Introduction
Dubai is one of the seven countries that form the famous united Arabs emirates. Located along the southern coast of the great Persians gulf, Dubai is one of the most popular cities of the United Arabs emirates; its uniqueness and distinction are embedded right from the name with the Dubai municipality being referred to as the Dubai city, to act as a differentiation point from the rest of the emirates.
Other courtiers that are party to the United Arab Emirates include Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Alqaiwain, Ras, Al-Khaima, and Farajah (Ashlen et al, 2006). To a greater extent, Dubai relies on tourism to sustain its economic strength and growth.
As a result, the government top most vision has been over the last few years been to make Dubai a famous and successful trade and tourism haven (AME Info, 2008) “Today Dubai can boast of its tourism achievement having become leading tourism destination not only in the UAE but also in the whole world” (clement, 2008). The industry is currently the countries best-performing sector and a major contributor to the country’s economy (AME Info, 2008). In this paper, therefore, we look at the Dubai tourism industrys performance and its effect on the excelling Dubai economy.
The history of Dubai
Although the city of Dubai came to be popular in the late 19th century, the existence of the city which was known as an ancient fishing and trading town was now close to one and half centuries before the formation of the United Arabs Emirates in 1971. The UAE was established shortly after the exit of British protectionism (Ashlen et al, 2006). The capital of the United Arabs Emirates is located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai remains today the most popular destination in the gulf region.
Furthermore, its popularity continues to grow at a very high rate every coming day as it is also the largest of the seven emirates that form the UAE. Historically, Dubai’s origin is attributed to the Al Abu Falasa Clan, or rather the house of Al-Fala who is documented to have established Dubai in the early 19th century and a family that rules Dubai until today. Since its establishment, it remained dependent on Abu Dhabi until 1822 (Ashlen et al, 2006).
Dubai has been a destination due to its attractive and strategic location. For instance, the Emir of Dubai has been instrumental in attracting traders both from within the United Arab Emirates region as well as foreign ones. Strategically, he lowered the taxes which persuaded traders from Sharjah and Bandar Lengen which were the region’s key trading haven at the time. In addition, Dubai’s geographical location especially to India has played a significant role in its development as a trading and tourism destination.
Dubai customs and cultural heritage
Dubai is known worldwide for its rich cultural heritage. In fact, this culture and heritage that the city is proud of until currently and much of which is sourced from ancient Dubai’s history can be traced back to the 1830s. The archeological findings reveal that up to about four thousand years ago small fishing communities were among the earliest groups to inhabit the Arabian Gulf’s coast which is the current location of Dubai city.
In addition, the naturally sheltered harbor that is currently Dubai’s creek is believed to have been a popular port along the ancient trading route between Mesopotamia and the Indus valley. The recent relics that were found by archeologists such as pottery weapons and coinage that indicate the existence of advanced inhabitants of the current Dubai as far as in the third millennium BC (Ashlen et al., 2006). All these historical discoveries have been carefully preserved in a well-built part of Dubai’s museum. Also, ancient pictures and arts have been skillfully displayed in various parts of the city.
Moreover, the city has rich and well-exhibited customs through historical sports such as sailing competition, camel riding and horse racing, fishing competition (Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing, 2009, Ashlen et al, 2006).
To date, the entire of this history is carefully preserved in myriad forts, mosques, palaces, and scores of other historical monuments which form part of the rich Dubai’s heritage and which form part of major tourism attractions centers. In addition, the unique Dubai traditions and cultural heritage are until today greatly exhibited in the architectural designs, lifestyles, clothing and jewelry, the historical occupations such as fishing, and unique popular sports (Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing, 2009).
Major tourist attractions in Dubai “Great things to do while touring Dubai”
For a person yearning to go an exceptional tourism feat, touring Dubai will undoubtedly offer him or her the best tourism experience of all times “ the city offers tourists scores of attractive experiences which no other city can match. For instance the tower of the Arabs is indeed the most popular and fashionable hotel destination in the world” (Clement, 2008). According to the latter, the tower of the emirates also known as Burj Al Arab is the world’s most fantastic architectonic achievement that the world has not seen anywhere else.
It is indeed an icon that people all over the world just want to visit. It is a super luxurious hotel visiting demands exceed its capacity. In addition, a visit to Dubai offers an individual to tour the famous Palm Jumeira, the Palm Jabel Ali, and the island of the “world” which is Dubai’s artificial island that imitates the world with different hypothetical continents artfully earmarked on it. These attractive features offer visitors ideal luxuries and a reason to be in Dubai (Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing, 2009).
Visiting Ski Dubai is another thing that an individual visiting Dubai can never afford to miss especially if the visitor is sports-loving, ski Dubai is located in the mall of emirates which is one of the best malls in Dubai. Visitors here often get an opportunity to ski or snow-boat in the morning or get full body turn in the afternoon (Clement D, 2008, Ashlen et al, 2006).
Moreover, Dubai is located in the desert. A visitor to Dubai has therefore a rare opportunity to go on desert safaris and experience the desert extensiveness, explore the desert scenery and its grandeur. Although the desert safaris last for almost half a day the tourist has an option of spending the night in the dependable Bedouin tent. To crown the experiences of the visitor to Dubai, the visitor has the opportunity to experience the sceneries and sounds of the city, of course from the big bus.
One of the most interesting and attractive activities that many Dubai visitors enjoy is going on a shopping spree, the city offers exceptional shopping opportunities especially via its many famous shopping malls which have taken to it being known as the shopping capital of the middle east.
Besides, there is much more of the things that a person visiting Dubai can extract can find a lot of fun doing which includes, the dhow racing which has a great cultural and historical attachment to Dubai where individual experience racing with traditional wooden dhows (Ashlen et al., 2006). According to clement (2008), the dhow racing is mainly held during the national holidays and offers individuals with the most impressive and stylish sport with more than 80 variant conventional boats being used in the race like it used to be done in the past.
In addition, an amusing Ride along the city’s skyline offered by a cruise in the spectacular creek offers individual exceptional fans as they get into terms with the magnificence of the past together with the unconventional designs on both sides of the creek. While on the creek, an individual enjoys the fascinating scenery of superb ships passing by which forms a symbol of a sea-faring history of the United Arabs Emirates, as well as the conventional Abras that ferry people across the creek (Clement, 2008). Furthermore, one can enjoy shopping in the dragon Matt a market that has a unique dragon shape and is exclusive to Chinese products (Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing, 2009)
More so, there are exceptional events in Dubai such as golf and Horse racing sports. Camel racing is a sport that magnificently displays a deep Arabs tradition and has unmatched popularity in the world. More so the famous Dubai horse racing world cup which is staged every year at Nad Al Sheba Club is the world’s richest horse race and offers unmatched uniqueness in that ladies typically wear hats (Ashlen et al., 2006).
Dubai’s excelling economy and tourism contribution
Since time immemorial the economy of Dubai has been depending on oil. However, the rapid diminishing of oil reserves and great competition from the Middle East countries such as Iraq has aroused the need for economic diversifications (AME Info, 2008). In 2005 for instance, oil and natural gases contributed less than six percent of Dubai’s growth domestic product although the country is said to produce about 240 000 barrels of crude oil on daily basis, its oil reserves have diminished vehemently and there are expected to have been exhausted in the next two decades or so (Ashlen et al., 2006).
Consequently, Dubai now pegs a lot on other industries such as tourism, real estate, international trade, entrepot, and financial services. In line with the same, Dubai authorities have realized the country’s tourism potential. As a result, the commitment of Dubai’s government to build the industry and make the country a top world tourism destination has been evident over the past few decades. As a result, Dubai is experiencing favorable economic conditions much of which has been attributed to the tourism industry (AME Info, 2008).
Summary and Conclusion
Dubai is one of the seven countries that form the United Arabs Emirates. It has a deep history that dates back to more than three millenniums B C. although its popularity rose greatly after the formation of the United Arabs Emirates in 1971, the city which was historically an ancient fishing and trading company in the Persian gulf’s coast was known close to one and half centuries before then. Tourism is one of the key Dubai’s industries and one of the major contributors to the country’s excelling economies.
Currently, Dubai is a popularly known city with booming tourism and offers a wide range of fascinating experiences to both local and visiting tourists. In addition, the popularity of Dubai as a tourist destination is greatly compounded by the rich history, customs, and cultural heritage that is well preserved and exhibited via unique sporting activities, historical occupations, architectural designs and clothing.
Work cited
AME Info: emirates profits highlight the Dubai tourism boom. 2008. Web.
Ashlen et al, economic and environmental impact of tourism on Dubai and Hawaii: a group research project on sustainability, 2006.
Clement, D., great things you do when you visit Dubai, 2008. Web.
Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing, 2009. Web.