When mentioning Dubai, people often think of an extraordinarily luxurious city with many interesting differences.
The capital of the Emirate of Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a world-famous tourist destination. Whenever Dubai is mentioned, thoughts immediately turn to supercars, villas, skyscrapers, or even the unusual pastime of keeping tigers and leopards as pets among the locals. Behind the glittering facade of the “city of gold” lies a plethora of fascinating aspects.
1. Dubai was established in 1833
The kingdom was established in June 1833.
This wealthy emirate has a relatively short history, having been established in June 1833. Initially, it was just a simple fishing village with about 800 residents from the Bani Yas tribe settling there. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Dubai began its transformation into a desert metropolis. In 1930, Dubai had just 20,000 inhabitants. By 2020, the population of Dubai had surpassed 3 million.
2. Only 13 cars were registered in 1968
Currently, there are nearly 3 million cars registered across the UAE.
It may seem unbelievable that today, we see six lanes of cars lined up on Sheikh Zayed Road, but just over 50 years ago, the entire city had only 13 cars. Today, there are nearly 3 million cars registered throughout the UAE. In 1991, there was only one skyscraper in the entire city. These figures illustrate the rapid development of Dubai in a short period.
3. The artificial island Palm Jumeirah can be seen from space
Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah is home to luxurious villas.
The largest artificial island in the world, Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, is home to luxurious villas, long stretches of white sandy beaches, and opulent hotels. To build it, 10.5 million truckloads of sand were used.
4. There are 2.3 males for every female in Dubai
The male-to-female ratio in Dubai ranks among the highest in the world. According to data published in 2019, there are approximately 2.3 males for every female in Dubai.
Moreover, the current population of Dubai is largely made up of foreigners, with only 15% of citizens being natives. Most immigrants come from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
5. Dubai has been awarded over 130 Guinness World Records
Dubai boasts numerous remarkable structures and special records.
Just the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, holds 11 records alone. Dubai is home to countless remarkable structures and unique records, such as the fastest police car in operation, the largest mass skydiving event, and the longest underwater live radio broadcast.
6. Fuel prices are low
Dubai’s wealth from oil makes it unsurprising that fuel prices are very low here. As of November 2021, the price of a liter of 95 octane petrol in Dubai was 2.69 AED (approximately 17,000 VND). In contrast, a 1.5-liter bottle of water costs 1.65 AED (over 10,000 VND).
7. Burj Al Arab has 1,790 square meters of 24-carat gold leaf interior
Dubbed the world’s first 7-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, shaped like a sail, is situated on a private island with access via a dedicated bridge. To affirm its luxury, gold leaf covers approximately 1,790 square meters of its interior.
8. Dubai has ATMs that dispense gold
Gold is so popular here that you can buy it from ATMs.
About 40% of the world’s gold comes from Dubai, making it one of the best markets for purchasing this precious metal. Gold is so prevalent here that you can buy it from ATMs.
9. More than one-third of the Burj Khalifa is uninhabitable
The iconic Burj Khalifa, a symbol of Dubai, is one-third vacant. Within the building is a complex of hotels, shopping centers, offices, and even apartments.
The famous Burj Khalifa has one-third of its space unoccupied.
10. Dubai’s prosperity is not solely due to oil
The UAE is a major oil power, but for the emirate of Dubai, its wealth and development do not come only from this “gift from the heavens.” Even before the oil industry, the people of Dubai were enriched through pearl diving, which was also a lucrative endeavor. The pearls from Dubai sourced from the Persian Gulf are considered some of the most beautiful, lustrous, and valuable.
