the most cosmopolitan city in the world with more than 200 nationalities. Foreigners represent 83% of its overall population.

Dubai is ranked the No. 1 cosmopolitan city in the world. The foreign population (83 percent) in Dubai dominates the local Emiratis by 6 to 1. Dubai is currently ranked 6th in the world, as the most culturally interactive city in the world (Global Power City Index). Furthermore; over 200 nationalities live in Dubai with Indians, Pakistanis, Bengalis, and Filipinos having the most dominant presence. As a result, social gatherings, workplaces, and education institutes are highly diversified in Dubai.

Fact 13: Even though Arabic is the official language in Dubai, English is a widely spoken and written language in Dubai.

The official language of Dubai and UAE is Arabic. However; the presence of people from diverse backgrounds has prompted English as its most commonly spoken language. About 140 languages are spoken in the city of Dubai. Since Indians and Pakistanis comprise a significant proportion of the population in Dubai therefore native Hindi and Urdu language speakers are the most dominant ones.

Fact 14: Dubai ranked third among the best tourist destinations worldwide according to Tripadvisors Travellers Choice Award 2025.

Tripadvisor's Travellers Choice Award 2025 rated Dubai as the third-best tourist destination. Previously, Dubai held the top spot from 2022 to 2024 as the best tourist destination. London and Bali became the first and second-best destinations worldwide. Similarly, Euromonitor ranked Dubai the second-best as the world's top city destination worldwide.

Fact 15: The Dubai Global Village is the fourth most visited theme park worldwide. An estimated 10 million visitors visited this place.

The Dubai Global Village attracts more than 42,000 visitors per day. It operates from October to April. In 2024, the park attracted more than 10 million visitors which was a new milestone number for the theme park.

Fact 16: The Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the busiest airport in the world for international passenger traffic.

During the first half of 2024, the Dubai International Airport (DXB) received an influx of 44.9 million international passengers. Whereas, projections project a total of 91.8 million international passengers through the airport. These statistics make DXB the best for international passengers. Indians and Saudis are top international travelers traveling through the Dubai International Airport. The Dubai International Airport (DXB) is connected to 270 cities worldwide, and about 90 international airlines operate through it.

Fact 17: The Dubai International Airport has the world's largest airport terminal.

The Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport is the world's largest airport terminal. Launched in 2008; it covers a space of more than 1.71 million square meters with a capacity to manage 43 million passengers. The terminal also offers one of the world's most luxurious airport lounges. The terminal is only used by Emirates and Qantas airlines.

Fact 18: Dubai is one of the most accessible and reachable cities for the world's population.

The strategic location of Dubai along with advanced infrastructure makes it a highly accessible city for the global population. On average one-third of the global population can reach Dubai within 4 hours while two-thirds of the world's population can access it within 8 hours. This makes Dubai one of the world's most accessible and reachable cities.

Fact 19: Dubai has the highest overnight spending of $553 per visitor.

An average visitor in Dubai spends about $553 per day. This figure of visitor spending is the highest among all cities worldwide. The presence of world-class shopping malls, theme parks, and luxury resorts always prompts visitors to spend this much. According to the most recent statistics, a whopping USD 35 Billion was spent in Dubai by international visitors.

Fact 20: Dubai ranks fourth globally in terms of hotel room availability, offering an impressive 155,000 rooms for guests.

In the 1950s there wasn't even a single hotel in Dubai. This journey from zero hotels during the 1950s to being the world's fourth-best hotel room provider is quite an achievement for Dubai. As of 2024, there are about 800 hotels in Dubai and they can accommodate about 155,000 guests. Shanghai is ranked the number one city with a maximum accommodation of 200,000 hotel rooms.

Fact 21: Dubai's Burj Al Arab is the world's most luxurious 7-star hotel. It is also the most photographed hotel in the world.

The world's only luxurious 7-star hotel exists in Dubai. It is also the most recognized and photographed hotel in the world. The hotel looks like a sailing ship. With a height of 321 meters, it is also one of the tallest hotels in the world. The interior of Burj Al Arab includes a 24-carat gold leaf adornation that covers an area of 1,790 square meters. Authorities spent about USD 1 Billion on building this mega project.

Fact 22: Dubai ranks second for offering the most number of 5-star hotels for visitors.

Dubai is one of the top destinations for 5-star hotels worldwide. According to the Five Star Alliance rankings, Dubai is on the 2nd spot for having the most number of 5-star hotels. The statistics listed London at the top with 75 five-star hotels followed by Dubai at the second spot with 61 five-star hotels and then New York at the third spot with 59 five-star hotels.

Fact 23: Dubai is also the home to the world's first and most luxurious floating villas.

In Dubai luxury has no boundaries. The presence of floating villas is one such example. Each villa offers a 3-storey building, i.e., submerged, sea level, and upper floor. Moreover, each villa comes with 8-room accommodation. The submerged room displays an exquisite view of the coral life i.e., an aquarium of sea life, all around you. Each floating villa is heavily priced at USD 12 million.

Fact 24: Despite being luxurious Dubai is not the most expensive city in the world. It is ranked at the 21st spot among the most expensive cities.

Even though Dubai is rumored as one of the most expensive cities in the world, it is not. Dubai is not even among the top 20 most expensive cities worldwide. A recent report by Bloomberg ranked Dubai in the 21st place for the most expensive city. Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore remain the most expensive cities globally.

Fact 25: The most affordable meal in Dubai is the potato sandwich. One can buy it for just 3 dirhams (80 cents).

The potato sandwich is the cheapest and most affordable meal in Dubai. You can buy it for just 3 Dirhams (0.82 Cents). The sandwich was also highlighted by famous Dubai vlogger Khaled Almeri. The sandwich includes mashed potatoes and salad rolled in Arabic bread. The sandwich can be easily bought from the Farisian Cafeteria, located in the Bur Dubai area.

Fact 26: Dubai is the 6th most Instagrammed city in the world. It has 111 million hashtag posts on Instagram.

According to the Instagram results, Dubai is ranked as the 6th most Instagrammed city in the world. Dubai has overall 111 million hashtag posts on Instagram. This fact is also enough to believe that Dubai is one of the top most photographed cities in the world. Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai Frame, Burj Khalifa, and Burj Al Arab are the most popular destinations of Dubai on Instagram.

Fact 27: Dubai is also one of the top medical tourism destinations and currently ranks at number 6 globally.

Dubai has emerged as one of the hotspots in the medical tourism industry. In 2023, Dubai welcomed 691,000 medical tourists and ranked at number 6 spot globally. It is also the top destination for medical tourists in GCC countries. Dubai aims to position itself as the global leader in healthcare and medical tourism.

Fact 28: Dubai is ranked 4th safest city in the world.

According to Numbeo, Dubai is the 4th safest city in the world. Dubai has a safety index of 86.8. One doesn't need to be worried about getting vandalized, robbed, or burglarized. The neighboring emirate of Dubai, i.e., Abu Dhabi, is the safest city in the world. Even Western expats feel safer in Dubai than in their home countries or cities.

Fact 29: Dubai is relatively safe from natural disasters. Tsunamis or earthquakes have lower probabilities.

Natural disasters in Dubai are rare. Dubai is far enough from its nearest earthquake faultline. Therefore, there is a minimum chance of a disastrous earthquake (God Forbid) in Dubai. Additionally, all buildings in Dubai can withstand an earthquake of 5.9 Richter scale. On the other hand, Dubai is also safe from tsunamis due to the presence of the Indian subcontinent and the Straits of Hormuz. Both of these factors act as a great barrier to all major tsunamis. Furthermore, gulf waters are not deep enough to trigger any towering tsunami within the region.

Fact 30: There are no traffic police on the roads of Dubai. Everything is monitored through cameras.

In Dubai traffic police are hardly seen on roads. You wouldn't witness a traffic sergeant commanding traffic and imposing fines to car drivers on roads. All traffic violations (over-speeding, tailgating, red-signal crossing, etc.) are monitored online through CCTV cameras. Penalties and fines are directly imposed on a person who commits any traffic violation. In 2024; the Dubai police caught over 1.5 million speed violations.

Fact 31: Dubai's police force boasts a fleet that includes some of the world's fastest supercars.

The Dubai police drive one of the fastest supercars. Since supercars are very common in Dubai, the police must also use supercars to chase any rogue element. The fastest supercar in Dubai police's fleet is Bugatti Veyron. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and hits a top speed of 400 km/h. The car fleet also includes Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Bentleys.

Fact 32: The emergency services department such as the Fire brigade in Dubai also has the world's fastest fire trucks.

It's not only the Dubai Police that enjoy supercars but the fire brigade department also possesses one of the world's fastest fire trucks i.e., Corvette Stingray modified as fire extinguishing vehicles. They have a speed of 340 km/h. These modified corvette stingrays are fully equipped with regular fire-extinguishing mechanisms, i.e., water cannons and fire-extinguishers, etc. These fastest fire-extinguishing vehicles have proven their worth in several rescue operations.

Fact 33: The world's largest showroom of Lamborghini cars is also located in Dubai.

Lamborghini carmakers have opened their largest car showroom in the city of Dubai. The showroom is located at Sheikh Zayed Road and covers an area of 1800 square meters. However, due to the high selling demand for Lamborghinis in Dubai, the showroom remains empty most of the time. Similarly, Dubai also has the largest showroom of Skoda cars. It covers an area of 1200 square meters.

Fact 34: Vanity license plates in Dubai are more expensive than luxury cars in Dubai. The highest-priced vanity plate P7 has been purchased for USD 15 million.

Dubai is the place where vanity number plates have the highest worth and are priced at the highest price. So far, the highest price and world record for vanity license plate P7 in Dubai is worth USD 15 million. Previously, the record stood at USD 9 million and that number plate was bought by a real estate tycoon Balwinder Sahni.

Fact 35: Fuel is cheaper in Dubai than a bottle of water.

As of 2024, the fuel price in Dubai is between 2.4 to 2.7 AED. Therefore, owning a car may offer very cheap transportation in Dubai. On the other hand, one can buy a half-liter bottle of water for 5 AED. This makes drinking water in Dubai almost twice as expensive as fuel.

Fact 36: Dubai stands at the 8th spot in the Global Power City Index (GPCI).

According to the report of the Global Power City Index, Dubai is the most powerful city in the Middle East and Africa with globally ranked at number 8 spot. Apart from Dubai; no other city from the Middle East and African region even qualified for the top ten Power City Index. The Power City Index ranks cities based on economy, research & development, liability, cultural interaction, environment, and accessibility.

Fact 37: Dubai is not an oil & gas economy. Surprisingly, oil & gas constitutes less than 5% of its total GDP.

Dubai as commonly believed is an oil-based economy but it is not. Oil & gas only constitutes 6% of Dubai's economy. Dubai's external non-oil trade is 3.1 trillion AED (USD 272 Billion). In Dubai, oil was discovered in 1966 but these oil deposits were not huge enough to provide long-term sustainability to Dubai. Dubai focused its investments on infrastructures that are yielding lucrative results today.

Fact 38: Dubai ranks No.1 globally for greenfield foreign direct investments (FDI).

Dubai leads the rankings globally as the greenfield foreign direct investments (FDI) hub. In 2023, Dubai attracted 1,070 greenfield FDI projects, the largest by any city in the world. Furthermore, these projects contributed USD 6.81 Billion to Dubai's economy. The technology, tourism, and real estate sectors were the top 3 sectors that attracted the maximum greenfield FDI in Dubai.

Top cities with greenfield foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2023

City	Number of FDI Projects
Dubai	1070
Singapore	442
London	431

Fact 39: Dubai's Jebel Ali port is the world's largest man-made harbor and the 9th busiest container port.

Dubai's Jebel Ali port which opened in 1979 is the world's largest manmade harbor. It is also one of the most efficient and productive ports in the world with the highest ranking of No. 1 in 2014. It covers an area of 350 square kilometers. It is also classified as the 9th busiest container port in the world. US Army's aircraft carriers and warships are frequent visitors of Dubai's Jebel Ali port for routine maintenance and repair.

Fact 40: Dubai's Hamdan bin Muhammad Terminal is the largest cruise ship terminal in the world. It attracts more than half a million visitors every year.

Dubai also has the world's largest cruise ship terminal. The Hamdan bin Muhammad Cruise Terminal covers an area of 2 million square meters. The terminal welcomed 1.23 million visitors in 2024. On average, 3,683 people visit this terminal on a daily basis.

Fact 41: Dubai is home to 72,500 millionaires with 1,592 of them are Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI).

Dubai fascinates a lot of millionaires with a current tally of 50,400 millionaires. This makes Dubai the No. 1 destination in the Middle East and South Asia for millionaires. Dubai is also home to 21 billionaires. Dubai also has 1,592 Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UNHWI). These are the millionaires with investable worth of more than USD 30 million.

Fact 42: Dubai has the best transport & logistics infrastructure in the Middle East and the 3rd best in the world.

Dubai's transport & logistics infrastructure is highly developed and ranks 3rd best globally. The government of Dubai has spent billions of dollars in the last decade or so in synchronizing all logistic activities throughout the city. Furthermore; these investments are predicted to help Dubai's infrastructure to grow by almost 60 percent in the next decade.

Fact 43: In Dubai, there is neither income nor corporate tax. Businesses enjoy maximum profitability.

Dubai has one of the lowest tax regimes in the world. Dubai offers maximum profitability for businesses with zero percent income and corporate taxes. Dubai has a corporate tax of 9 percent that only activates if your net profit exceeds AED 375,000. Therefore, small and medium enterprises still enjoy zero percent corporate tax in Dubai. Additionally, there is also no profit repatriation in Dubai. Businesses can swiftly transfer funds out of Dubai. The only tax in Dubai is the Value Added Tax (VAT) of 5 percent.

Taxes in Dubai

Tax Type	Rate
Income Tax	0%
Corporate Tax Less than AED 375,000	0%
Corporate Tax Greater than AED 375,000	9%
Value Added Tax	5%

Fact 44: Dubai has the lowest per square feet property cost of USD 625 in comparison to many major business destinations worldwide.

The per square feet cost in Dubai is USD 625 which is the lowest in comparison to Hong Kong, London, and New York. This makes Dubai the most lucrative and cost-effective among all the major business destinations globally.

Fact 45: Dubai is the 14th high-salaried city in the world.

Dubai is also one of the most attractive places in the world for higher salaries. According to the report by Deutsche Bank, Dubai currently ranks 14th in the world for high salaries and 11th for disposable income. The average monthly salary in Dubai is $2,856. Operations managers enjoy the highest-paid job in Dubai with an average salary of almost $57,400 per month.

Fact 46. The Dubai Mall is the 2nd largest Shopping Mall in the world.

Dubai has also established itself as the shopping capital of the world. Its Dubai Mall is currently the 2nd largest shopping mall in the world. It covers an area of 13 million square feet and has more than 1200 retail outlets. The mall also has 200 top global brands and welcomes almost 100 million yearly visitors. Many Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities are frequent visitors to the Dubai Mall.

Fact 47: The Level Shoes retail outlet at the Dubai Mall is the world's largest luxury shoe store.

The world's largest luxury shoe store is the Level Shoes, and it exists in Dubai inside the Dubai Mall. The shoe store covers an area of 96,000 square meters. It offers around 200 luxury shoe brands for its customers. According to the news sources, the retail outlet sells more than 600 pairs of shoes daily. Apart from brands, it also offers a personalization hub and a dedicated concierge team to fulfill the personal requests of its visitors.

Fact 48: The world's largest Rolex boutique also exists at the Dubai Mall.

The Dubai Mall is also home to the world's largest Rolex boutique. Inaugurated in 2018 by the tennis legend Roger Federer, this Rolex boutique covers an area of whopping 906 square meters.

Fact 49: The Dubai Shopping Festival is the biggest and most famous shopping festival in the world.

Dubai also offers an annual shopping gala, i.e., the Dubai Shopping Festival. It is the biggest and most famous shopping festival worldwide. It also generates almost $50 million in revenues. Started in 1996, it attracts millions of visitors from all corners of the world. During the shopping festival, all retail outlets offer discount sales, vouchers, prizes, and freebies to shoppers at various malls in Dubai. More than 1000 global brands participate in the Dubai Shopping Festival. Fireworks and Live performances i.e., concerts, shows, etc. further stimulate this shopping festival.

Fact 50: The Dubai Duty Free is the 7th largest airport retailer in the world. It made record annual sales of more than USD 2.1 Billion in 2024.

The Dubai Duty Free is undoubtedly one of the largest airport duty-free retailers globally. About 5% of the annual duty-free sales occur at the Dubai Duty Free. In 2024 it recorded a peak sale of more than $2 Billion. It also fulfilled 25 million transactions and sold 65 million units. The Dubai Duty Free was launched on December 20, 1983.

Fact 51: Dubai is the fourth largest gold trading city. Its annual gold trade stands at a whopping USD 75 billion. Its Dubai Gold Souk market also features the world's heaviest gold bar and largest ring.

Dubai offers tax-free gold. It ranks number 4 globally with an annual gold trade of USD 75 billion. The Dubai Gold Souk is the most popular gold market in Dubai. It maintains a threshold of 10 tons of gold every single instance. The world's largest and heaviest gold bar weighing 300 kilograms (worth USD 22 million) is on display there. Lastly, it also showcases the world's largest gold ring weighing 141 pounds.

Fact 52: Dubai is the second largest diamond trader in the world. Its diamond trade stands at an impressive USD 35 billion.

Dubai stands in the second spot as the major diamond trader in the world. Surprisingly; during the 1990s, there wasn't any diamond market in Dubai. Today, Dubai is only behind Antwerp, Amsterdam for diamond trading. Currently; the diamond trade in Dubai is worth around $35 Billion. Dubai also has the world's biggest diamond trading floor at Dubai Diamond Exchange with a capacity to accommodate 200 diamond buyers at once.

Fact 53: Dubai hosted the Expo 2020 from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.

Dubai attracted millions of individuals by hosting Expo 2020. It was the first Expo ever in the MENA region. About 192 countries participated in this event. It lasted for 6 months from 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022. About 25 million people participated the event. The event added USD 33 Billion to the UAE economy.

Fact 54: Dubai is also the home to the world's famous Emirates Airline.

The world's famous Emirates Airline originated from Dubai. Its headquarters is also located in Dubai. As of 2025, Emirates Airlines is the best airline in the world (Telegraph Travel). Emirates Airline also has the largest fleet of the world's biggest aircraft, i.e., Airbus A380, with 96 units. Similarly, it also has the largest fleet of wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft with 140 units. The airline covers 140 destinations worldwide in 77 countries.

Fact 55: The Dubai Metro is the 2nd longest fully automated driverless metro train globally. The metro facilitates 767,000 people daily.

Dubai also has a fully automated driverless metro train that covers 89.6 km. The Dubai Metro ranks No. 1 worldwide for its customer experience (ICXS). It is also the 2nd longest metro in the world after Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Metro 176 km. Each day on average 767,000 individuals get facilitated by the Dubai Metro. The metro has a punctuality rate of 99.7 percent.

Fact 56: Almost all bus stops in Dubai are fully equipped with air-conditioning facilities.

In Dubai, waiting a public transport doesn't have to be standing outside in scorching hot weather of 40 C. One can wait inside bus stops that are fully integrated with air-conditioning facilities. Similarly, all metro stations also have central heating that ensures suitable temperature.

Fact 57: The Dubai public transport also includes pink taxis for female passengers.

Dubai also offers dedicated pink taxis for female travellers. These taxis are driven by female taxi drivers. Only women and families can avail of the pink taxi service. Pink taxis were introduced in 2007. Moreover, pink ambulances were also introduced by the authorities in Dubai. These ambulances include all-female staff members and only serve female patients.

Fact 58: The Dubai Abra is the cheapest mode of transport in Dubai at 1 Dirham per trip.

The Dubai Abra is a ferry-based transport system offering the cheapest AED 1 per trip. It is the most affordable mode of transportation in Dubai. The only limitation of this transportation mode in Dubai is that it operates in limited areas. This traditional ferry-based transportation system connects Deira Old Souk, Bur Dubai, Al Sabkha Abra Station, and Old Souk areas of Dubai.

Fact 59: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are both pioneering the concept of a hyperloop transportation mode. It will allow traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in just 12 minutes.

In the future, Dubai will introduce a hyperloop transportation mode to make traveling super fast. With hyperloop transportation, traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (100 km) will be a matter of just 12 minutes. The maximum speed of hyperloop technology will be 1080 km/h. This iconic project is expected to be completed by 2030.

Fact 60: Dubai's Burj Khalifa Tower is the tallest skyscraper in the world.

The famous Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai is the tallest building in the world. Built in 2010, it reaches a towering height of 828 meters. Burj Khalifa is so tall that it remains visible from 92 km away. The building has 163 floors, the maximum for any building worldwide.

Fact 61: Dubai has the tallest skyline in the world when it comes to skyscrapers that are 300 meters or above. The city has 28 high-rise buildings with a height of 300 meters and above.

Dubai represents the world's tallest skyline with at least 28 buildings having a height of 300 meters or more. About 20% of the world's tallest buildings are in Dubai. Dubai ranks No. 4 worldwide among the cities with skyscrapers 150 meters and above. Currently, Dubai has 264 skyscrapers with a height of 150 meters or above.

Fact 62: Six of the world's top 10 tallest residential buildings stand in Dubai.

Dubai is also home to the tallest residential buildings in the world. According to the statistics, 6 of the top 10 tallest residential buildings are in Dubai. The Marina 101, Princess Towers, 23 Marina, Elite Residence, The Torch, and the Cayan Tower are all some of the tallest residential buildings in the world.

Fact 63: The Gevora Hotel in Dubai stands as the tallest hotel in the world. It has a height of 356 meters.

Dubai also has the world's tallest and second-tallest hotels. The Gevora Hotel in Dubai stands as the tallest one with a height of 356 meters. Similarly, JW Marriot is the second tallest hotel worldwide with a height of 355 meters. Impressively, 7 of the world's tallest hotels also stand in Dubai.

Fact 64: The Dubai Frame is the largest frame-shaped building in the world.

The Dubai Frame is another architectural marvel in Dubai. It is also the largest frame-shaped building in the world. Inaugurated in 2018, it has a height of 150 meters and a width of 95 meters. Dubai Frame is also recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest building in a frame shape in May 2019. The Dubai Frame reveals the past, present, and future of Dubai. On its top floor, it also has a transparent floor area which challenges visitors to walk over it.

Fact 65: The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is the world's largest artificially-made island.

Dubai's Palm Jumeirah is the largest manmade island in the world. It covers an area of 5.6 square kilometers. The island is shaped like a palm tree. About 3.2 billion cubic feet of sand have been sprayed across the whole Palm Jumeirah Island. It offers beachfront villas, residential buildings, and luxury resorts, i.e., Atlantis - The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, and One & Only the Palm.

Fact 66: The Dubai Marina is the world's largest man-made marina.

One of the most popular locations in Dubai is the Dubai Marina. It is the largest man-made marina in the world. The marina stretches across a 3 km area on the Persian Gulf. It offers an artificial canal, 7 km of walkways, 200 restaurants, and the potential to accommodate 120,000 individuals. Dubai Marina is also the home to the world's tallest residential block.

Fact 67: The IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai is the third-largest indoor theme park in the world. It covers an area of 1.5 million square meters.

Dubai also has one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world. The IMG Worlds of Adventure currently ranks at the third spot for its whopping 1.5 million square meters size. This theme park is capable of accommodating 20,000 individuals per day. Lastly, it is as high as a 10-storey building.

Fact 68: The JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) Open Beach is the largest and most popular public beach in Dubai.

Dubai's largest and most popular public beach is the JBR Open Beach. This beach is 1.8 km long. Located along the shores of Dubai Marina, the beach offers one of the best sights of the tallest skyscrapers in the background. Apart from JBR Open Beach, there are 7 more public beaches in Dubai.

Fact 69: Dubai has deployed floating robots and aerial drones as lifeguards on public beaches of Dubai.

Dubai always opts for the most advanced technologies to save human lives. The authorities have deployed robots and aerial drones as the first response lifeguards to save lives across all the public beaches in Dubai. These robots and aerial drones are much faster than a human swimmer. This increases the possibility of saving more human lives than a human lifeguard. Similarly, aerial drones can also save multiple individuals at once.

Fact 70: Dubai's Aquaventure Park is the fourth largest water park in the world.

Dubai also has one of the largest water parks in the world. The Aquaventure Park near Atlantis the Palm is the fourth largest water park worldwide. It covers an area of 68,796 square meters. To its biggest credit, the park also has the world's longest family rafting water coaster, i.e., Shockwave. This water coaster is 449 meters long.

Fact 71: The AquaFun water park in Dubai is the world's largest inflatable water park.

Dubai also has the largest inflatable water park in the world, i.e., the AquaFun. Launched in 2016, the Aqua Fun Dubai covers an area of 42,400 square meters and has a capacity of accommodating 500 people. It prompts and dares its visitors to try and master 115 obstacles. The design of all the inflatable objects at the AquaFun read “I Love (heart) Dubai” from the aerial view.

Fact 72: Dubai has the world's largest 3D-printed building.

Dubai leads the race in implementing 3D-printing technology. In 2019, Dubai 3D-printed a building structure covering an area of 6,900 square feet and was 31 feet high. It was the largest 3D-printed building structure ever in the world. Previously in 2016, Dubai also 3D-printed the world's first office building.

Fact 73: Dubai's Museum of the Future is the most geometrically shaped building in the world.

The Museum of the Future building whose architecture is derived from an algorithm is the most geometrically shaped building in the world. Its unique shape comprises a solid and a void part. The solid part represents the future while the void part represents the present. The outer coverings of the building display poetic verses with amazing calligraphy. These poetic verses are written by Dubai's ruler his highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Fact 74: Dubai ranks 3rd globally with the most number of green building projects.

Dubai is also among the leading cities in the world that promote green building projects and ranks No. 3 in the world. It currently has about 500 green building projects. London is at the top spot with 2,600, and New York is second with 900 green building projects. Lastly in Dubai, it is mandatory for all the buildings to implement and maintain green building standards.

Fact 75: Dubai's “Sustainable City” neighborhood is entirely sustainable on its own.

Despite being a desert city, Dubai has a sustainable neighborhood named "The Sustainable City". The best thing about this neighborhood is that it is entirely sustainable. Established in 2015, it has 500 homes that utilize renewable energy, wastewater treatment, sustainable farming, charging stations for electric cars, and much more.

Fact 76: Dubai is building the world's largest solar power plant that will produce 5000 Megawatts of electricity by 2030.

The Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum Solar Power Plant located in Dubai will be the largest solar power plant in the world. It covers an area of 77 square kilometers. The plant already produces 2860 Megawatts which is greater than India's Bhadla Solar Park (2,245 Megawatts). When completed, it will produce 5000 Megawatts of electricity which will be enough to power 1.3 million houses.

Fact 77: Camel racing is the most popular sport among the local Emiratis of Dubai. The Dubai Camel Hospital is the world's most advanced camel hospital.

Among local Emiratis, the traditional camel race remains the most popular sport in Dubai. Each year, the winners of these races win USD 40 million. Dubai even has the world's most advanced camel hospital, i.e., Dubai Camel Hospital (DCH). It comprises a team of 65 veterinary specialists, state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities, and VIP rehabilitation services for camels. Among Dubai expats football and cricket are the two most popular sports.

Fact 78: The Al-Fahidi neighborhood is the most historical in Dubai. It also includes Dubai's oldest architecture, i.e., Al-Fahidi Fort, built in 1787.

Dubai's Al-Fahidi neighborhood spreads across an area of 31,000 square meters. As many as 50 buildings are part of this neighborhood. The famous Al-Fahidi fort in this neighborhood is the oldest known building in this area. It also displays a lot of traditional and cultural aspects of the old Dubai. There is also a coin museum in the area which displays historic coins from the Middle East and East Africa.

Fact 79: The Dubai Miracle Garden is the largest flower garden in the world. It blooms 50 million flowers.

Even though Dubai is a desert city, it displays the largest flower garden in the world, i.e., the Dubai Miracle Garden. It blooms more than 50 million flowers. The Dubai Miracle Garden has won 3 Guinness World Records, i.e., the world's largest vertical garden (2013), the world's tallest topiary art (2018), and the world's largest flower arrangement/installation (2017). The garden was inaugurated on Valentine's Day (14th February) in 2013.

Fact 80: The Dubai Butterfly Garden is the world's largest indoor butterfly aviary. It is home to 15,000 butterflies.

The Dubai Butterfly Garden is the largest butterfly aviary in the world. The Dubai Butterfly Garden has 10 custom-built domes and includes 15000 butterfly species. About 50 species of butterflies are on display in this butterfly aviary. The Dubai Butterfly Garden has been successfully operating since 2015 and covers an area of 2600 square meters.

Fact 81: The Dubai Garden Glow is the largest night glow garden in the world. It features over 10 million LED lights.

In 2015, Dubai launched the largest night glow garden in the world, i.e., the Dubai Garden Glow. It includes 4 key themed zones, i.e., glow park, dinosaur park, fantasy park, and magic park. Furthermore, it integrates over 10 million LED lights in its hundreds of glowing themes.

Fact 82: Ski Dubai is the third-largest indoor ski resort worldwide. However, it is the largest indoor ski resort in the desert.

In 2015, Dubai built Ski Dubai, and it is the third-largest indoor ski resort in the world. It covers an area of 22,500 square meters and has a longest slope of almost 400 meters. Apart from Dubai, no other desert city in the world has a ski resort at its disposal.

Fact 83: The X-Line Dubai is the longest urban zipline in the world. It is 1 km long and has a height of 170 meters.

The X-Line Dubai was launched in 2017, and it is the longest urban zipline at 1000 meters. The zipline starts from a height of 170 meters. The zipline can accommodate 16 people per hour and offers a maximum speed of 80 km/h.

Fact 84: Dubai has the highest number of university branch campuses globally. Dubai is also the leading educational destination in the Gulf region with 70 universities.

Dubai is also home to a record number of university branch campuses. The Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) alone hosts 27 university branch campuses from 11 countries. It is also the educational center of the Gulf region with as many as 70 universities and colleges. Dubai once only had 4 schools in 1971. Today, there are about 194 schools throughout the city of Dubai.

Fact 85: Dubai has the largest library in the Arab world. Its book-shaped building is the world's biggest book-shaped architecture too.

Dubai is home to the largest library in the Arab world, i.e., Mohammed Bin Rashed Library. The library features 4.5 million printed, digital, and audiobooks. Whereas, its massive building architecture spreads across 54,000 square meters. Lastly, the library can annually accommodate 1000 visitors daily.

Fact 86: The world's largest ferris wheel, dubbed Ain Dubai, is also located in Dubai.

In 2021, Dubai inaugurated the world's largest ferris wheel, i.e., Ain Dubai. It is 250 meters tall and features 48 high-tech cabins accommodating 1,750 individuals. Ain Dubai is located on Bluewaters Island in Dubai, and it offers pristine views of Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Khalifa.

Fact 87: The Dubai Fountain in Dubai is the world's largest musical fountain.

Inaugurated in 2009, The Dubai Fountain is the largest musical fountain in the world. It spans over an area of 30 acres on the Burj Khalifa lake. The fountain can shoot the water up to 500 feet and features 6,600 lights along with 25 projectors.

Fact 88: Dubai has the world's deepest swimming pool, i.e., the Deep Dive Dubai.

The Deep Dive Dubai is the world's deepest swimming pool. Located in Dubai, it has a depth of 60 meters. The Deep Dive Dubai offers plenty of underwater swimming adventures, i.e., learn snorkeling, freediving, exploring sunken city (3 meters deep), guided scuba dives, and facility tours.

Fact 89: Dubai is also home to the world's largest vertical farm, i.e., the Bustanica vertical farm.

A vertical farm named Bustanica is the world's largest vertical farm, and it is located in Dubai. It covers an area of 101,498.4 square meters. Bustanica produces about 1 million kilograms of leafy greens annually through hydroponic technology. Furthermore, it requires 95 percent less water than conventional farming methods.

Fact 90: Dubai is also home to the world's largest wooden dhow named Obaid.

In 2020, Dubai built the world's largest wooden dhow dubbed Obaid. This wooden dhow had a width of 20.41 meters and a length of 91.47 meters. Built by Majid Obaid Bin Majid Al Falasi & Sons, it was also credited as the world's largest wooden dhow by Guinness World Records. Lastly, the dhow made its first maiden sail on November 3, 2020.

Fact 91: The average age of vehicles in Dubai is 5.2 years.

Most of the vehicles in Dubai are new, and the average age of vehicles in Dubai is just 5.2 years. Dubai is in the third spot among the cities with the lowest average age of vehicles. Riyadh tops the list as a city with the lowest average age vehicle of 3.8 years. The Toyota Camry is the most popular car in Dubai. Similarly, Rolls Royce is the most popular choice among luxury car purchases in Dubai.

Fact 92: A heart-shaped lake named the Love Lake also exists in the desert of Dubai.

One of the most romantic tourist destinations of Dubai is Love Lake. The lake is shaped like intertwined hearts with water flowing at the borders. Inaugurated in 2018, Love Lake is located in the Al-Qudra area of Dubai. It is also a refuge for more than 150 species of birds. In one of the most iconic photographs three rulers from the Gulf region i.e., rulers of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, were photographed at the Love Lake.

Fact 93: The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai is one of the world's largest greater flamingo sanctuaries.

Dubai is also home to one of the largest greater flamingo sanctuaries, i.e., The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary hosts more than 3000 greater flamingoes during the peak season. The Dubai government has declared it a protected area since 1998. The authorities also maintain regular checkups in terms of water quality, habitat management, and mangrove plantings.

Fact 94: Dubai is the leading city in the Gulf region to introduce driverless taxis.

Dubai is among the pioneers in introducing driverless taxis on roads. It is also the leading city in the Gulf region to do so. The concept's testing started in 2019, and in October 2023, Dubai's driverless taxis formally started to operate. As of 2025, 10 driverless taxis operate in Dubai's Jumeirah region. Dubai plans to operate as many as 4000 driverless taxis by 2030.

Fact 95: Dubai has the world's largest water desalination plant, i.e., the Jebel Ali Desalination Plant.

Dubai's Jebel Ali Desalination Plant can produce 2.23 million cubic meters per day or 490 million imperial gallons per day. It is the largest water desalination plant in the world and ensures stable supply of water to the city of Dubai. The desalination plant extends over an area of 3 km. Lastly, the plant also has a power generation facility that produces 9,547 megawatts of electricity.

Fact 96: The Bur Dubai Souk is the oldest commercial market in Dubai. It originated in the early 1900s.

The Bur Dubai Souk (also Al Souk Al Kabeer) is the oldest known trading hub or commercial market in Dubai. Located near the shores of Dubai Creek, it features traditional Arab market stalls, a bustling ambiance, and a pure Emirati culture. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dubai. Shopkeepers and merchants at Bur Dubai Souk sell spices, textiles, gold, jewelry, and other traditional things.

Fact 97: Dubai offers the world's fastest mobile internet speed. Moreover, every tourist receives a free internet sim upon arrival at the Dubai International Airport.

When it comes to the fastest mobile internet, Dubai is pretty much on the top and often ranks number 1 (or among the top 3) in the world according to Oookla's monthly rankings. Similarly, to facilitate incoming tourists, a free sim is rewarded to every incoming visitor at Dubai International Airport. This free sim has 10 GB of free data for 1 day.

Fact 98: The world's largest date processing factory, i.e., the Al Barakah Dates, is also in Dubai.

In 2021, the Al Barakah Dates expanded its existing date processing facility to the largest one in the world. It is a privately owned factory and each year it processes 100,000 tonnes of dates and related products.

Fact 99: Dubai has more than 425 Guinness World Records. It also a home to the office of Guinness World Records.

Dubai is among the top cities in the world, with the highest number of Guinness World Records. As of 2025, Dubai has secured about 425 Guinness World Records. The only city ahead of Dubai in Guinness World Records is New York. It has 1,515 Guinness World Records. Dubai is also home to the branch office of the Guinness World Records located in the Dubai Media City area.