Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the south west corner of the Arabian Gulf. It is extremely well known for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage, and the Emirati people are welcoming and generous in their approach to visitors. With year-round sunshine, intriguing deserts, beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels and shopping malls, fascinating heritage attractions and a thriving business community, Dubai receives millions of leisure and business visitors each year from around the world.

Dubai’s economy is based on tourism, banking, and the development of industry-specific zones for different economic activity, such as healthcare services, media, financial services, technology, etc.

Dubai is ranked the second world’s most popular destination for shopping after the United States and ahead of popular shopping destinations like Singapore, France, UK, and Hong Kong among others. With a long history as a trading hub, today Dubai is synonymous with shopping. From souk to shopping mall, Dubai has it all – duty free, gold, electronics, textiles, cars – and is a true shopper’s paradise. Hotel bars range from sophisticated cocktail lounges to typically informal British and Irish pubs and Western-style lounges.

Dubai has a relaxed dress code, but care should be taken not to give offence by wearing clothing, which may be considered revealing, such as low-cut dresses, very short skirts, or tight jeans. Men should always wear a shirt or top in public. Swimwear should be confined to the pool or the beaches.