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VIVA – Dubai is one of the most luxurious cities in the world which is located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, exactly on the Persian Gulf Coast. Dubai is also one of the largest cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and famous for its skyscrapers.
Not only that, Dubai is also famous as a tourist prima donna in the Middle East because it presents various types of world-class beauty and luxury.
Apart from these facts, there are still many other interesting facts about Dubai that you don't know.
1. Dubai Has 2.5 Days Weekend
Recently, Dubai has changed the work and weekend schedule, to be more in tune with worldwide times and international markets. The weekend in Dubai becomes 2.5 days consisting of half days on Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday. The official business hours are from 7.30 AM to 3.30 PM from Monday to Thursday.
Then 7:30 AM. to 12 PM. on Fridays. In the past, weekends in Dubai were not on Saturdays and Sundays like in the west. But also, not on Thursdays and Fridays as it used to be in most Muslim countries in the past. Otherwise, weekends in Dubai are on Fridays and Saturdays.
2. Dominated by Desert Safari
It started with Sheikh Rashid who was concerned about the future of Dubai when the oil ran out. Sheikh Mohammed is the man who turned Dubai into the city it is today. Every time you visit Dubai, you will find that the city has changed once again.
There's so much going on, so many new buildings, attractions, and so on. It’s truly an ever-changing destination that offers something new every time you come.
3. Dubai Has the Tallest Building in the World
Dubai is developing a new skyscraper named 'The Tower' that’s inspired by the mythical hanging gardens of Babylon and will be taller than the current tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa with 828 meters and 163 floors stands.
4. Many Foreigners in the United Arab Emirates
The latest statistics show that the percentage of foreigners in the UAE is more than 88%. This number may be higher in Dubai city. Only after 20 years are expats eligible for citizenship applications. Most foreigners in Dubai are construction workers from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
5. World's Highest Population Growth
In 1965 the total population in the UAE was 150.000. In 2015, it increased sharply to around 9.26 million people. The largest increase occurred between 2003 and 2011 and has been steady in recent years. By 2022, the population of the UAE will be 9.99 million. More than a third of the total population lives in Dubai.
6. Modern Vending Machines
In Dubai, vending machines dispense so much more than chocolate bars and cans of fizzy drinks. From laptops to gold bars and even false eyelashes, shopping is truly redefined here
7. More Men Than Women
Dubai's male-to-female ratio is 7 to 3. Mostly because foreign workers coming to the UAE do not move with their families. Most of them come to the Emirates to work and earn money, leaving their families behind in their country.
About 69% of people living in the United Arab Emirates are men, and only 31% are women. It estimates that more than two men for every woman!
8. Having Sex Before Marriage Not Illegal
This is one Dubai fact that has created a lot of controversy in the past. Fortunately, the law has been relaxed recently and premarital sex is no longer illegal in Dubai. Now, you and your partner can relax in Dubai.
9. Kissing in Public Still Illegal
Hugging and kissing in public are still prohibited in the UAE, and may even be illegal. Hand in hand with your husband or wife is fine, but only that.
10. Consume Alcohol (Only Over 21 Years Old)
In the past, alcohol consumption was so strictly controlled in the United Arab Emirates, only foreign tourists or foreign residents who have a special alcohol license can buy and consume alcohol in Dubai. But now, the main limitation is that only people over 21 years old can buy or consume alcohol in Dubai and are allowed to drink in public.
Recently, it’s also permissible to eat pork and can eat it during the day during the month of Ramadhan.
