Dubai Directory ( بانک اطلاعات دبی و راهنمای کشور امارات)

Iraniagahi has been Uploaded

2010-01-23T20:24:00.000-08:00

Irani agahi as a new member of Ariana Software Engineering Co website has been uploaded in inter net!
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New Useful information about Dubai

2008-11-30T20:55:00.000-08:00

New version of Dubai Directory now is ready in www.Dubaidir.net ;very attractive information about Job Seeker ; Properties; Investor , Hotels; Entertainment; Travel agency and other commercial subjects now display in this web site in Persian and English Language.we are ready to visit you in www.Dubaidir.net

Dubai Advertisement

2008-11-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

Dear users;

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Al Fujairah) Fujairah- الفجيرة - فجيره)

2008-06-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

Sponsored By : http://www.dubaidir.net/

Fujairah (Arabic: الفجيرة, transliteration: fuǧayrah) is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east.

Geography

The Emirate of Fujairah covers 1,150 km² (440 sq mi), or about 1.5% of the area of the U.A.E. Its population is around 130,000 inhabitants. Only the Emirate of Umm al-Quwain has fewer occupants.
Fujairah is the only Emirate of the U.A.E. that is almost totally mountainous. All the other Emirates, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are located on the west coast, and are largely covered by desert. Therefore, Fujairah boasts a higher than average yearly rainfall, allowing farmers in the region to produce one meaningful crop every year.
The weather is seasonal, although it is warm for most of the year. The months of October to March are generally regarded as the coolest, with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely venturing above 30 °C (86 °F) with temperatures climbing to over 40 °C (104 °F) degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with the rainy season and although by no means guaranteed, this is when Fujairah experiences the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the U.A.E. partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate, and partly because the prevailing winds are westerly bringing with them water-laden clouds off the warm Indian Ocean.
The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of the Hajjar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourists may thus be drawn to the uniqueness of Fujairah, with visitor numbers peaking just before the school summer months.

Government

Power is ultimately held by the ruler of Fujairah, Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, who has been in power since the death of his father in 1974. The Shaikh supposedly makes his own money by doing business, and the government funds are used for social housing development and beautifying the city, though there is little distinction between the state and his personal wealth. Any decisions regarding any aspect of law can be made by the ruler, although Federal laws are never repealed. But, it must be stressed that the ruler of the Emirate can choose to operate in a completely autonomous fashion.
The Cabinet of Fujairah is headed by the sheikh and his immediate family, with a few members of respected local families making up the advisory committees. Any Cabinet decisions must be ratified by the sheikh himself, after which they may be enacted into law as Emiri Decrees. Emiri Decrees are usually effective immediately, and without proper public consultation processes, can sometimes be confusing, causing not inconsiderable consternation amongst the inhabitants of the city.

Land

Foreigners or visitors are not allowed to buy land. Emirati nationals can purchase land from the government, after proving their nationality. If there is no suitable land available via the official government offices, private purchases can also be made, with the eventual price being determined by the market and the individuals themselves.

Economy

Fujairah's economy is based around subsidies and federal government grants, distributed by the government of Abu Dhabi (the seat of power in the U.A.E.). Local industry consists of cement, stone crushing and mining. These industries have witnessed a resurgence due to the frenzied construction activity taking place the commercial powerhouses of the country. Notably, there is a flourishing free trade zone,[1] mimicking the success of the Dubai Free Zone Authority[2] which was established around Jebel Ali Port, the busiest port in the region since the 1980s. It has witnessed an exponential growth from 2003 onwards, leading to an expansion project that would double its capacity.
Federal government departments employ the majority of the native (local) workforce, with few opening businesses of their own, and many of the local citizens (also referred to as locals) work within the service sector. The Fujairah government imposes strict commercial laws which prohibit foreigners from owning more than 49% of any business or enterprise. Some of the reason why the free zone authorities have flourished to such an extent, is due to the relaxation of this rule within their boundaries, allowing full foreign ownership. Shaikh Saleh Al Sharqi, younger brother to the ruler, is widely recognised as the driving force behind the commercialisation of the economy.
Unemployment, however, remains a grave concern for the government. Conservative figures put the unemployment rate at around 50% - 60%, which is amongst the highest in the world. There is a fear that without affirmative and decisive action, there is a real danger that apathy and discontent could spread amongst the youth, which could prove to be an extremely volatile situation for future administrations.
Poor wages are also a problem in Fujairah, with construction workers at the bottom of the pyramid. On average a 12 hour working day, starting at 7 am and ending at 8 pm, will only provide about US$5 - US$10, out of which the workers pay for meals, transport and entertainment. Some companies pay the workers per day and some of them per month. It depends on the company that they work for and on the workers themselves (if they work for all the time they were assigned).
Companies seldom pay for workers healthcare[citation needed], and these are hence responsible for financing their hospital visits, whenever the government doesn't subsidize it.

Future developments

The present ruler is planning to make changes that will affect Fujairah in the future. Among other tourism projects in the pipeline is an $817m resort, Al Fujairah Paradise, near Dibba, on the northern Omani border, next to Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. There will be around 1,000 five-star villas as well as hotels, and it is expected that all the construction work will be finished within two years.
The sheikh is trying to improve opportunities for the local workforce, by trying to entice businesses to locate in Fujairah and diverting Federal funds to local companies in the form of development projects.
Recently an Abu Dhabi-Fujairah Pipeline was announced which would create an oil export terminal in the emirate

Living in Fujairah

It is ruled by a well educated Emir. Common sense normally prevails, but as with anywhere, it is advisable to keep on the right side of the law. On some Fridays, one can still witness lashes meted out for minor offences, such as being drunk in public, with the unfortunate victims usually from the poorer segments of society. Punishments such as these are delivered outside the main court, located next to Fujairah Tower, in the centre of the city.
Drinking alcohol is allowed in designated hotels and, as of 2000, a few bars. Until 1998, gambling in the form of slot machines (one arm bandits) was allowed in certain hotels, but personal petitions by locals to the Shaikh outlawed the activity. It transpired that some players were losing their entire monthly wages on the slots, leaving nothing for the upkeep of their families. The petition was taken to the Shaikh's wife, who then influenced her husband.
At night, there is quite a lot to keep one amused. Fujairah is one of the safest cities in the UAE. Cinemas are generally open till late and de-sexualised versions of the Hollywood blockbusters are normally being shown. It may be amusing to watch movies, which after editing can run for a little over an hour. However, the Hindi cinemas are not constrained by the censors because they are not as raunchy as some Hollywood productions. It is noticeable that most of the cinema-goers are male youths.
Groups of local (Emirati) youths tend to socialise together on the streets and cafés or outside games arcades, cinemas and mini malls. It will be unusual to see females in these groups as Emirati society is quite segregated. Large groups tend to be boisterous and will play up if given the chance. As with groups of youngsters anywhere, it is best to steer clear to avoid trouble, although serious incidents are rare.
On the weekends, many Fujairah residents travel to Dubai to shop, and into the wadis surrounding the emirate on camping and hiking trips. There is also a weekly invasion of west coast residents trying to get away from the stifling heat of the desert. Watersports are very popular amongst the youth - jet skiing, windsurfing and water skiing being the top three.

Travel

Travel in and around Fujairah and the surrounding towns of Khor Kalba, Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Masafi has been made easy by the development of modern highways over the last 30 years, since gaining independence in 1971. Highways are funded by the federal government directly, and contracts are tendered centrally. This is meant to safeguard the quality and delivery of the contracts and prevent corruption from damaging the construction. Highways are vital due to the unavailability of any other means of transport. There are some buses in Fujairah but not for travel; they are for schools, colleges and some companies or they come from other cities. There are no railways in Fujairah. The car and the truck are the main mode of transport. Most daily activities can become impractical, if not impossible, without a private vehicle.
Newcomers and tourists therefore must take advantage of the local taxi system. There are numerous taxis plying the streets at any given time, day and night. There is no central booking system for private companies, but the government is planning to apply one. The only way to hail a taxi is to stand by the roadside and flag one down. There isn't normally a problem and there will be at least one taxi, if not more, immediately available for hire. Fares within the city are fixed at AED 4 per journey, which equates to approximately 80 cents (USD) or 50 pence (GBP). Destinations which are slightly outside the main city, such as the Beach Motel, Fujairah Hospital and the Jail attract a higher fare of AED 6. It is wise to negotiate the fare before boarding the taxi, as the drivers have a tendency to inflate the prices randomly. However, it must be stressed that most taxis are relatively clean and offer good value for money.
Meter Taxi's have been recently introduced to Fujairah roads. The meter starting from a minimum of AED 2 and climbing quickly as the meter runs. A ride in the new, neat, well maintained taxi now will cost you an average of AED 6.
The Fujairah International Airport is nearby the city, with an impressive falcon statue at the airport roundabout.

References :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujairah

Ras al-Khaimah (إمارة رأس الخيمة - راس الخيمه)

2008-06-25T02:02:00.000-07:00

Sponsored By : http://www.dubaidir.net/

Ras Al-Khaimah (Arabic: رأس الخيمة, transliteration: rās al-ḫaymah, literally "The Top of the Tent") is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It covers an area of 656 square miles (1700 km²). Ras Al Khaimah is in the northern part of the Persian gulf.
The emirate is ruled by Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi. It is in the northern part of the UAE bordering Oman. The emirate has a population of about 250,000 inhabitants.
The city has a population of 219,897 as of 2008.[1] It is served by the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport in Al Jazirah Al Hamra.
The city has two main sections, Old Ras Al Khaimah and Nakheel, on either side of the creek which flows through Ras Al Khaimah.

History

The city was historically known as Julfar. Sources say that Julfar was inhabited by the Azd (They were a branch of the Kahlan tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan (the aboriginal Arabs), the other being Himyar.) during the eighth and ninth centuries AD, and that the houses of the Azd were built of wood.
In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) established itself in Ras al-Khaimah.
After British occupation (18 December 1819 - July 1821), Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed in 1822 the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like Ajman, Dubai, Umm al-Qaiwain and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state (though of the lowest class: only 3 guns).
In 1869 Ras al-Khaimah became fully independent from Sharjah. However from September 1900 to 7 July 1921 it was re-incorporated into Sharjah, its neighbour; the last governor became its next independent ruler.
On 11 February 1972, Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi joined the United Arab Emirates.
Its rulers were:
17?? - 17?? Sheikh Rahman al-Qasimi
17?? - 174? Sheikh Matar bin Rahman al-Qasimi
174? - 1777 Sheikh Rashid bin Matar al-Qasimi
1777 - 1803 Sheikh Saqr bin Rashid al-Qasimi
1803 - 1808 Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi (d. 1866) (1st time)
1808 - 1814 Sheikh al-Husayn bin `Ali al-Qasimi (acting)
1814 - 1820 Sheikh al-Hasan bin Rahman al-Qasimi (acting)
1820 - 1866 Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi (2nd time)
1866 - May 1867 Sheikh Ibrahim bin Sultan al-Qasimi
May 1867 - 14 April 1868 Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan al-Qasimi (d. 1868)
14 April 1868 - 1869 Sheikh Salim bin Sultan al-Qasimi (b. 18.. - d. 1919)
1869 - August 1900 Sheikh Humayd bin Abdullah al-Qasimi (d. 1900)
Sharjah then appointed governors:
September 1900 - 1909 Currently Unknown
1909 - August 1919 Sheikh Salim bin Sultan al-Qasimi (s.a.)
August 1919 - 10 July 1921 Sheikh Sultan bin Salim al-Qasimi (b. 1891 - d. 19..), who stayed on the first of its own rulers:
10 July 1921 - Feb 1948 Sheikh Sultan bin Salim al-Qasimi (s.a.)
17 July 1948 - present Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (b. 1918)

Education

Schools: A large number of Government-run schools--primary, elementary and higher secondary--are scattered all over Ras Al Khaimah with Arabic as their main medium of instruction. Among other Arabic-medium schools are those that are run by private managements, viz.:
The Egyptian School
Badr Primary School
Apart from the above schools, there are English-medium ones which offer varied curricula to suit the expatriate community, offering syllabi such as GCSE, IGCSE, A Levels, O Levels, CBSE, Kerala State-Board (Indian Syllabi), Pakistani, Dhaka Board(Bangladeshi Syllabi) etc. viz.
Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School
The International School of Choueifat
Indian School Ras Al Khaimah
Bangladesh Islamia School
The New Indian Higher Secondary School
Pakistani Higher Secondary School
Indian Public High School
University Education: Many locally-established universities and foreign universities have set up base in Ras Al Khaimah, some of which include:
Ittihad University
Royal College of Applied Sciences and Technology
Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University
George Mason University Ras Al Khaimah campus [2]
Higher Colleges of Technology
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

Transportation

Within Ras Al Khaimah: Metered taxis are the main mode of transport within Ras Al Khaimah. Public buses also operate only on long-haul routes and they cater mainly to people residing in far-flung towns, viz. Sha`am, Rams, Jazeerah-al-Hamra etc.
Emirate-to-Emirate: Ras Al Khaimah is connected to emirates like Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah by taxis which often embark from the taxi-stand located south of Al Dhaid town near the new RAK Police Headquarters. The fare per head is AED 20. Engaged taxis are available on request for Dhs 100 to 150 to Dubai and Dhs 200 to 250 to Abu Dhabi.
Cars are available for rent from various Rent-A-Cars at negotiable prices starting at Dhs 80.
Highways: Three free-flowing dual-carriageways link Ras Al Khaimah with the other emirates and beyond. One follows the coast with beaches on one side and stretches of desert on the other; the other, new route runs out towards the airport in the direction of Khatt, Masafi, Fujairah and Dhaid and further onto Oman.
The newly constructed 'Emirates Road (E311 Highway)' traverses the emirates of Umm Al Quwain, Ajman (60km) and Sharjah (71km) to finally end up in Dubai (87km). The new highway allows journeys from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai in under 45 minutes.

Ras Al Khaimah Sea Port
Seaport: Saqr Port, located in the industrial area of Khor Khuwair, is the Emirate's main port, providing bulk and container services. It has eight deep water berths, each 200 m long, is dredged to 12.2 m and has two ro-ro ramps plus specialised berths for handling bulk cement and aggregate. Other services include ship handling, crew changes and 40,000 m2 of covered storage together with a vast open storage area. It is also the closest port in the UAE to Bandar Abbas in Iran.
Airport: The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is currently undergoing an upgrade. It operates cargo and passenger services to a variety of destinations covering the Middle East, North & East Africa, Central Asia, India and the Far East. In total 27 airlines including Gulf Air, Egypt Air, Indian Airlines, Aeroflot, Pakistan International Airlines and many other airlines operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights. Open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, the airport has an open skies policy with no restrictions on frequencies and time of arrival / departure; offers competitive tariffs and storage facilities; is not congested, and has a full offering of duty-free goods, among other services.
Spaceport: On February 17th 2006, Space Adventures announced its plans to develop a $265 m commercial spaceport in Ras Al-Khaimah (Ras Al Khaimah spaceport) for purposes of space tourism.[3]

References : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_al-Khaimahfe

Umm al-Quwain(إمارة أمّ القيوين-ام القوين)

2008-06-22T02:49:00.000-07:00

Sponsored By : http://www.dubaidir.net/

Umm al-Quwain (Arabic: أمّ القيوين, transliteration: umm al-quwwayn, literally "Mother of two powers") is one of the emirates in the United Arab Emirates. It is located in the north of the country. The emirate is ruled by Rashid bin Ahmad Al Mu'alla, who has been a member of the UAE's Supreme Council since 1981. The emirate had 62,000 inhabitants in 2003 (making it the least populous emirate in the federation) and has an area of 750 square kilometers. Accepted alternative spellings include Umm al Qiwain (used on its former postage stamps) as well as Umm al-Qawain, Umm al-Qaywayn, Umm el-Qiwain, and Umm al-Quwain.

History

In 1775 Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, founder of the ruling Al Mualla lineage of the Al `Ali clan, established an independent sheikdom in Umm al-Quwain.
On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Abdullah I signed the General Maritime Treaty with the United Kingdom, thus accepting a British protectorate in order to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state (albeit of the lowest class: only 3 guns).

Location of Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates
On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Ahmad II joined the United Arab Emirates.
The successive rulers were:
1775 - 17.. Sheikh Majid Al Mu`alla
17.. - 1816 Sheikh Rashid I ibn Majid Mu`alla
1816 - 1853 Sheikh Abdullah I ibn Rashid Al Mu`alla
1853 - 1873 Sheikh Ali ibn Abdullah Al Mu`alla
1873 - 13 June 1904 Sheikh Ahmad I ibn `Abd Allah Al Mu`alla (b. 18.. - d. 1904)
13 June 1904 - August 1922 Sheikh Rashid II ibn Ahmad Al Mu`alla (b. 1875 - d. 1922)
August 1922 - October 1923 Sheikh `Abdallah II ibn Rashid Al Mu`alla
October 1923 - 9 February 1929 Sheikh Hamad ibn Ibrahim Al Mu`alla
9 February 1929 - 21 February 1981 Sheikh Ahmad II ibn Rashid Al Mu`alla (b. 1904 - d. 1981)
21 February 1981 - Sheikh Rashid III ibn Ahmad Al Mu'alla (b. 1930)

Refrence: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umm_al-Quwain

Ajman (عجمان)

2008-06-22T02:46:00.000-07:00

Sponsored By : http://www.dubaidir.net/

Ajman, located a short distance north-east of Sharjah’s capital city is the smallest of the seven emirates in terms of its physical size, occupying only about 0.3 per cent of the country’s total landmass.Ajman city is blessed with a natural harbour. Fishing, both traditional and modern, and dhow building are still important industries. This was once a quiet town with a beautiful 16km stretch of white sand beach but, like the rest of the Emirates, it is undergoing significant development. Ajman’s central square where the old fort, now a museum, is located, is within walking distance of hotels, restaurants and coast.Ajman Museum (06 7423824)This fascinating museum was opened in 1981 in a lovely old eighteenth century fort which served as the Ruler’s palace and office until 1970, when it became the main police station. Located in the town centre, the museum houses an interesting collection of archaeological artefacts, manuscripts, old weapons and reconstructions of traditional life.Dhow YardThe boatbuilding yard on the north side of the Creek is just a few kilometres from the city centre. This is one of the most active dhow-building yards in the country, and is well worth a visit.MowaihatThe archaeological site of Mowaihat is located on the oustkirts of Ajman. In 1986, while laying a new sewerage pipe, workers from the Municipality discovered a circular Umm al-Nar-type tomb (2500 BC to 2000 BC), c. 8.25m in diameter. A rescue excavation was conducted which recovered numerous examples of soft-stone and painted Umm al-Nar ceramic vessels, as well as over 3000 beads, two stamp seals, a number of copper implements, and the skeletal remains of several dozen individuals. At the time of its discovery, the Mowaihat tomb represented the first indication of Umm al-Nar period occupation in the Northern Emirates. Subsequent work has now identified major sites of this period on the Gulf coast at Al Sufouh, Tell Abraq and Shimal. The material from Mowaihat forms the bulk of the archaeological finds on display in the Ajman Museum.Around AjmanAjman also has two inland enclaves: Masfut is an agricultural village located in the mountains 110km to the south-east of the city, whilst Manama lies approximately 60km to the east.

:Reference

http://www.uaeinteract.com/culture/ajman.asp

Ajman's Map(نقشه عجمان)

2008-06-22T02:14:00.000-07:00

Sharjah(شارجه -اماره الشارقة)

2008-06-22T01:56:00.000-07:00

Sponsored By : http://www.dubaidir.net/

Where is Sharjah?

Sharjah (Arabic: الشارقة, transliteration: ash-shāriqah, pronounced /'ʃɑɹdʒə/ in English) is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The emirate covers 2,600 km² (1,003 m²) and has a population of over 800,000 (2008). The emirate of Sharjah comprises the city of Sharjah (the seat of the emirate), and other minor towns and enclaves such as Kalba, Hisn Dibba and Khor Fakkan.

Description

Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, and is the only one to have land on both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Sharjah is ruled by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi of the Supreme Council of the UAE and Sheikh of Sharjah.
In addition Sharjah owns three enclaves on the east coast, bordering the Gulf of Oman. These are Kalba, Dibba al-Hisn, and Khor Fakkan, which provides Sharjah with a major east coast port. In the Persian Gulf, the island of Sir Abu Nuáir belongs to Sharjah. The emirate has a total area of 2,590 square kilometers, which is equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the UAE's total area, excluding the islands.
The city of Sharjah, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, has a population of 519,000 (2003 census estimate). It contains the main administrative and commercial centers together with an especially impressive array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums. Distinctive landmarks are the two major covered souks, reflecting Islamic design; a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also notable for its numerous elegant mosques. The Emirate of Sharjah is also known to be the Cultural Capital of the UAE. The Expo Centre of Sharjah is well known for the annual book fair that is famous all over the region. The Emir personally takes keen interest in this event which brings together hundreds of publishers from all over the world and thousands of titles. The Sharjah World Trade & Expo Centre was founded in 1976 by Frederick Pittera, a producer of International Fairs/Exhibitions as the first mixed use facility in the Arab World.
Links with the outside world are provided by Sharjah International Airport and Port Khalid.
Sharjah also encompasses some important oasis areas, the most famous of which is Dhaid where a wide range of vegetables and fruits is cultivated on its rich and fertile soil.
Sharjah has one Omani enclave, the Madha territory, wherein lies an UAE exclave, called Nahwa.
Sharjah is a sister city to Dubai and Ajmān (two fellow emirates) on both its borders. The three urban areas have now expanded to each others borders. Sharjah is about 170 kilometers away from the capital city Abu Dhabi.
Sharjah is the only Emirate in which the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol is banned. It also maintains the strictest decency laws in the UAE, introduced in 2001, with a conservative dress code required for both men and women. Mixing between unmarried men and women is illegal: "A man and a woman who are not in a legally acceptable relationship should not, according to the booklet, be alone in public places, or in suspicious times or circumstances."[1]

[edit] History
Historically, Sharjah was one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years. In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) established itself in Sharjah, c. 1727 declaring Sharjah independent.
On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state (be it of the lowest class: 3 guns).
On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalid III joined the United Arab Emirates.
Like the other former Trucial States, Sharjah's name is known by many stamp collectors because of the large numbers of stamps that were issued by the Sharjah Post Office shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates.[2] Many of these items feature subjects unrelated to the emirates whose names they bear, and therefore many popular catalogues do not list them.[3]

Crystal Plaza (shopping mall and apartments).

A stamp from Sharjah.
The historically known rulers were:
c. 1727 - 1777 Sheikh Rashid bin Matar ibn Rahman al-Qasimi
1777 - 1803 Sheikh Saqr I bin Rashid al-Qasimi
1803 - 1840 Sheikh Sultan I bin Saqr al-Qasimi (first time)
1840 Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan al-Qasimi
1840 - 1866 Sheikh Sultan I bin Saqr al-Qasimi (second time) (died 1866)
1866 - 14 April 1868 Sheikh Khalid I bin Sultan al-Qasimi (died 1868)
14 April 1868 - March 1883 Sheikh Salim bin Sultan al-Qasimi (died 1919) - since 1869 jointly with the following:
1869 - 1871 Sheikh Ibrahim bin Sultan al-Qasimi
March 1883 - 1914 Sheikh Saqr II bin Khalid al-Qasimi (died 1914)
13 April 1914 - 21 November 1924 Sheikh Khalid II bin Ahmad al-Qasimi
21 November 1924 - 1951 Sheikh Sultan II bin Saqr al-Qasimi (died 1951)
1951 - May 1951 Sheikh Muhammad bin Saqr al-Qasimi
May 1951 - 24 June 1965 Sheikh Saqr III bin Sultan al-Qasimi (1925 - 1993)
24 June 1965 - 24 January 1972 Sheikh Khalid III bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (1931 - 1972)
25 January 1972 - 1972 Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (acting)
1972 - 17 June 1987 Sheikh Dr. Sultan III bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (first time) (born 1939)
17 June 1987 - 23 June 1987 Sheikh `Abd al-`Aziz bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (1937 - 2004)
23 June 1987 - Sheikh Dr. Sultan III bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (second time)
Obeid and Hiba

Education

There are several universities in Sharjah, including the University of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah, Troy University - ITS Sharjah Campus, Skyline College Sharjah, Sharjah Men's College, and Sharjah Women's College.

Sports

The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium has hosted almost 200 cricket One Day Internationals, more than any other ground, and 4 Test matches.Al Sharjah First league Sharjah sport clups Al Shaab First league Al Hemriah 2nd league Al The-aed 2nd league Al Itthab 2nd league AL Khaleej 2nd league Dibba 2nd league
Since 2003, the increasingly crowded cricket calendar has precluded the holding of any major international matches at Sharjah although the stadium has been the venue for certain other matches, such as the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup. The use of the venue has declined as the new 20,000 seat Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi has become the preferred venue for cricket in the UAE.

Kalbã (Khwor Kalba)

Kalba is a fast growing city in the emirate of Sharjah, along the eastern coast of United Arab Emirates, located about 8 km from Fujairah, on the UAE Oman border. It is accessible by road from Fujairah (8 km), and Hatta (40 km approx), via two sea ports (Fujairah and KorKalba) and the airport at Fujairah. The road from Kalba to KorKalba extends till the border with Oman, and is one of the exit entry points between UAE and Oman.
Kalba is known for its back-waters and the surrounding mangrove forest.
In 1903, a tiny area called Kalbã achieved de facto independence from Sharjah. It was recognized by Britain on 8 December 1936 and re-incorporated into Sharjah in 1952.
It has only had three rulers:
1903 - 30 April 1937 Sheikh Said ibn Hamad al-Qasimi (b. 18.. - d. 1937)
30 April 1937 - 1951 Sheikh Hamad ibn Said al-Qasimi (d. 1951)
1951 - 1952 Sheikh Saqr ibn Sultan al-Qasimi (b. 1920)

Reference :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharjah

Abu Dhabi(أبو ظبي- ابوظبي)

2008-06-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

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?Where is Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi (Arabic: أبو ظبي‎ transliteration: abū ẓābī, literally Father of gazelle) is the capital and second most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after Dubai. It is also the seat of government of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast. Approximately 1,000,000 people live in Abu Dhabi as of 2008, of whom 80% were expatriates. One of the world's largest producers of oil, Abu Dhabi has actively attempted to diversify its economy in recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Abu Dhabi is ruled by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the President of the UAE.

History of Abu Dhabi
Parts of Abu Dhabi were settled in the 3rd millennium BC and its early history fits the nomadic herding and fishing pattern typical of the broader region. Modern Abu Dhabi traces its origins to the rise of an important tribal confederation, the Bani Yas, in the late 18th century, which also subsequently assumed control of the town of Dubai. In the 19th century the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches parted ways.
Into the mid-20th century, the economy of Abu Dhabi continued to be sustained mainly by camel herding, production of dates and vegetables at the inland oases of Al Ain and Liwa Oasis, and fishing and pearl diving off the coast of Abu Dhabi city, which was occupied mainly during the summer months. Most dwellings in Abu Dhabi city were, at this time constructed of palm fronds (barasti), with the wealthier families occupying mud huts. The growth of the cultured pearl industry in the first half of the twentieth century created hardship for residents of Abu Dhabi as pearls represented the largest export and main source of cash earnings.
In 1939, Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan granted petroleum concessions, and oil was first found in 1958. At first, oil money had a marginal impact. A few lowrise concrete buildings were erected, and the first paved road was completed in 1961, but Sheikh Shakbut, uncertain whether the new oil royalties would last, took a cautious approach, preferring to save the revenue rather than investing it in development. His brother, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, saw that oil wealth had the potential to transform Abu Dhabi. The ruling Al Nahyan family decided that Sheikh Zayed should replace his brother as ruler and carry out his vision of developing the country. On August 6, 1966, with the assistance of the British, Sheikh Zayed became the new ruler. [1]
With the announcement by the UK in 1968 that it would withdraw from the Gulf area by 1971, Sheikh Zayed became the main driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates.
After the Emirates gained independence in 1971, oil wealth continued to flow to the area and traditional mud-brick huts were rapidly replaced with banks, boutiques and modern highrises.

Location

Abu Dhabi seen from SPOT satellite
The emirate of Abu Dhabi is located in the oil-rich and strategic United Arab Emirates and is an active member of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). It borders with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (south) and the Sultanate of Oman (east). The emirate borders the emirate of Dubai to its northeast. In the north is the Persian Gulf.
Abu Dhabi city is on an island located less than a quarter-kilometer from the mainland and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Mussafah Bridges. A third bridge, designed by Zaha Hadid, is currently under construction. Bridges connecting to Reem Island and Saadiyat Island are also under construction.
Most of Abu Dhabi is located on the island itself, but it has many suburbs on the mainland for example: The Khalifa Cities, Between Two Bridges, Mussafah Residential and more.

Language and literature
The majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are expatriate workers from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, the United Kingdom and various countries from across the Arab world. Consequently, English, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Amharic, Bengali, and Urdu are widely spoken. Apart from Hindi, the many Indian expatriates also contribute other South Asian languages to the cultural milieu, including Malayalam, widely spoken in Kerala.
The native-born population are Arabic-speaking Gulf Arabs who are part of a clan-based society. The Al Nahyan family, part of the al-Falah branch of the Bani Yas clan, rules the emirate and has a central place in society

References : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi

Dubai(إمارة دبيّ - دوبي- دبي)

2008-06-09T02:55:00.000-07:00

Where is Dubai

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Location of Dubai in the UAE
Coordinates: 25°16′N 55°20′E / 25.267, 55.333

Area [1]
- Emirate
4,114 km² (1,588.4 sq mi)
- Metro
1,287.4 km² (497.1 sq mi)
Population (2008)[2]
- Emirate
2,261,995
- Density
408.18/km² (1,057.2/sq mi)
- Metro
2,261,995
- Nationality [3]
42.3% Indian17% Emirati13.3% Pakistani9.1% Arab (other)7.5% Bangladeshi10.8% Others
Time zone
UAE standard time (UTC+4)
Website:Dubai Emirate Dubai Municipality
Dubai (in Arabic: دبيّ‎, transliteration: dubaīy) is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is one of the country's main cities, sometimes called "Dubai City" to distinguish it from the emirate.
The modern emirate of Dubai was created consequent with the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. However, written accounts documenting the existence of the city have existed at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE. Dubai shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi.[4] Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature.[5] Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. The emirates' current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.
A majority of the emirate's revenues are from trade, manufacturing and financial services.[6] Revenues from petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6% (2006)[7] of Dubai's US$ 37 billion economy (2005).[8] Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative real estate projects [9] and sports events. This increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub, has also highlighted human rights issues concerning its largely foreign workforce.[10]

History
Main article: History of Dubai

Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1799, is the oldest existing building in Dubai.[12]
Very little is known about pre-Islamic culture in the south-east Arabian peninsula, except that many ancient towns in the area were trading centers between the Eastern and Western worlds. The remnants of an ancient mangrove swamp, dated at 7,000 years, were discovered during the construction of sewer lines near Dubai Internet City. The area had been covered with sand about 5,000 years ago as the coastline retreated inland, becoming a part of the city's present coastline.[13] Prior to Islam, the people in this region worshiped Bajir (or Bajar).[14] The Byzantine and Sassanian empires constituted the great powers of the period, with the Sassanians controlling much of the region. After the spread of Islam in the region, the Umayyad Caliph, of the eastern Islamic world, invaded south-east Arabia and drove out the Sassanians. Excavations undertaken by the Dubai Museum in the region of Al-Jumayra (Jumeirah) indicate the existence of several artifacts from the Umayyad period.[15] The earliest recorded mention of Dubai is in 1095, in the "Book of Geography" by the Spanish-Arab geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri. The Venetian pearl merchant Gaspero Balbi visited the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (Dibei) for its pearling industry.[15] Documented records of the town of Dubai exist only after 1799.[16]
In the early 19th century, the Al Abu Falasa clan (House of Al-Falasi) of Bani Yas clan established Dubai, which remained a dependent of Abu Dhabi until 1833.[17] On 8 January 1820, the sheikh of Dubai and other sheikhs in the region signed the "General Maritime Peace Treaty" with the British government.[13] However, in 1833, the Al Maktoum dynasty (also descendants of the House of Al-Falasi) of the Bani Yas tribe left the settlement of Abu Dhabi and took over Dubai from the Abu Fasala clan without resistance.[17] Dubai came under the protection of the United Kingdom by the "Exclusive Agreement" of 1892, with the latter agreeing to protect Dubai against any attacks from the Ottoman Empire.[17] Two catastrophes struck the town during the mid 1800s. First, in 1841, a smallpox epidemic broke out in the Bur Dubai locality, forcing residents to relocate east to Deira. Then, in 1894, fire swept through Deira, burning down most homes.[18] However, the town's geographical location continued to attract traders and merchants from around the region. The emir of Dubai was keen to attract foreign traders and lowered trade tax brackets, which lured traders away from Sharjah and Bandar Lengeh, which were the region's main trade hubs at the time.[19][18]

Old watch tower in Bur Dubai.
Dubai's geographical proximity to India made it an important location. The town of Dubai was an important port of call for foreign tradesmen, chiefly those from India, many of whom eventually settled in the town. Dubai was known for its pearl exports until the 1930s. However, Dubai's pearling industry was damaged irreparably by the events of the First World War, and later on by the Great Depression in the late 1920s. Consequently, the city witnessed a mass migration of people to other parts of the Persian Gulf.[13] Since its inception, Dubai was constantly at odds with Abu Dhabi. In 1947, a border dispute between Dubai and Abu Dhabi on the northern sector of their mutual border, escalated into war between the two states.[20] Arbitration by the British and the creation of a buffer frontier running south eastwards from the coast at Ras Hasian resulted in a temporary cessation of hostilities.[21] However, border disputes between the emirates continued even after the formation of the UAE; it was only in 1979 that a formal compromise was reached that ended hostilities and border disputes between the two states.[22] Electricity, telephone services and an airport were established in Dubai in the 1950s, when the British moved their local administrative offices from Sharjah to Dubai.[23] In 1966 the town joined the newly independent country of Qatar to set up a new monetary unit, the Qatar/Dubai Riyal, after the deflation of the Gulf rupee.[16] Oil was discovered in Dubai the same year, after which the town granted concessions to international oil companies. The discovery of oil led to a massive influx of foreign workers, mainly Indians and Pakistanis. As a result, the population of the city from 1968 to 1975 grew by over 300%, by some estimates.[24]
On 2 December 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates after former protector Britain left the Persian Gulf in 1971.[25] In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a uniform currency: the UAE dirham. In the 1970s, Dubai continued to grow from revenues generated from oil and trade, even as the city saw an influx of Lebanese immigrants fleeing the civil war in Lebanon.[26] The Jebel Ali Free Zone, comprising the Jebel Ali port (reputedly the world's largest man made port) was established in 1979, which provided foreign companies unrestricted import of labour and export capital.[27]
The Persian Gulf War of 1990 had a huge impact on the city. Economically, Dubai banks experienced a massive withdrawal of funds due to uncertain political conditions in the region. During the course of the 1990s, however, many foreign trading communities — first from Kuwait, during the Persian Gulf War, and later from Bahrain, during the Shia unrest, moved their businesses to Dubai.[19] Dubai provided refueling bases to allied forces at the Jebel Ali free zone during the Persian Gulf war, and again, during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Large increases in oil prices after the Persian Gulf war encouraged Dubai to continue to focus on free trade and tourism.[28] The success of the Jebel Ali free zone allowed the city to replicate its model to develop clusters of new free zones, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Maritime City. The construction of Burj Al Arab, the world's tallest freestanding hotel, as well as the creation of new residential developments, were used to market Dubai for purposes of tourism. Since 2002, the city has seen an increase in private real estate investment in recreating Dubai's skyline[28] with such projects as The Palm Islands, The World Islands and Burj Dubai. However, robust economic growth in recent years has been accompanied by rising inflation rates (at 11.2% as of 2007 when measured against Consumer Price Index) which is attributed in part due to the near doubling of commercial and residential rental costs, resulting in a substantial increase in the cost of living for residents.[29]

Geography

City level map of Dubai
Dubai is situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates and is roughly at sea level (16 m/52 ft above). The emirate of Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, Sharjah in the northeast, and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast. Hatta, a minor exclave of the emirate, is surrounded on three sides by Oman and by the emirates of Ajman (in the west) and Ras Al Khaimah (in the north). The Persian Gulf borders the western coast of the emirate. Dubai is positioned at 25.2697° N 55.3095° E and covers an area of 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²).
Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert. However, the topography of Dubai is significantly different from that of the southern portion of the UAE in that much of Dubai's landscape is highlighted by sandy desert patterns, while gravel deserts dominate much of the southern region of the country.[30] The sand consists mostly of crushed shell and coral and is fine, clean and white. East of the city, the salt-crusted coastal plans, known as sabkha, give way to a north-south running line of dunes. Farther east, the dunes grow larger and are tinged red with iron oxide.[24] The flat sandy desert gives way to the Western Hajar Mountains, which run alongside Dubai's border with Oman at Hatta. The Western Hajar chain has an arid, jagged and shattered landscape, whose mountains rise to about 1,300 meters in some places. Dubai has no natural river bodies or oases; however, Dubai does have a natural inlet, Dubai Creek, which has been dredged to make it deep enough for large vessels to pass through. Dubai also has multiple gorges and waterholes which dot the base of the Western Al Hajar mountains. A vast sea of sand dunes cover much of southern Dubai, which eventually lead into the desert known as The Empty Quarter. Seismically, Dubai is in a very stable zone — the nearest seismic fault line, the Zargos Fault, is 120 km from the UAE and is unlikely to have any seismic impact on Dubai.[31] Experts also predict that the possibility of a tsunami in the region is also minimal because the Persian Gulf waters are not deep enough to trigger a tsunami.[31]

The Margham desert sand dunes south of the city of Dubai
The sandy desert surrounding the city supports wild grasses and occasional date palm trees. Desert hyacinths grow in the sabkha plans east of the city, while acacia and ghaf trees grow in the flat plains within the proximity of the Western Al Hajar mountains. Several indigenous trees such as the date palm and neem as well as imported trees like the eucalypts grow in Dubai's natural parks. The houbara bustard, striped hyena, caracal, desert fox, falcon and Arabian oryx are common in Dubai's desert. Dubai is on the migration path between Europe, Asia and Africa, and more than 320 migratory birds pass through the emirate in spring and autumn. The waters of Dubai are home to more than 300 species of fish, including the hammour.
Dubai Creek runs northeast-southwest through the city. The eastern section of the city forms the locality of Deira and is flanked by the emirate of Sharjah in the east and the town of Al Aweer in the south. The Dubai International Airport is located south of Deira, while the Palm Deira is located north of Deira in the Persian Gulf. Much of Dubai's real estate boom is concentrated to the west of the Dubai Creek, on the Jumeirah coastal belt. Port Rashid, Jebel Ali, Burj Al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and theme based free zone clusters such as Business Bay are all located in this section. Five main routes — E 11 (Sheikh Zayed Road), E 311 (Emirates Road), E 44 (Dubai-Hatta Highway), E 77 (Dubai-Al Habab Road) and E 66 (Oud Metha Road) — run through Dubai, connecting the city to other towns and emirates. Additionally, several important intra-city routes, such as D 89 (Al Maktoum Road/Airport Road), D 85 (Baniyas Road), D 75 (Sheikh Rashid Road), D 73 (Al Dhiyafa Road), D 94 (Jumeirah Road) and D 92 (Al Khaleej/Al Wasl Road) connect the various localities in the city. The eastern and western sections of the city are connected by Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Shindagha Tunnel, Business Bay Crossing and Floating Bridge.
Dubai has a hot and, at times, humid climate (drier during extreme heat) with many months recording temperatures of over 40 °C (104 °F) (refer to accompanying table for recorded mean minimum and maximum temperatures during the year). Rainfall is generally light, with a mean of about 150 millimetres (6 in) per year; precipitation is usually centered around January, February and March. However, heavy rain is not uncommon in Dubai during the winter months and January 2008 saw a record of 120mm (or 5") of rain falling in just 24 hours, [32] The mean humidity in Dubai is about 60% and is higher during the cooler winter months.
[hide]
[edit] Governance and politics
Main article: Politics of the United Arab Emirates

Dubai Municipality building across the creek in Deira
Dubai's government operates within the framework of a constitutional monarchy[citation needed], and has been ruled by the Al Maktoum family since 1833. The current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and member of the Supreme Council of the Union (SCU). Dubai appoints 8 members in two-term periods to the Federal National Council (FNC) of the UAE, the supreme federal legislative body.[34] The Dubai Municipality (DM) was established by the then ruler of Dubai, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum in 1954 for purposes of city planning, citizen services and upkeep of local facilities.[35] DM is chaired by Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai and comprises several departments such as the Roads Department, Planning and Survey Department, Environment and Public Health Department and Financial Affairs Department. In 2001, Dubai Municipality embarked on an e-Government project with the intention of providing 40 of its city services through its web portal (Dubai.ae). Thirteen such services were lauched by October 2001, while several other services were expected to be operational in the future.
Dubai and Ras al Khaimah are the only emirates that do not conform to the federal judicial system of the United Arab Emirates. The emirate's judicial courts comprise the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation. The Court of First Instance consists of the Civil court, which hears all civil claims, the Criminal Court, which hears claims originating from police complaints, and Sharia Court, which is responsible for matters between Muslims. Non-Muslims do not appear before the Sharia Court. The Court of Cassation is the apex court of the emirate and only hears disputes on matters of law.[36] The Dubai Police Force, founded in 1956 in the locality of Naif, has law enforcement jurisdiction over the emirate; the force is under direct command of Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.

Dubai has approximately 250,000 labourers, mostly South Asian, working on real estate development projects such as the Dubai Marina.
Article 25 of the Constituion of the UAE provides for the equitable treatment of persons with regard to race, nationality, religious beliefs or social status. However, many of Dubai's 250,000 foreign laborers live in conditions described by Human Rights Watch as being "less than human."[37][38][39][40] NPR reports that workers "typically live eight to a room, sending home a portion of their salary to their families, whom they don't see for years at a time." On 21 March 2006, workers at the construction site of Burj Dubai, upset over bus timings and working conditions, rioted: damaging cars, offices, computers, and construction tools.[41][42][43] Judicial rulings in Dubai with regard to foreign nationals were brought to light by the alleged attempts to cover up information on the rape of Alexandre Robert, a 15 year old French-Swiss national, by three locals, one of whom was HIV positive [44] and by the recent mass imprisonment of migrant laborers, most of whom were from India, on account of their protests against poor wages and living conditions.[45] Prostitution, though illegal by law, is conspicuously present in the emirate because of an economy that is largely based on tourism and trade. Research conducted by the American Center for International Policy Studies (AMCIPS) found that Russian and Ethiopian women are the most common prostitutes, as well as women from some African countries, while Indian prostitutes are part of a well organized trans-Oceanic prostitution network.[46] A 2007 PBS documentary entitled Dubai: Night Secrets reported that prostitution in clubs is tolerated by authorities and many foreign women work there without being coerced, attracted by the money.[47][48][49]
See also: Human rights in Dubai

[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Dubai
Year
Population
18221
1,200 [50]
19001
10,000 [51]
19301
20,000 [52]
19401
38,000 [50]
19541
20,000 [50]
19601
40,000 [53]
1968
58,971 [54]
1975
183,000 [55]
1985
370,800 [56]
1995
674,000 [56]
2005
1,204,000
1 The town of Dubai first conducted a census in 1968. All population figures in this table prior to 1968 are estimates obtained from various sources.

The Grand Mosque in Jumeirah, Dubai.
According to the census conducted by the Statistics Center of Dubai, the population of the emirate was 1,422,000 as of 2006, which included 1,073,000 males and 349,000 females.[57] As of 1998, 17% of the population of the emirate was made up of UAE nationals. Approximately 85% of the expatriate population (and 71% of the emirate's total population) was Asian, chiefly Indian (51%), Pakistani (16%), Bangladeshi (9%) and Filipino (3%).[3] About 3% of the total population of Dubai was categorized as "Western". A quarter of the population however reportedly traces their origins to neighboring Iran.[58] In addition, 16% of the population (or 288,000 persons) lived in collective labour accommodation were not identified by ethnicity or nationality, but were thought to be primarily Asian.[59] The median age in the emirate was about 27 years. The crude birth rate, as of 2005, was 13.6%, while the crude death rate was about 1%.[60]
Although Arabic is the official language of Dubai, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Persian, Urdu, Tagalog and others are widely spoken.[citation needed]
Article 7 of the UAE's Provisional Constitution declares Islam the official state religion of the UAE. The government subsidizes almost 95 percent of mosques and employs all imams; approximately 5 percent of mosques are entirely private, and several large mosques have large private endowments.[61]
Dubai has large Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and other religious communities. Non-Muslim groups can own their own houses of worship, where they can practice their religion freely, by requesting a land grant and permission to build a compound. Groups that do not have their own buildings must use the facilities of other religious organisations or worship in private homes[62]. Non-Muslim religious groups are permitted to openly advertise group functions; however, proselytizing or distributing religious literature is strictly prohibited under penalty of criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and deportation for engaging in behaviour offensive to Islam.[61]
See also: Indians in the United Arab Emirates, Islam in the United Arab Emirates, Roman Catholicism in the United Arab Emirates, and Bahá'í Faith in the United Arab Emirates

[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of Dubai

The Burj Al Arab is the world's tallest hotel.

The Dubai Marina, a residential district, is the world's second largest man-made marina.
Dubai's gross domestic product as of 2005 was US$37 billion.[8] Although Dubai's economy was built on the back of the oil industry,[63] revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for less than 6% of the emirate's revenues.[7] It is estimated that Dubai produces 240,000 barrels of oil a day and substantial quantities of gas from offshore fields. The emirate's share in UAE's gas revenues is about 2%. Dubai's oil reserves have diminished significantly and are expected to be exhausted in 20 years.[64] Trade (16%), entrepôt (15%) and financial services (11%) are the largest contributors to Dubai's economy. [65] Dubai's top re-exporting countries include Iran (US$ 790 million), India (US$ 204 million) and Saudi Arabia (US$ 194 million). The emirate's top importing countries are Japan (US$ 1.5 billion), China (US$ 1.4 billion) and the United States (US$ 1.4 billion).[6]
Historically, Dubai and its twin across the Dubai creek, Deira (independent of Dubai City at that time), became important ports of call for Western manufacturers. Most of the new city's banking and financial centres were headquartered in the port area. Dubai maintained its importance as a trade route through the 1970s and 1980s. The city of Dubai has a free trade in gold and until the 1990s was the hub of a "brisk smuggling trade"[66] of gold ingots to India, where gold import was restricted. In a recent research, the MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index™, Dubai was named as one of the world’s top 50 cities that are the hubs of the new worldwide economy. Dubai’s ranking positions the city as a leader in the Middle East, offering a strong business climate that supports further development. [1]
Dubai is considered to be an important tourist destination and its port, Jebel Ali, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbor in the world. Dubai is also increasingly developing as a hub for service industries such as IT and finance, with the establishment of a new Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The government has set up industry-specific free zones throughout the city. Dubai Internet City, combined with Dubai Media City as part of TECOM (Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority) is one such enclave whose members include IT firms such as EMC Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft, and IBM, and media organisations such as MBC, CNN, Reuters and AP.
The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) was established in March 2000 as a secondary market for trading securities and bonds, both local and foreign. As of Q4 2006, its trading volume stood at about 400 billion shares worth US$ 95 billion. The DFM had a market capitalization of about US$ 87 billion.[60] The government's decision to diversify from a trade-based, but oil-reliant, economy to one that is service and tourism-oriented has made real estate more valuable, resulting in the property appreciation from 2004–2006. Large scale real estate development projects have led to the construction of some of the tallest skyscrapers and largest projects in the world such as the Emirates Towers, the Burj Dubai, the Palm Islands and the world's tallest, and most expensive, hotel the Burj Al Arab.[67]
See also: Developments in Dubai and Tourism in Dubai

[edit] Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Dubai

Abras are the traditional mode of transport between Deira and Bur Dubai.
Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB), the hub for Emirates Airline, services the city of Dubai and other emirates in the country. The airport served a total of over 34 million passengers and over 260,000 flights in 2007.[68] The Dubai International Airport ranked 17th among international airports for total cargo traffic in 2006.[69] A third terminal and a new concourse are currently under construction and are both due to open in mid-2008.[70] The new terminal will be dedicated to Emirates Airline and will fully support the new Airbus A380. The development of Dubai World Central International Airport, currently under construction in Jebel Ali, was announced in 2004. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2008, and once operational the new airport will host foreign airlines. Emirates (both the passenger and cargo operations) will remain in Dubai International Airport.[71]
Dubai has a large bus system that services 69 routes and transported over about 90 million people in 2006. The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) announced in 2006 that an additional 620 new buses will be added to its fleet of 170 double decker buses.[72] Although the main mode of transportation in Dubai is by private vehicle, Dubai also has an extensive taxi system.
A $3.89 billion Dubai Metro project is under construction for the emirate. The Metro system is expected to be partially operational by 2009 and fully operational by 2012. The metro will comprise two lines: the Green Line from Al Rashidiya to the main city center and the Red Line from the airport to Jebel Ali. The Dubai Metro (Green and Blue Lines) will have 70 kilometers of track and 43 stations, 33 above ground and ten underground.[73] One of the more traditional methods of getting across Bur Dubai to Deira is through abras, small boats that ferry passengers across the Dubai Creek, between abra stations in Bastakiya and Baniyas Road.
In July 2007, the Salik road toll network was installed on Sheikh Zayed Road and on Al Garhoud bridge; the tolling stations are fully automated and collect toll of AED 4 (US$ 1.08) per transit.

[edit] Culture

A traditional souk in Deira

The Deira Clock Tower is an important landmark in the city
Dubai has a diverse and multicultural society. The city's cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogenous pearling community was changed with the arrival of other ethnic groups and nationals — first by the Iranians in the early 1900s, and later by Indians and Pakistanis in the 1960s. Despite the diversity of the population, only minor and infrequent episodes of ethnic tensions, primarily between expatriates, have been reported in the city. In 1994, Hindu and Muslim labourers clashed over the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, which resulted in the detainment and deportation of hundreds of Indian and Pakistani workers [74]. Major holidays in Dubai include Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and National Day (December 2), which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Annual entertainment events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) attract over 4 million visitors from across the region and generate revenues in excess of US$ one billion [75]. Large shopping malls in the city, such as Deira City Centre, BurJuman, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall as well as traditional souks attract shoppers from the region.
The diversity of cuisine in Dubai is a reflection of the cosmopolitan nature of the society. Arab food is very popular and is available everywhere in the city, from the small shawarma diners in Deira and Al Karama to the upscale restaurants in Dubai's many hotels. Fast food, South Asian, Chinese cuisines are also very popular and are widely available. The sale and consumption of pork, though not illegal, is regulated and is sold only to non-Muslims, in designated areas.[76] Similarly, the sale of alcoholic beverages is regulated. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is available in bars and restaurants within four or five star hotels. [77] Shisha and qahwa boutiques are also popular in Dubai.
Hollywood and Bollywood movies are popular in Dubai. The city hosts the annual Dubai International Film Festival, which attracts celebrities from Arab and International cinema. Dubai has an active music scene, with musicians Amr Diab, Diana Haddad, Tarkan, Aerosmith, Santana, Elton John, Pink, Shakira, Celine Dion and Phil Collins having performed in the city. Madonna is rumored to play live in November for ₤7.5 million. [78]
Football and cricket are the most popular sports in Dubai. Five teams — Al Wasl, Al-Shabab, Al-Ahli, Al Nasr and Hatta — represent Dubai in UAE League football. Current champions Al-Wasl have the second-most number of championships in the UAE League, after Al Ain. Cricket is followed by Dubai's large South Asian community and in 2005, the International Cricket Council (ICC) moved its headquarters from London to Dubai. The city has hosted several India-Pakistan matches and two new grass gounds are being developed in Dubai Sports City. Dubai also hosts both the annual Dubai Tennis Championships and The Legends Rock Dubai tennis tournaments, as well as the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament, all of which attract sports stars from around the world. The Dubai World Cup, a thoroughbred horse race, is held annually at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
Dubai is known for its nightlife. Clubs and bars are found mostly in hotels due to the liquor laws. The New York Times listed Dubai as its travel choice for partying in 2008.[79]
See also: Music of the United Arab Emirates

[edit] Education
Main article: Education in Dubai

The campus of the American University in Dubai
The school system in Dubai does not differ from that of the United Arab Emirates. As of 2006, there are 88 public schools run by the Ministry of Education that serve Emiratis and expatriate Arabs as well as 132 private schools.[57] The medium of instruction in public schools is Arabic with emphasis on English as a second language, while most of the private schools use English as their medium of instruction. Most private schools cater to one or more expatriate communities. Delhi Private School, Our Own English High School, the Dubai Modern High School, and The Indian High School, Dubai offer either a CBSE or an ICSE Indian syllabus. Similarly, there are also several reputable Pakistani schools offering FBISE curriculum for expatriate children. Dubai English Speaking School, Jumeirah Primary School, Jebel Ali Primary School, the Cambridge High School (or Cambridge International School), Jumeirah English Speaking School, King's School and the Horizon School all offer British primary education up to the age of eleven. Dubai British School, Dubai College, English College Dubai, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Jumeirah College and St. Mary's Catholic High School are all British eleven-to-eighteen secondary schools which offer GCSE and A-Levels. Emirates International School provides full student education up to the age of 18, this is an International school and offers IGCSE and the IB program. Wellington International School, which caters education from 4-18, offers IGCSE and A-Levels. Deira International School also offers the IB program including the IGCSE program.
The Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates is responsible for school's accreditation. The Dubai Education Council was established in July 2005 to develop the education sector in Dubai.[80] The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) was established in 2006 to develop education and human resource sectors in Dubai, and license educational institutes.[81]
Approximately 10% of the population has university or postgraduate degrees. Many expatriates tend to send their children back to their home country or to Western countries for university education and even to India for technology studies. However, a sizable number of foreign accredited universities have been set up in the city over the last ten years. Some of these universities include the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), Heriot-Watt University Dubai, American University in Dubai (AUD), the American College of Dubai, Mahatma Gandhi University (Off-Campus Centre), SP Jain Center Of Management, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Institute of Management Technology and MAHE Manipal. In 2004, the Dubai School of Government in collaboration with Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) were established in Dubai.
See also: List of universities and colleges in Dubai

[edit] Media
See also: Radio and television channels of Dubai

Etisalat Tower 2, on Sheikh Zayed Road. Etisalat held a virtual monopoly over telecommunications in Dubai prior to 2006.[82]
Dubai has a well established network of print, radio, television and electronic media which service the city. Multiple international channels available through cable, while satellite, radio and local channels are provided via the Arabian Radio Network and Dubai Media Incorporated systems. Many international news agencies such as Reuters, APTN and MBC and network news channels operated out of Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. Additionally, several local network television channels such as Dubai One (formerly Channel 33), EDTV and Dubai TV provide programming in English and Arabic. Dubai-based FM stations such as Dubai FM (93.9), Dubai92 (92.0), Al Khaleejia (100.9) and Hit FM (96.7) provide programming in English, Arabic and South Asian languages. Dubai is also the headquarters for several print media outlets. Al Khaleej, Al Bayan and Al Ittihad are the city's largest circulating Arabic language newspapers[83], while Gulf News and Khaleej Times [84] are the largest circulating English newspapers.
Etisalat, the government owned telecommunications provider held a virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Dubai prior to the establishment of other, smaller telelcommunications companies such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC — better known as Du) in 2006. Internet was introduced into the UAE (and therefore Dubai) in 1995. The current network is supported by a bandwidth of 6 GB, with 50,000 dialup and 150,000 broadband ports. Dubai houses two of four DNS data centers in the country (DXBNIC1, DXBNIC2)[85]. Internet content is regulated in Dubai. Etisalat uses a proxy server to filter internet content that is deemed to be inconsistent with the values of the country, that provides information on bypassing the proxy, dating, gay and lesbian networks, sites pertaining to the Bahá'í faith, and sites originating from Israel. Additionally, VoIP services such as Skype that challenge Etisalat's monopoly over international calling as well as multimedia sharing and social networking websites such as Flickr, Lastfm, Hi5 and Orkut are blocked. [86][82] Emirates Media and Internet (a division of Etisalat) notes that as of 2002, 76% of internet users are male. About 60% of internet users were Asian, while 25% of users were Arab. Dubai enacted an Electronic Transactions and Commerce Law in 2002 which deals with digital signatures and electronic registers. It prohibits Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from disclosing information gathered in providing services. The penal code also contains some provisions; however it does not address cyber crime or data protection.[87]

from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai

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2008-05-13T02:26:00.000-07:00

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منتظر دريافت پيام كوتاه هاي ارسالي شما هستيم.
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Getting Information About Emirates (Dubai;Abudhabi;sharjah,Ajman;Fujairah;Ras-Al Kheimah;Umm al-Quwain) Through SMS

2008-05-11T02:04:00.000-07:00

IF you want to know more about emirates opportunity only Send SMS to us

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Emirates tourism Directory : Send Code No : 9003 to 00989360511810
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2008-05-11T00:19:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to Dubai directory

2008-05-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

The First Bilingual Directory (English & Persian) about Dubai and other emirates of U.A.E has been established ; you can send S.M.S to this site to receive more information about Trading Opportunities ; Tourism;Purchasing Properties;Immigration ;Jobs & other information in the following link: http://www.Dubaidir.net

Kind Regard

M.H.Hadavi