Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks.
The Emirate of Dubai is the 2nd largest of the 7 United Arab Emirates but has the largest population, with over 3.5mn inhabitants as of 2021. Dubai's cityscape is always transient and ever-changing, with its constant urge to construct bigger and better than before. If there was a Palm Island, Nakheel thought of the World Island. Burj Al Arab was eclipsed when Burj Khalifa cropped up.
Dubai constantly competes with itself, trying to magnetize tourists to a dream-like world of attractions. This drive is clearly visible in its landmarks, shopping centres and hotels. Although it strictly safeguards its traditional Islamic roots, it allows space for other religions, a rare quality in the conservative Arab world.…