History
Main article:
History of DubaiAl 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 EmiratesDubai Municipality building across the
creek in
DeiraDubai'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 DubaiYear
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 DubaiThe
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 DubaiAbras 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
DeiraThe
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 DubaiThe campus of the
American University in DubaiThe 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 DubaiEtisalat 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]
