Dubai

Recently ICC choose Dubai as its new Headquarters leaving Lords which hosted ICC for 95 years. Whatever might be the origin of Onam, today it is celebrated with equal fervour by the Hindus, Muslims and Christians, and hence it cannot be regarded as a Hindu festival in its strict sense. Dubai is fast gaining its name as international venue for sporting activities. This festival is also important because of its secular character. Dubai maintains cultural, economic and educational ties with Dundee, Scotland, Damascus, Detroit, Geneva, Istanbul, Osaka, Beirut, Shangai, Jarusalem, Casablanca, Guangzhou,. About 100 oarsmen row huge and graceful snake boats and men and women come from far and near to watch the snake boats skim through the water. There is no home postal delivery with post office boxes used instead. Well-known races include the Aranmula Boat Race and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Street 1a, Villa 2
Umm Suqeim 3
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Vallamkali (the snake boat race) is another event that is synonymous with Onam. For example:. Young children are often entrusted with the task of gathering and laying out the flowers in elaborate patterns. In common practice, an address consists of: street number, building number and community name although the order may very. During Onam, people create a multi-colored floral decoration on the ground in the front of their home called a pookkalam. Addressing and location: The formal addressing system is: sector number, community number, street number and building number. The most important things about Onam are the onakkodi, the new dress worn on this day and onam sadhya, a feast which is quite elaborate.

Note that these progressions are repeated within each community so, for example there will be numerous street number 5 along the Jumeirah 1, 2, 3, and Umm Suqeim 'strip'. Young men and women, decked in their best, sing Onappaattu, or Onam songs, and rock one another on swings slung from high branches. Odd numbered street are perpendicular to the coast and increase as one moves away from the creek. The swing is another integral part of Onam, especially in the rural areas. In general, even numbered streets run parallel to the coast and increase in number as one goes inland. At Aranmula, during Onam days the famous Aranmula Vallam Kali is conducted. Within these communities are numbered streets and house/building numbers. Performers painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the beats of instruments like Udukku and thakil.

Communities:. Pulikali, also known as Kaduvakali is a common sight during Onam season. Currently there are 44 communities. In Thrissur, a vibrant procession with resplendently caparisoned elephants is taken out while at Cheruthuruthy, people gather to watch Kathakali performers enact scenes from epics and folk tales. Each sector is sub-divided into communities of various size with major (named) roads as the bountries. All over the state, rituals along with new clothes, traditional cuisine, dance, and music mark this harvest festival. Dubai is divided into 9 sectors: 1-4 & 6 are urban; 7-9 are rural; 8 is Jebel Ali. The last day called the Thiruvonam is the most important.

Most contracts and tenancy agreements do not stand up to the standards of international law and almost always grossly favour the lessor or the company selling property. The celebrations begin within a fortnight of the Malayalam New Year and go on for ten days. Legislation in this area is still sketchy as the property market is a new one and rights of tenants and landowners are based on shaky principles borrowed mainly from European law. A strikingly impressive procession of caparisoned elephants is taken out at Thrissur. This cap demonstrates the realisation that uncontrolled rents can hamper development. At Shornur, Kathakali dancers in gorgeous costumes enact the legends. Rents have also skyrocketed with the recent inflow of professionals and companies from around the world who are attracted by Dubai's no-tax benefits although rises have been capped to 15% per annum up to 2006 under a directive from Sheikh Mohammad. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vamana and is directly linked to the mythological background of Onam.

In Dubai, demand is currently outstripping supply by a significant margin and is showing no signs of slowing in the near future. At the Vamanamoorthy temple in Thrikakakara, the annual temple festival coincides with Onam. The larger of the property tycoons are Al Nakheel and Emaar Properties. Athachamayam- a cultural procession takes place in the royal town of Tripunithura near Ernakulam-Kochi, on the Atham day of Chingam, which also marks the beginning of Onam celebrations. One of the other reasons for the boom in construction is the recent reversal of a law in 2002 that allows non-nationals of the UAE to own property (not land) in Dubai (albeit freehold and 99 year leases are actually sold to people with ownership still remaining with private companies). Onam is celebrated with focus on different cultural aspects in each place. Tourism is also being promoted at a staggering rate with the construction of Dubailand and other projects that include the making of mammoth shopping malls, theme parks, resorts, stadiums and other various tourist attractions. They give that much importance to the lunch on the Thiruonam day.

The Dubai government does not want to depend on its oil reserves which are largely believed to become exhausted by 2010 and, as such, has diversified its economy to attract revenues in the form of expanding commercial and corporate activity. There is a saying in Malayalam that "Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam" which means "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if we have to sell all our properties". One of the main reasons for the boom in construction in Dubai is its drive to diversify the economy. Whatever may happen they will not miss the Grant lunch (sadhya). This is partly due to the fact that labourers from the Indian subcontinent accept lower wages than those from other countries. Which is also called the Fourth Onam. Construction in Dubai and the UAE in general is a much faster process than in any Western country. to name a few and the most important thing is the grant lunch they will be having on the Thiuruvonam day.

In many areas, it is not easy to see Dubai's sky without at least one crane in your view; some say 16% of the world's large construction cranes would stand there. They will wear new dresses, will be visiting almost all temples which they can, they will be performing lot of dances like Thiruvathira kali Thumbi Tullal etc. Since 2000, Dubai's municipality has initiated a plethora of construction phases and plans across the entire city of Dubai, predominantly in the Mina Seyahi area, located further from Jumeirah, towards Jebel Ali. There will be competition for the laying of flower mats; Keralites all over the world will be celebrating this ten days will pomp and gaiety. In addition, Emirates has placed an order of 42 of the new Boeing 777 aircraft in November 2005. People put flower mats in front of their houses, to welcome the King. The A380 aircraft have already been charted to fly from October 2006 onwards. Onam comes in the month of "Chingam" according to Malayalam calendar.

The airline has placed an order of 45 of Airbus's A-380 'superjumbo' doubledecker aircraft, the largest of which has a capacity of 641 passengers. Even the poorest of the poor manage to find something for himself to celebrate the national festival in his own humble way. The idea is to develop Dubai's air transportation ability so that passengers from any city can fly direct to Dubai. The eldest member of each family presents clothes to all the members of the family. Dubai is also investing heavily in developing the reach of its airline, Emirates. Sumptuous feasts are prepared in every household. Seven monorails are also slated to be constructed to help feed the Metro system, connecting various places such as Dubailand, Palm Jumeriah, et al, to the main track. A fabulous display of fireworks turns the capital Thiruvananthapuram into a veritable fairyland.

Dubai is building this train system to ease congestion on its road network and to meet the transportation demands of its growing population. Houses are cleaned and decorated with flowers and traditional lamps. Trains are expected to run every 90 seconds when the project is completed. On Thiruvonam day, King Mahabali is believed to visit every Malayalee home and meet his people. The Dubai Metro will have 70 kilometers of track and 43 stations, 33 above ground and ten underground. The important part of the festival opens in some localities on Thiruvonam day and in others on the previous day known as Utradam. The metro will comprise two lines: the Green Line from Rashidiya to the main city center and the Red Line from the airport to Jebel Ali. (In a similar manner North Indians make someting called "Rangoli" which is made of powders of various colors.) When completed, a miniature pandal, hung with little festoons is erected over it.

Also involved are two other Japanese corporations, Obayashi and Kajima, and a Turkish company, Yapi Merkezi. It is a beautiful work of art accomplished with a delicate touch and a highly artistic sense of tone and blending. The construction contract for the project was given to Dubai Rapid Link (DURL)[11], a consortium lead by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Known as ‘Onapookkalam’, it is a carpet made out of the gathered blossoms with one or two varieties of foliage of differing tints pinched up into little pieces to serve the decorator's purpose. The Metro system is expected to be partially operational by 2009 and fully operational by 2012. Earthen mounds, which look somewhat like square pyramids, representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards in front of the house and beautifully decorated with flowers. There is currently a $3.89 billion Dubai Metro project under construction for the emirate. The ten-day celebrations of Onam start on Atham day.

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 Bani Yas Road, for a nominal charge of 1 Dh. People forgetting their sectarian outlooks, join together to welcome the auspicious 'Thiruvonam' day. Cabs can be found anywhere, any time although difficulties may be experienced during large events. Thus the significance of wearing new clothes is about making the heart new by removing all bad thoughts and feelings. Taxi drivers will usually try to avert this happening in traffic queues by moving slightly forward every 30 seconds or so. The 'Vastra' also stands for heart. 3, which is approximately 50pence, or 1 USD), and are charged by distance, although if the cab stops for more than 1 minute, 1/2 a Dirham will be added to the meter. People wear new clothes (Vastra) during Onam.

Prices are reasonable (the meter begins as Dhs. During Onam, the feast and festive mood of the people, dressed in their best, is considered reminiscent of the prosperous and truthful life of the subjects during Bali's flawless reign. Some of the private cab companies are Cars Taxi, National Taxi, Cititaxi and Metro Taxi. Thus, Keralites celebrate Onam festival to commemorate the Advent of Lord Mahavishnu as Vamana Avatar and to rejoice the annual visit of Emperor Mahabali to meet his subjects. The Dubai Transport Corporation operates cream-colored taxis. Honouring the great devotion and sense of sacrifice of Bali, the Lord granted him permission to visit his subjects once a year. There are both government-operated and private cab companies. Bali offered his head to be measured as the third step of land which Lord Vamana had asked for as alms.

Dubai also has an extensive taxi system, by far the most frequently used means of public transport within the emirate. There was still one foot of territory that Bali owed him. Due to the frequency of such incidents, road networks are blocked and held up quite frequently. With the other, he claimed all of heaven. Furthermore, Dubai has developed a reputation for having the most number of deaths and road accidents in the developed world clocking in with a statistic of having a minor road accident at least every 3 minutes. With one foot, he measured all of the earth. Traffic congestion has come about mainly due to lack of foresight on the recent rapid population increase, the relative ease of credit facilities for obtaining a car and the convoluted road networks that are constantly being changed, improved or reconstructed. Vamana grew and grew in size until he towered above the heavens.

Unfortunately though, the bus network is used extensively by lower income groups and does not do enough to attract higher income earners who would do well to use the bus transport system and ease traffic congestion that has recently become a major problem in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Emperor Bali, the most benevolent ruler, was liberated by being sent to the netherworld by Lord Mahavishnu who incarnated as Vamana. There are also several discounts and period pass options available. Granting that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me.". The government has issued plastic, swipable "e-go" cards. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. The bus system has 59 unique routes on weekdays and transports over 200,000 people each week. Bali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are the two eyes of a person.

Dubai has a fairly large bus system run by the Dubai Municipality. All attempts of Shukracharya to dissuade Bali from offering the land desired by Vamana proved futile. Although initially intended as a predominantly cargo airport, plans are afoot for the new Jebel Ali airport to handle some 120 million passengers per annum within 20 years, the largest capacity in the world, surpassing London's Heathrow's 85 million. So saying, he told Vamana to measure the three feet of land as desired by him. A second airport located at Jebel Ali—and a new free trade area within Dubai, marking the centrepiece of the Jebel Ali Airport City—was announced in 2004 and construction began in January 2005. Bali was firm and replied: 'I am prepared to face any consequence but will not go back on my word'. When completed this will double the capacity of the airport. Shukracharya cursed Bali, saying: 'As you have not heeded your Guru's words, you will be reduced to ashes'.

The new terminal will be dedicated to Emirates airlines and will fully support the Airbus A380. On this occasion, Bali was not prepared to heed the advice of the same preceptor. A third terminal is currently under construction and due to open in 2006. It was only because of Shukracharya's help that he was able to conquer Indra. Dubai airport has won many awards for its excellence in design and services. Earlier, while Bali was embarking on the war with Indra, he had prostrated at the feet of his preceptor, Shukracharya, and on his advice he performed the Vishwajit Yagna from which he secured very powerful weapons. Dubai International Airport is a fortress hub for Emirates airlines and has a large Duty Free shopping centre. Bali, however, was determined to honour the word given to Vamana, begged pardon of his Guru for disregarding his advice.

Dubai is serviced by several commercial ports and Dubai Creek is still used by local traders in Dhows:. He said that Vamana was not really in need of anything as everything was in his hands. The emirate discovered that stamp collectors were willing to give it money for colored labels with "Dubai" printed on them, and by the time the postal system was merged with those of other emirates in mid-1972, it had issued over 400 stamps, few of which ever saw usage on mail. He was determined to give Vamana whatever he wanted since breaking one's word was a sin and he had to keep his pledge Shukracharya insisted that he should not fulfil the demand of Vamana as he had come to deprive Bali of all His possessions. This was the opening salvo of a barrage of stamp issues over the next few years. But Bali was a king who would never go back on his word and told his Guru that he would never break his promise. The Dubai Post Department took over the postal service on June 14, 1963 and the following day issued a series of stamps depicting sea life, views of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He advised Bali not to promise the lad anything.

Despite the name, these were only on sale in Dubai's post office. On hearing him, Bali's preceptor, Shukracharya, who could have vision of the future told Bali that the one, who had come to seed a gift from Bali was not an ordinary Brahmin but Lord Narayana Himself who had assumed this form. When Pakistan came into existance, the British government set up a postal administration for Eastern Arabia and used overprinted British stamps until January 7, 1961, when Dubai issued its own stamps inscribed "Trucial States". It is enough if you give me that extend of land covered by three footsteps of mine". It used the stamps of India on mail, with postmark "Dubai Persian Gulf", until India's independence in 1947, then stamps of Pakistan until March 31, 1948. Vamana smiled and said: "You need not give me anything great. A post office of British India was opened August 19, 1909. Whatever you desire, I am here ready to fulfil the same'.

See the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing's list of developments [10] in Dubai for more information. Bali told him 'Master! It is my good fortune that you have chosen to honour me with your presence. Dubai interests have also purchased large amounts of real estate in foreign countries, in particular snapping up trophy properties in global centers like New York and London; a typical purchase in 2005 was New York's 230 Park Avenue (formerly known as the New York Central Building or the Helmsley Building) and Essex House on Central Park South. Mahabali went forth to receive the Brahmin boy with all traditional honours and gave him an eminent seat befitting the status of a holy person. Iranian expatriates alone are estimated to have invested up to $US 200 Billion in Dubai.^[9]. As he was approaching them, the sages assembled there perceived the extraordinary effulgence form of the young lad. Immigrants have been pouring capital into Dubai in the past several years, greatly contributing to the city's prosperity. Vamana came to the Yaga-shala.

This project was launched in 2003 and is estimated to be completed by 2006. Lord Narayan, in the form of Vamana, utilised this opportunity to shower Grace on him. The International Media Production Zone is a project targeted at creating a hub for printers, publishers, media production companies, and related industry segments. Bali wanted to propitiate the Gods so much that, with their blessings, he could extend his beneficent rule over the entire world. The aim of this park is to foster the growth of this sector in Dubai and to utilize the region's talent in addressing this rapidly growing sector. Mahabali who was performing the sacrificial rite called Viswajith declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna. This is a new park to be targeted at Biotech companies working in pharma, medical fields, genetic research and even biodefense. Bali, like Prahlada, too engaged in the glorification of God and in the spiritual and material uplife of his subjects.

Dubai has also launched Dubiotech. Balichakravarthi (Bali, The Emperor) or Mahabali, was the grandson of the devout Prahalada, the son of Hiranyakasipu. It will also contain Al Burj, another one of the tallest buildings in the world. That child, "Vamana-murti", demonstrated His divine powers by doing marvelous deeds even when He was a child. Dubai Waterfront will be a mix of canals and islands full of hotels and residential areas that will add 500 miles of man-made waterfront. Later, on the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, Aditi gave birth to a son of uncommon effulgence. In February 2005, Dubai Waterfront was announced, it will be 2½ times the size of Washington D.C., the size of the island of Manhattan. Since Aditi carried out the Vrata with a pious heart, Lord Narayana appeared before her and informed her that he would himself take birth in her womb and help Indra.

It is expected to be completed in 2008. Kashyapa asked Aditi to pray to Lord Narayana and taught her Payovrata, ritual that has to be observed from the twelfth day of the bright half Karthika (Sukla-paksha Dwaadasi). Emaar Properties is currently constructing what will become the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai. Kashyapa tried to console Aditi who was wailing in grief, saying that nothing happens in the world wihtout God's will and people should go on doing their duties. The city has modern skyscrapers such as Emirates Towers, which are the 12th and 24th tallest buildings in the world[8], and the Burj al-Arab located on the Persian Gulf and is currently the tallest hotel in the world. By divine insight, Kashyapa recognised the cause of grief. Somewhere from 2005 to 2006, most of the freehold skyscrapers and other villa projects will be ready for occupancy. Kashyapa, who had gone to the Himalayas to do penance, on his return, found Aditi weeping over the defeat of her son, Indra.

The first villa freehold properties that were occupied by non-UAE nationals were The Meadows, The Springs, and The Lakes (upper-class neighborhoods designed by Emaar Properties, collectively called Emirates Hills). Mahabali, the King of Asuras defeated Indra and proceed to occupy Indra's territory. Dubai's land-reclamation projects — the Palm Islands of Jumeira, Jebel Ali, and Deira and The World archipelago — will be the world's largest artificial island complexes, developed with villas, golf courses, and holiday resorts. As the common practice in those days, for a King invading another kingdom to acquire additional territory, Indra, the king of demigods went on war with the king of Asuras. Corporate office enclaves on Sheikh Zayed road were developed to shift Dubai's traditional business area from the Dubai creek to the western parts of the city. Kashyapa had two wives, Diti and Aditi, who were the parents of demons and demigods (Asuras and Devas) respectively. 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, and corporations such as Emaar Properties, and Nakheel have benefited. .

Despite the relatively early closing time of 3am for these clubs, their trade is brisk. It is believed that during those days the whole of Chingam was celebrated as Onam season. Besides the obvious presence of prostitutes, however, Dubai also has a lively and well-known nightlife, with many state-of-the-art nightclubs and bars being strewed in all areas of the Emirate, mainly joined to hotels (properties not adjoined to hotels are not allowed to serve alcohol). Onam festivities have been recorded during the time of Kulasekhara Perumals around A.D 800. A large population of prostitutes work in Dubai, spurred on by the large amount of tourism [7]. There are records of Onam being celebrated during the Sangam Age. [6]. This picturesque ten-day harvest festival has been part of Malayalee psyche for centuries now.

Through subsequent revisions, the master planned development will span over 3 billion square feet (300,000,000 m²) with the 1st phase to be completed in 2008. It is celebrated with traditional Malayalee fervour with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other clothes called Ona-kkodi and lots of merry making. Dubailand, an entertainment city vaguely planned off the concept of Disneyland was launched in October 2003. And Onam epitomizes the newfound vigour and enthusiasm about everything around. Dubai currently has two waterparks in Wonderland and Wild Wadi with more being planned for Dubailand. The sky becomes blue, the deep forest becomes greener and it is time to reap the harvest, time to celebrate and to rejoice along with the Nature. The World Cup is world's highest stakes horse race, with over US $15 million worth of prize money handed out. After the rain drenched Karkidakam with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month of plenty.

Dubai hosts many world class sporting events, including the Dubai Tennis Open, Dubai Desert Golf Classic, and the Dubai World Cup, an annual horse racing event. Chingam or Bhadrapada, the first month of the calendar ushers in Onam, the national festival of Kerala. Soon to overtake the Mall of Emirates as the world's largest will be the Dubai Mall, part of the Burj Dubai development that will be home to the tallest building in the world when completed. The festival is primarily celebrated in Kerala, a state in India, by people across all caste and religions. Two more shopping malls have recently opened, the Mall of Emirates, the third largest mall in the world, which also has the world's third largest indoor ski slope, and the Ibn Battuta Mall. Onam ഓണം, the foremost festival among the cultural repertoire of Malayalees, falls in the harvest season of August- September. The Oasis Centre caught fire and received major damage on 9 September 2005.

The city has many malls such as City Centre, Lamcy Plaza, Al Ghurair City, Mercato Mall, Oasis Centre and Wafi Centre that have international stores, theaters, gaming arcades, and food courts. Other, smaller shopping festivals, such as "Dubai Summer Surprises" are held throughout the year. Attendance at the 2005 Festival topped 3.3 million visitors. The annual month-long Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) draws shoppers from the Indian subcontinent and around the world.

Some of these universities include the American University in Dubai (AUD),The American College of Dubai, Al Ghurair University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Middlesex University, Dubai, Dubai Women's College, University of Wollongong in Dubai, and Zayed University. However, a sizable number of foreign accredited universities have been set up in the city over the last ten years. Many expatriates tend to send their children back to their home country for university education. There are also some primary and high schools that offer Canadian and Japanese syllabuses.

ASD offers an accredited American high school diploma; DAA offers both an American-accredited high school diploma and the International Baccalaureate [IB] diploma. The American School of Dubai (ASD), which is located in Jumeirah, and Dubai American Academy (DAA) have been around the longest. A growing number of K-12 schools offer the American syllabus. The International School of Choueifat and Emirates International offer both British and American curricula.

The Emirates International School, Al Diyafah High School and Cambridge International High School are also secondary schools that offer a combination of GCSE, IGCSE, and IB courses to the expatriate community. Mary's High School, Dubai College, English College, and Jumeirah College are all British style eleven-to-eighteen secondary schools which offer GCSE and A-Levels. St. Modern Renaissance School, the Horizon School, Dubai English Speaking School, Jumeirah Primary School, Jumeirah English Speaking School, and Jebel Ali Primary School all offer British style primary education to the age of eleven.

Our Own English High School, Modern High School, and Indian High School offer either a CBSE or an ICSE Indian syllabus. Most schools cater to one or more expatriate communities. Some primary schools conduct entrance tests. Annual fees for nursery and pre-school vary greatly.

English is the medium of instruction in most schools in Dubai. Christian churches are permitted to openly advertise certain church functions, such as memorial services, in the press. However, they are permitted to raise money from among their congregants and to receive financial support from abroad. Apart from donated land for the construction of churches and other religious facilities, including cemeteries, non-Muslim groups are not supported financially or subsidised by the government.

Mary's) would begin at the end of 2005, members of the Eastern Orthodox Christian community in the UAE have had to use churches of other denominations for services, until General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, donated a plot of land in Jebel Ali. Construction on the first Greek Orthodox Church in Dubai (to be called St. In early 2001, ground was broken for the construction of several additional churches on a parcel of land in Jebel Ali donated by the government of Dubai for four Protestant congregations and a Catholic congregation. The government follows a policy of tolerance towards non-Muslims and Polytheist; in practice, interferes very little in the religious activities of non-Muslims.

Non-Muslims in the country are free to practice their religion but may not proselytize publicly or distribute religious literature. There is an electric crematorium run by a group of Indian expatriates. Both are believed to be sanctioned by the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The Meena Bazaar area of the city has both a Shiva and Krishna temple.

Dubai is the only emirate that has Hindu temples and a Sikh gurudwara. There are foreign minority Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians as well. A vast majority of the locals are Sunnis. Islam is the official religion of all of the emirates.

The official language is Arabic, but English and Urdu are also widely spoken, along with Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Tagalog. The Federal Government is still formulating laws pertaining to ownership of property and considering issuing residency status to those who own such property. Ownership of lease does not guarantee any form of legal residency status in the UAE. It is, however, illegal to seek employment on this visa.

The "lease" on these freehold properties was first offered for 99 years but was later changed to permanent ownership. There is an increasing number of "freehold" villas and flats on artificial islands such as the Palm Islands. The numerous free trade zones allow for full expatriate ownership. Nearly all of the commercial establishments are run by expatriates with a silent local partner who merely "rents" the business license for a negotiated annual fee without taking part in any capital investment.

A quarter of the population reportedly trace their origins to neighboring Iran.^[5] The UAE government does not allow any form of naturalization or permanent residence to expatriates. The vast majority of these expatriates come from South Asia and the South East Asia. Dubai is unusual in that its population comprises mainly expatriates, with UAE nationals (Emiratis) constituting the minority. Dubai Knowledge Village (KV) is an education and training hub is also set up to complement the Free Zone’s other two clusters, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, by providing the facilities to train the clusters' future knowledge workers.

Dubai Internet City, now 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, Microsoft, and IBM, and media organisations such as MBC, CNN, Reuters, ARY and AP. The government has set up industry-specific free zones throughout the city. Dubai is also diversifying as a hub for service-based industries such as IT and finance, with the new Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Today, Dubai is also an important tourist destination, bolstered by its rapidly-expanding airline Emirates, which is headed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, an uncle of the Sheikh.

Oil reserves in Dubai are less than one-twentieth that of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and hence oil income is a minor contributing factor to the city's prosperity. The city of Dubai has a free trade in gold and till the 90s was the hub of a "brisk smuggling trade" of gold ingots to India, where gold import was restricted (read the novel Dubai by Robin Moore). Most of the new city's banking and financial centers were headquartered in this area. Dubai and its twin across the Dubai creek, Deira (independent at that time), became important ports of call for Western manufacturers.

Dubai maintained its importance as a trade route through the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a single, uniform currency: the UAE dirham. On 2 December 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi, and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates after Britain left the Persian Gulf in 1971. Oil was discovered 120 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, after which the town granted oil concessions.

After the devaluation of the Gulf Rupee in 1966, Dubai joined the newly independent state of Qatar to set up a new monetary unit, the Qatar/Dubai riyal. Until the 1930s, the town was known for its pearl exports. The town of Dubai was an important port of call for foreign tradesmen (chiefly Indians), who settled in the town. The rulers of Dubai fostered trade and commerce, unlike the town's neighbors.

In March 1892 the Trucial States (or Trucial Oman) were created. Like four of its neighbours, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it an important location. Dubai came under the protection of the United Kingdom (keeping out the Ottoman Turks) by the Exclusive Agreement of 1892. In 1835, Dubai and the rest of the Trucial States signed a maritime truce with Britain and a "Perpetual Maritime Truce" about two decades later.

An attempt by the Qawasim pirates to take over Dubai was thwarted. From that point on, Dubai, a newly independent emirate, was constantly at odds with the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In 1833, the Al Maktoum dynasty of the Bani Yas tribe left the settlement of Abu Dhabi and took over the town of Dubai, "without resistance". On 8 Jan 1820 the then sheikh of Dubai was a signatory to the British sponsored "General Treaty of Peace" (the General Maritime Treaty).

Earlier in the 18th century the Al Abu Falasa lineage of Bani Yas clan established itself in Dubai which was a dependent of the settlement of Abu Dhabi until 1833. There are records of the town of Dubai from 1799. . A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) [4] and now, increasingly, from tourism.

Dubai is distinct from other members of the UAE in that revenues from oil account for only 6% of its gross domestic product. The town of Hatta is an exclave of the emirate of Dubai and borders Al Wajajah, Oman. The emirate is located on the Persian Gulf, southwest of Sharjah and northeast of Abu Dhabi, and reaches into the interior. Dubai is the second largest emirate in the federation after Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was earlier the crown prince of Dubai is one of the Sheikh's younger brothers. The new Ruler who is also the Vice-President and the Prime Minister of the UAE is H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was also the Vice-President of the federation of the United Arab Emirates. The ruler of Dubai was the late H.H.

Dubai or Dubayy (in Arabic: دبيّ, IPA /ðʊ'bɪ/, generally /dʊ'baɪ/ in English) refers to either. Published: December 4, 2005. FATTAH. ^  "Young Iranians Follow Dreams to Dubai." The New York Times, by HASSAN M.

Jebel Ali. Mina' Rashid. 1949). 4 Jan 2006 - Present Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (b.

2006). 1943 - d. 7 Oct 1990 - 4 Jan 2006 Sheikh Maktoum III ibn Rashid Al Maktoum (b. 1990).

1912 - d. Sep 1958 - 7 Oct 1990 Sheikh Rashid II ibn Said Al Maktoum (b. 18 April 1929 - Sep 1958 Sheikh Said II ibn Maktoum (2nd time) (s.a.). 15 April 1929 - 18 April 1929 Sheikh Mani ibn Rashid.

1958). 1878 - d. Nov 1912 - 15 April 1929 Sheikh Said II ibn Maktoum (1st time) (b. 1912).

1851 - d. 16 Feb 1906 - Nov 1912 Sheikh Bati ibn Suhayl (b. 1906). - d.

18. 7 April 1894 - 16 Feb 1906 Sheikh Maktoum II ibn Hushur (b. 1894). 22 Nov 1886 - 7 April 1894 Sheikh Rashid I ibn Maktoum (d.

1886). 1859 - 22 Nov 1886 Sheikh Hushur ibn Maktoum (d. 1859). 1852 - 1859 Sheikh Said I ibn Bati (d.

1852). 9 June 1833 - 1852 Sheikh Maktoum I ibn Bati ibn Suhayl (d. - 9 June 1833 Sheikh `Ubayd ibn Said. ...

that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai City" to distinguish it from the emirate. one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Peninsula, or.