LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY
Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE, established in December 1971, resulted from an agreement among the rulers of these emirates to form a union. The seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Dubai's iconic skyline, characterized by modern architectural marvels, creates a distinctive cityscape. The emirate features tree-lined roads, landscaped parks, and gardens that contribute to its unique charm. Situated along the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf, Dubai offers residents and visitors a breathtaking scenic vista.
As a key player in the UAE, Dubai has played a pivotal role in the region's economic, cultural, and social landscape. Its strategic location on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and west, the Sultanate of Oman to the southeast, and Qatar to the northwest, positions Dubai as a central hub connecting various parts of the Middle East.
NATIONAL FLAG
The UAE flag is the most common symbol of the seven emirates. But like any flag around the world, the colours aren’t just chosen at random; each represents a different aspect of the country.
The colours green, white, red, and black are the Pan-Arab colours and represent unity between Arabs. Individually, white represents peace and purity, green represents prosperity and success, and red represents sacrifice and power, while black represents dignity and authority.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE & RELIGION
Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates. With the UAE’s position as a global commercial hub and top tourist destination, English is widely spoken. Visitors will find their way around easily, with all road and traffic signs in Arab and English, along with all necessary documents, store signs, news and even restaurant menus available in both languages.
The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates declares that the country’s official religion is Islam. As a cosmopolitan country with residents and visitors from all around the world, the UAE Constitution also provides for freedom of religion, in accordance with established customs.
CLIMATE
Dubai has a sub-tropical climate and sunny blue skies with temperatures that vary but never disappoint. The city’s facilities are completely air conditioned so even in the very hottest Arabian Summer’s day – inhabitants of the city are comfortable.
Visitors to Dubai in March can expect the weather to be mostly sunny with average cloud cover and highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C.
CURRENCY
The official currency of the United Arab Emirates is the Dirham (abbreviated to Dhs or AED), with each dirham divided into 100 fils. Dirham notes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 denominations, while common coins come in Dhs 1, 0.5 and 0.25.
The dirham is pegged to the US Dollar at the official exchange rate of Dhs 3.6725 to every US Dollar.
ATM’s, banks and money exchange bureaus can be found throughout Dubai. Credit cards, such as MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club, are widely accepted in the United Arab Emirates.