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Dubai

Dubai
	Country	United Arab Emirates
	Population	2,262,000
	Area	4,114 sq km
	Language	Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Persian, Tagalog, Bengali
	Currency	Dubai, Dirham (AED)
		1.000000DH (AED) = 0.272235$ (USD)

London, Paris, New York ….and Dubai. It’s up there with the big, cosmopolitan, fashionable cities, but it is in fact a country in its own right, the second largest emirate making up the United Arab Emirates.
 
Located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula Dubai’s present population stands at about 2,262,000 residents (2008)  99% of which are concentrated in the city. The population is consists of 17% UAE nationals (the original Emiratis or Bedoiuns), 71% are migrants and workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Philippines, and other Asian nations, and approximately 3% come from western countries. The Asian migrants are of huge importance the structure of Dubai society as they undertake all the menial tasks the wealthy and well educated Emiratis won’t – they are maids, gardeners, taxi drivers.
 
Citizenship of Dubai cannot be applied for as in other countries; it is reserved only for the original families and those born to parents of UAE nationality. It can therefore not really be considered as a retirement haven, but living and working here for a time would be an exciting experience. Not only that the standard of living is very high and most expat workers have extremely good salaries, sizeable allowances for housing and schooling etc. and good tax breaks.
 

Dubai is really two towns, Deira to the north and Bur Dubai to the south; they are separated by an inlet from the Gulf – Khor Dubai. Both centres are full of busy souks  (markets), shopping malls and attractive traditional buildings. Deira is considered the real core of the city, but Downtown Dubai, with its glittering glass buildings, is now emerging as the financial and business core of Dubai. Here you will find the Dubai International Finance Centre – the Wall Street of the Middle East.

Dubai is a very wealthy little state and a playground for the rich and famous….opulent hotels, casinos, beach clubs; superlatives describe everything from the man-made Palm Islands to the world's tallest structure - the 828 m (2,717 ft) tall Burj Khalifa, opened in January 2010.  Dubai is a brand name in itself, started from scratch and aggressive marketing over the last few years has certainly attracted investment. Whether such a small nation can sustain this remains to be seen. The stock market has been hit hard in the last year and the real estate market is hyperinflationary, leading many expats to pack up and go home.
 
As well as being an international conference and business centre, Dubai is an exciting holiday destination offering beach resorts, fantastic scuba diving, desert safaris and dune driving amongst many others. The shopping possibilites are endless….Persion rugs, the Gold souk, and a gargantuan duty free area at the airport where the range of electrical and photographic goods is unsurpassed.
 
Unlike the other Emirates, you can drink alcohol here in the main hotels….restaurants and cafes outside of the hotels are not permitted to sell alcohol, but you can consume in your own home. There is zero tolerance for drinking and driving. There is virtually no crime – the repercussions are too severe and include huge fines, prison time and even deportation.
 
Buying Property

New laws about foreigners owning property have recently been passed which makes Dubai a prospective real estate market. Foreigners can now buy properties in certain areas of Dubai. Since the announcement on March 12 2006 that non United Arab Emirates nationals may be given the right to own freehold properties massive interest has been stirred in overseas property development. As yet demand outstrips supply and many off-plan developments sell out within days of release.
 
Visa requirements are dependent on your nationality. Gulf State and UK citizens require no visa, most of the countries of Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand receive visitor visas on arrival in the country. Some nationalities need to apply for a visa in their home country before arriving in Dubai.

GCC (Gulf State) nationals can stay more or less as long they like. British citizens can stay for a month and then apply for a visa for a further two months. European, American, South African and Australian citizens may obtain a visit visa from the UAE embassy in their respective countries before departure. Israelis and travellers whose Passports bear Israeli stamps will be denied a visa.
 
You cannot work in Dubai without a work permit and you cannot get a work permit without a residence visa. Many people go to Dubai on a visitor visa for business and and then extend their visas, thereafter leaving the country on a short visa run. Most expats who work in Dubai have been sent there on a short term contract, and their employer deals with their visa and residency paperwork.
 
The best time to visit is between November and April when it is coolest…the heat, in the summer months is in the 40degC and requires moving from one air conditioned environment to another.
 
The infrastructure is highly modern….good telephone, mobile and internet access, fantastic roads, high quality cars and taxis, and food of every variety. All this does come at a price though, and it is not a cheap destination.
 
Healthcare is of a very high standard; there is a state funded health system, but expatriates and foreigners are advised to take out private medical insurance. The hospitals and clinics are very well equipped and not busy.
 
It is a Muslim country so visitors need to be aware of this and dress codes; walking around the Souks and galleries half naked is not recommended and would be considered offensive to the locals. Skimpy clothes should be restricted to the beach resorts.
 
There is a certain amount of government censorship of internet and newspapers, which is something to get used to, and most foreigners who work in Dubai will have their passports lodged by their employers.
 
If you can cope with some of the downsides, a few years of modern living in Dubai can be rewarding; it has all the advantages of living in a big progressive city without any of the downsides …no crime, pollution or poverty.
 
Average costs for a couple in rented property/month 

Rent of 2 bed apart.    $2,500
Utilities inc tv  $250
Maid (full time)   $250
Transport    $300
Internet   $70
Health ins.   $250
Food  $700
Total   $4,320