United Arab Emirates

Since then, it has grown from a quiet backwater to one of the Middle East's most important economic centres.

Although each state - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain - maintains a large degree of independence, the UAE is governed by a Supreme Council of Rulers made up of the seven emirs, who appoint the prime minister and the cabinet.

Before oil was discovered in the 1950s the UAE's economy was dependent on fishing and a declining pearl industry. But since 1962, when Abu Dhabi became the first of the emirates to begin exporting oil, the country's society and economy have been transformed.

World’s Largest Yacht - Dubai

World’s Largest Yacht Dubai

531 feet make the mega yacht Dubai the largest private yacht in the world. Originally named Platinum 525, this yacht was commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei in 1996, but a lack of funds caused the project to be abandoned a couple of years later. Then, in 2001, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then Crown Prince and now ruler of Dubai, took over the yacht project, renaming it Golden Star. The mega yacht was finally completed in 2006, and at 300 million dollars (US) it was the most expensive yacht ever built. It was then renamed Dubai after its country of residence, where the yacht is currently kept by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

 

The interior of this 162 meter long mega yacht is a sight. In addition to three elevators serving

Dubai Top 10 Beaches including Mamzar, Jumeirah & Kite Beach

Dubai has many beaches but a lot of them belong to hotels so here we take a look at the best public beaches - some are free to access and some have a small charge. Ladies must wear a full bikini or a swimsuit when on the public beaches and swimming in underwear is not allowed. Topless sunbathing is not allowed anywhere in Dubai and the wearing of thongs is not recommended! Beachwear should only be worn while on the beach and not while walking to or from the actual beach… although you may see bemused tourists wandering up the Beach Road wondering why they are getting funny looks!

All the shoreline hotels have beaches and you can pay to use the beach at a resort in many places as long as they are not full. This can cost anywhere between 150 Dhs to 700 Dhs.

A note of warning for all swimmers: the seas in Dubai usually look very calm but even strong swimmers have been swept out to sea by strong rip tides and currents. Please take care when swimming and warn any visitors you may have too.

Meet the Dorobucci people in the Middle East

Home to 78 billionaires with an aggregate net worth of $209 billion, the Middle East claims just six female ten-digit fortunes. In this region, more than any other part of the world, wealth stays in the family:  One third of the billionaires in the Middle East are related to each other.

Egypt’s Sawiris family and Mansour brothers comprise seven of the nation’s eight billionaires, while four Hariri brothers and two Mikati siblings make up Lebanon’s ultra-high-net worth individuals.

Turkey boasts the highest number of ten-digit fortunes, with 24 at last count. Israel is a close second, tallying 18 billion-dollar fortunes for a combined net worth of $51.75 billion. These two nations also claim the region’s only female billionaires – Israeli Shari Arison and Turkish Semahat Sevim Arsel, Suna Kirac, Ahsen Ozokur, as well as mother-daughter billionaires Deniz Sahenk and Filiz Sahenk.

Dubai History and Cultural Heritage

The history of Dubai can be traced back to the year 1830 when it was taken over by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe from the Liwa oasis, led by the Maktoum family, who still rule the emirate today.

In 1894, Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, exempted foreign traders from taxes, making way for Dubai's modern development - starting with local merchants selling items like pearls, fish, spices and dates. Traders from India and Persia were also attracted to Dubai because of the liberal attitudes of the rulers, and soon began to settle in the growing town, which developed a reputation as the leading commercial centre for the region. Trade was based around the safe, natural anchorage of the Creek, which was and still is the visual and commercial heart of the city, with numerous dhows still sailing to other countries.

City of Dubai

Some 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family, settled at the mouth of the creek in 1833. The creek was a natural harbour and Dubai soon became a center for the fishing, pearling and sea trade.

By the turn of the 20th century Dubai was a successful port. The souk (Arabic for market) on the Deira side of the creek was the largest on the coast with 350 shops and a steady throng of visitors and businessmen. By the 1930s Dubai's population was nearly 20,000, a quarter of whom were expatriates.

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