Dubai, Metropolitan city in Persian Gulf, United Arab Emirates.
This sprawling metropolis extends along the coast with manmade islands visible offshore and a district of glass towers following a main highway. A historic waterway divides older neighborhoods, while newer developments spread from beachfront areas to yacht harbors, mixing residential blocks with shopping centers and office buildings. Skyscrapers of steel and reflective glass rise beside lower structures featuring traditional wind towers once used for natural cooling.
Fishing families and pearl divers formed a settlement at a creek mouth during the seventeen hundreds under the governance of a Bedouin tribe. The collapse of the pearling trade in the nineteen thirties prompted economic restructuring through commerce and re-export operations. After the nation joined together in the early seventies, petroleum extraction accelerated infrastructure growth and property developments that started in the mid-eighties, permanently reshaping the landscape.
The emirate permits multiple religious communities to maintain public places of worship, including Christian churches, Hindu temples, and Sikh gurdwaras, while mosques define the skyline. Expatriate communities preserve their traditions through cultural associations and multilingual schools. Gold trading continues daily in traditional souks where sellers negotiate prices based on weight and craftsmanship, maintaining a practice passed down through centuries.
November through March brings comfortable temperatures, while summer months from June through August see extreme heat that exceeds forty degrees Celsius. The international airport lies to the east with direct flights to over two hundred fifty cities worldwide. Taxis operate with meters, and ride services like Uber and Careem work throughout with apps offered in English. Many shopping centers stay open until midnight and provide free air conditioning as a refuge from outdoor heat.
The world's tallest tower uses several tons of electricity daily for exterior lighting during twilight hours. The structure collects millions of liters of condensation annually from internal air conditioning systems for reuse. Cleaning the outer facade requires three-month cycles with teams using mechanized platforms on the glass shell. Visitors often notice the constant movement of workers on ropes along the reflective surface throughout the day.
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