Today, Dubai is a city of shimmering skyscrapers attracting thousands of tourists every year. Yet just sixty years ago Dubai's population scraped a living by picking dates, diving for pearls, or sailing in wooden dhows to trade with Iran and India. Dubai is everything the rest of the Arab world is not. Until recently it was the fastest-growing city in the world, with an economy whose growth outpaced China's while luring more tourists than all of India. The city has become a metaphor for the lush life, where the wealthy mingle in gilded splendour and luxury cars fill the streets, yet it is also beset by a backwash of bad design, environmental degradation and controversial labour practices. Dubai tells its unique story.
Comprehensive, fun and easy to use, this book covers everything worth knowing about Dubai and where to do it. Meticulously updated by a resident team of writers, photographers and lovers of life, the result is the most in-depth, practical and accurate coverage and recommendations around. Ideal for residents, short-term visitors and tourists; essential for anyone in this vibrant and surprising city. It contains New Resident tips and advice; Independent reviews of over 500 restaurants, bars and cafes; Leisure and sporting activities from Abseiling to Entertainment to Zoology; Exploring - from museums and heritage to the latest shopping malls; Everything fully referenced to 30 pages of photographic maps; Plus a pull-out city map. This is the insiders' guide to what's hot and what's not in Dubai and the Emirates!
Award-winning journalist Jim Krane charts the history of Dubai from its earliest days, considers the influence of the family who has ruled it since the nineteenth century, and looks at the effect of the global economic downturn on a place that many tout as a blueprint for a more stable Middle East The city of Dubai, one of the seven United Arab Emirates, is everything the Arab world isn't: a freewheeling capitalist oasis where the market rules and history is swept aside. Until the credit crunch knocked it flat, Dubai was the fastest-growing city in the world, with a roaring economy that outpaced China's while luring more tourists than all of India. It's one of the world's safest places, a stone's throw from its most dangerous. In City of Gold, Jim Krane, who reported for the AP from Dubai, brings us a boots-on-the-ground look at this fascinating place by walking its streets, talking to its business titans, its prostitutes, and the hard-bitten men who built its fanciful skyline. He delves into the city's history, paints an intimate portrait of the ruling Maktoum family, and ponders where the city is headed. Dubai literally came out of nowhere. It was a poor and dusty village in the 1960s. Now it's been transformed into the quintessential metropolis of the future through the vision of clever sheikhs, Western capitalists, and a river of investor money that poured in from around the globe. What has emerged is a tolerant and cosmopolitan city awash in architectural landmarks, luxury resorts, and Disnified kitsch. It's at once home to America's most prestigious companies and universities and a magnet for the Middle East's intelligentsia. Dubai's dream of capitalism has also created a deeply stratified city that is one of the world's worst polluters. Wild growth has clogged its streets and left its citizens a tiny minority in a sea of foreigners. Jim Krane considers all of this and casts a critical eye on the toll that the global economic downturn has taken. While many think Dubai's glory days have passed, insiders like Jim Krane who got to know the city and its creators firsthand realize there's much more to come in the City of Gold, a place that, in just a few years, has made itself known to nearly every person on earth.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have so much to offer, and you can experience it all, from unique shops, malls, and souks to the finest restaurants and cafes. Luxuriate at the best golf courses, hotels, and spa resorts, or embrace adventure on exciting desert excursions, at local sporting events, or at lively bars and clubs. In addition to traditional historic palaces and mosques, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have amazing modern architecture, and your Top 10 Travel Guide will be your partner in experiencing it all. True to its name, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi covers all the major sights and attractions in easy-to-use "top 10" lists that help you plan the vacation that's right for you. - Itineraries help you plan your trip. - Top 10 lists feature off-the-beaten-track ideas, along with standbys like the top attractions, shopping, dining options, and more. - Comprehensive laminated pull-out map includes color-coded design, public transportation maps, and street indexes. - Maps of walking routes show you the best ways to maximize your time. - Additional maps marked with sights from the guidebook are shown on inside cover flaps, with selected street index and metro map. The perfect pocket-size travel companion: DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Series Overview: DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Top 10s are handy travel guides that take the work out of planning a trip. Packed with amazing ideas, informative maps, insider tips, and useful advice, DK's Top 10 guides lead you to the very best your destination has to offer. The pocket size make these the perfect guide to take on vacation. Discover the history, art, architecture, and culture of your destination through Top 10 lists, from the best museums, bars, and sights to the places to avoid.
How would you feel if after escaping from the 'golden cage of Dubai', you didn't know where home was, anymore?'Life after Dubai' is a funny and touching memoir about a twenty-something girl who pushed by the desire of living an international experience away from home, together with the unfortunate news of her father passing, decided to move to the lavish and futuristic city of Dubai, after being offered a dream job as a Flight Attendant for one of the world's best airlines. But the hidden reality of this glamorous lifestyle was, that it wasn't so glamorous after all. After eight years of non-stop travelling in conjunction with the downsides of living in a Muslim country, Carmen was forced to put an end to this so-called glamorous lifestyle. But what she didn't know was that the strict Shariah rules, the jet lag and her feelings of loneliness, were not the most challenging things that she would have to overcome, as the real nightmare was yet to begin.In this story, the author takes you on an incredible journey where you will be able to find out throughout the eyes of a western girl what it's really like living inside the 'golden cage of Dubai' and how travelling and living a luxury lifestyle, will not necessarily lead you to happiness. In this book, you will also find useful information about the non-recognized and not understood phenomenon of why expatriates returning home can suffer from reverse culture shock, and how to fight this traveler's new syndrome, according to the author's own experience.
In recent years, the Emirate of Dubai has been placing a stronger emphasis on people’s well-being with the aim of making Dubai “an inclusive and cohesive society (...) that is the preferred place to live, work and visit and a pivotal hub in the global economy”. Within the education sector, KHDA and private schools have introduced a number of initiatives to help raise awareness, measure and support students’ and staff’s well-being.
Dubai Free Zones" opportunities challenges international business Author: Pooyan Ghamari, Swiss Economist and Expert Essayist on Business and Finance This book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating Dubai's free zones, which offer numerous business opportunities for international entrepreneurs and investors. The author, Pooyan Ghamari, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of operating in these free zones, along with the legal, regulatory, and banking challenges companies may face. The book also covers strategies for marketing, attracting talent, and leveraging technology for operational efficiency. Lastly, it provides insights into prominent free zones in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. #DubaiFreeZones #InternationalBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Challenges #Opportunities #Banking #LegalRegulations #Marketing #TalentManagement #Technology #SharjahFreeZones #AbuDhabiFreeZones
