The Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located on the south coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. It is the most populous emirate, with about 4.8 million residents (4,807,185 on 29 September 2026), and has the second-largest land area after Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates with veto power over matters of critical national importance in the federal legislature.
Its geographical location made Dubai an important trading hub, and by the early 20th century it was a significant port. Jebel Ali Port opened in 1979, and the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) was launched in 1985, allowing foreign companies full ownership and free repatriation of capital. Today Dubai is a global city and an international business hub.
Dubai's economy was built on trade and, to a smaller extent, oil. Oil and gas now contribute only around 1% of GDP. Dubai's GDP was AED 541 billion in 2024 at current prices (about US$ 147 billion), and reached about AED 355 billion in the first nine months of 2025, up 4.7% year on year. In the first half of 2025, wholesale and retail trade was the largest sector at about 24% of GDP, followed by finance and insurance (12.5%), real estate (8.2%) and construction (6.7%).
Dubai's external trade passed AED 3 trillion in 2025. At UAE level, China was the largest non-oil trading partner in the first half of 2026, followed by Switzerland and India. Dubai's own top trading partners may differ from the UAE-level ranking.
Jebel Ali Port handled 15.5 million TEU in 2024 and ranked ninth among container ports worldwide. It has an annual container capacity of 19.4 million TEU across four terminals. It is the largest man-made harbour in the world and the biggest port in the Middle East. Dubai is also a hub for service industries such as information technology, finance and media, with industry-specific free zones throughout the city. Dubai has over 20 free zones. Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, part of TECOM, host companies such as Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, and media organisations such as CNN, BBC, Reuters and Sky News.
Dubai's rise as a business centre is supported by:
Throughout the year Dubai hosts international events in technically advanced and secure venues. Major examples include GITEX Global, Gulfood, Arabian Travel Market and the Dubai Airshow. Dubai hosted Expo 2020 from October 2021 to March 2022, and the site now operates as Expo City Dubai.
Tourism is a core pillar of Dubai's economic strategy. Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, up 5% from 18.72 million in 2024, a third consecutive record year. December 2025 was the first month to exceed 2 million visitors (2.04 million). Hotel occupancy averaged 80.7%, with 154,264 rooms across 827 establishments.
Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East" and has 100+ shopping malls and centres. Dubai Mall is often described as the largest mall in the world by total area. Major retail events include the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS).
Dubai is also known for its souk districts located on either side of the creek. Traditionally, dhows from the Far East, China, Sri Lanka and India would discharge their cargo and the goods would be bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks. The Gold Souk in Deira houses 250+ gold retail shops, and Dubai is known as "the City of Gold". Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport is one of the world's largest airport retail operations. The most striking feature of Dubai is the establishment of its Free Zones in several sectors.
Transport in Dubai is managed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). In 2025, public transport, shared mobility and taxis carried 802.1 million riders. The share of trips made by public transport and shared mobility has risen from 6% in 2006 to 22.3% in 2025, and RTA targets 25% by 2030.
Major routes connecting Dubai to other cities and emirates include E 11 (Sheikh Zayed Road), E 311 (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road), E 611 (Emirates Road), E 44 (Dubai-Hatta Highway), E 77 (Dubai-Al Habab Road) and E 66 (Dubai-Al Ain Road / Oud Metha Road).
Important intra-city routes include 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). The eastern and western sides of the city are connected by Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Business Bay Crossing, the Floating Bridge and the Infinity Bridge (opened January 2022). The Al Shindagha Tunnel (opened 1975) remains in use. The 13-km Al Shindagha Corridor project has added new bridges and upgraded 15 major intersections, with the Bur Dubai-side phases completed in May 2025.
Dubai's taxi sector had a registered fleet of 14,476 vehicles in 2025, carrying 209 million passengers over 120.1 million trips, and about 90% of the operational fleet is hybrid or electric. Ride-hailing and shared-mobility services also operate alongside taxis.
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the hub of Emirates Airline, handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025 (up 3.1%) and 454,800 flight movements. It was the world's busiest airport for international passengers for the 11th consecutive year. It handled about 2.15 million tonnes of cargo in 2025.
Emirates served 152 cities in 80 countries as of 31 March 2026. The current destination count may differ, as the network was restored in stages after regional disruption in early 2026.
Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central, DWC) is being expanded with a US$ 35 billion investment. It will handle 150 million passengers a year within the next decade and ultimately 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo, making it the largest airport in the world once complete. The expansion is phased through the 2030s.
Dubai Metro, the first urban rail network in the Arabian Peninsula, opened on 9 September 2009. The network has the Red and Green lines plus the Route 2020 branch, totalling about 90 km and 53 stations. The Dubai Tram adds 10.6 km and 11 stations, bringing the metro and tram total to about 101 km and 64 stations. The network has been operated by Keolis-MHI since September 2021 (previously Serco).
The Metro Blue Line (30 km, 14 stations) is under construction. Work reached 20% completion in May 2026, with 30% targeted by the end of 2026 and the opening planned for 9 September 2029. A further Gold Line was announced in April 2026.
The Palm Jumeirah Monorail opened on 30 April 2009. The Dubai Tram opened in November 2014 and runs along Al Sufouh Road through Dubai Marina and JBR. The proposed Downtown Burj Khalifa tram was not built.
Etihad Rail's national passenger network was officially launched on 30 September 2026, linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah. The Dubai station (Al Yalayis, near Jumeirah Golf Estates) connects to Dubai Metro by a pedestrian bridge, and the Abu Dhabi to Dubai journey takes about 57 minutes. Sharjah station is scheduled to open on 30 March 2027.
There are two major commercial ports in Dubai, Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port. A traditional way of getting across from Bur Dubai to Deira is by abra, a small boat that ferries passengers across Dubai Creek between abra stations such as Bastakiya and Baniyas. The RTA also operates the Dubai Water Bus, water taxis and ferry services.
UAE culture revolves around Islam and traditional Arab and Bedouin heritage, while Dubai itself is a highly cosmopolitan city with a diverse and vibrant culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is very prominent. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques scattered around the country.
The UAE federal government moved to a Saturday-Sunday weekend on 1 January 2022, with Friday a half working day for government entities. Dubai government employees work a 4.5-day week. Private-sector working hours vary by company.
Dubai is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Around 85-90% of residents are expatriates, and Indians are the largest community. The city's early pearling community was joined by Iranian traders in the early 1900s and by South Asian workers and professionals from the 1960s onward. Labour rights and the working conditions of migrant workers have drawn international attention and criticism.
Major public holidays include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Commemoration Day (1 December) and National Day (2 December), which marks the formation of the UAE in 1971. Annual events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) attract visitors from across the region. Large shopping malls such as Deira City Centre, Mirdiff City Centre, BurJuman, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall and Ibn Battuta Mall, as well as the traditional souks, attract shoppers from the region.
A strict Islamic dress code is not compulsory in Dubai. Most Emirati men wear a kandura, an ankle-length white garment of wool or cotton, and most Emirati women wear an abaya, a black over-garment. This attire is particularly well-suited to the hot, dry climate. Western-style clothing is common because of the large expatriate population.
Etiquette is an important aspect of UAE culture and tradition, and visitors are expected to respect local customs and dress modestly in public places such as malls, government buildings and mosques. Swimwear is acceptable only at beaches and pools.
The United Arab Emirates is part of the khaliji tradition and is also known for Bedouin folk music. Traditional songs and dances are still performed at celebrations, and Al Ayyala and Yowlah are among the traditional performances.
Hollywood and Indian movies are popular in Dubai. The Dubai International Film Festival ran from 2004 to 2017 (last edition). Major concerts and shows take place at venues such as Coca-Cola Arena and Dubai Opera, and the city hosts the Dubai World Cup horse race at Meydan.