7 Fun Facts About Dubai That Will Fascinate You
Nothing fascinates the world at large quite as much as the dazzling opulence of Dubai. The largest city of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has developed a reputation over the last four decades for its wealth, impressive architecture, and absolutely massive shopping empire.
Established formally as a city in 1822, Dubai’s history stretches far further back than this, with roots in the Minoan era. Then, it was a marshy land full of mangrove shrubs–a far cry from the skyscraper forest it’s known as today! After the oil boom of the 1960’s, Dubai grew steadily, and now millions of visitors annually come to Dubai to browse souks, marvel at the towers, eat food both delicious and innovative, and explore the emirate’s many historic sights.
In a city so storied, of course there are some aspects that are perhaps a bit… quirkier, shall we say, than others. Keep these fun facts about Dubai in your pockets for your next dinner party, and you’ll be sure to impress your fellow guests.
1. Gold Vending Machines
Dubai is one of the great gold capitals of the world, so it’s quite easy to purchase gold there. Like, really, really easy: there are Gold to Go vending machines all over the city, in places like the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, making for a quick and fun way to purchase genuine gold bars and coins while you’re out and about. In terms of exchange rates, though, the Gold Souk is probably the better option for your wallet.
2. World’s Tallest Structure
Speaking of Dubai’s incredible Burj Khalifa–did you know it’s officially the world’s tallest structure? Topping out at a jaw-dropping 2,717 feet when it was opened in 2010, it outstrips its predecessor Taipei 101 by just over 1,000 feet. Talk about sky-high grandeur!
3. Law Enforcement’s Luxury Rides
Dubai is of course synonymous with luxury, and the city’s police force is no exception. Law enforcement here gets to drive some truly amazing high-end vehicles, from Mercedes Maybachs and Lamborghini Aventadors to the rare Aston Martin One-77, these splashy cars aren’t really used for actual policing, but serve more as symbols of prestige and make for good public relations, being regularly featured on social media worldwide.
4. Gold Plated Hospitality
What may be the peak in Emirati opulence is the magnificent Jumeirah Burj al Arab. Over 22,000 square feet of surfaces in the distinctively sail-shaped hotel are covered in 24-karat gold leaf–everything from architectural features like the columns and ceilings, to TV screens and toiletries might be draped in the stuff! You can even ingest it, if you like; the hotel’s Sahn Eddar Lounge serves an Ultimate Gold Cappuccino, with 24-karat gold leaf blended into the drink’s milk foam, and a Valrhona chocolate and gold-coated marshmallow treat served alongside.
5. Decadent Degustation
If gold-plated food sounds like something you’d enjoy more of, fear not–Dubai has a number of restaurants offering shiny, high-end culinary indulgences. The Novikov Café serves an indulgent French toast plate with fresh fruit compote and gold flakes as toppings; The Cullinan, not content with simply serving the world’s most expensive cut of meat, also tops its delectable Wagyu sandwich bites with gold leaf. And of course, quite famously, the Nusr-Et restaurant owned by celebrity chef Nusr-et “Salt Bae” Gokse, dishes up gold-leaf encrusted Tomahawk steaks, and dinner for five here will only set you back a cool Dh12,500, or about $3,500 USD.
6. Miles of Magnificence
The gold enthusiasm doesn’t stop at food and decor, either. In 2015, Dubai crafted the world’s longest gold chain for the Dubai Shopping Festival; made of 22-karat gold, the chain measured out at just over 18,000 feet and weighed 530 pounds! Even more impressive is that this is only one of their more than 400 Guinness World Records, the most of any Middle Eastern country.
7. Flower Power
But it’s not just about precious metals, Dubai also has some incredible beauty from the natural world available to admire. The stunning Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest flower display, with 780,000 square feet of floral sculptures and flowering plants filling the air with their deliciously heady perfume. The display is changed seasonally, so if you get to visit multiple times a year, it’ll be like a new garden every time!
Dubai: Land of Wonders
From swamplands to splendor, Dubai has a truly storied history, and its evolution and commitment to increasing excellence are marvelous to behold. To visit Dubai is to truly be a part of world history every day; as fun as my list of facts is, they’re also undeniable evidence that Dubai is a land of achievement, ever more impressive with every year that passes. Here, even the sky is no limit–and it’s exciting to see what marvels they’ll come up with next.
FAQs about Dubai
According to the Dubai statistics bureau, the population of Dubai is over four million people.
You certainly can! Airlines like Emirates, Qatar Air, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all allow falcons on their planes in some capacity, whether in cabin or in special cargo. Per UAE law, the birds must each have their own passports, and you will be limited as to how many you can bring with you.
Being in a desert climate, Dubai is pretty warm year-round. However, the summer months can be a bit brutal; from June to September, temperatures can climb as high as 120F and only drop to about 88F in the evenings. There’s plenty of air-conditioning, though, no worries.
In fact, it’s not! That designation goes to Abu Dhabi, about 150 kilometers southwest. But that’s only in terms of land mass (26,000 square miles vs 1,588 square miles); Dubai beats Abu Dhabi in population numbers.
If you’re not much of a hot weather lover, try going from December to February. It’ll be cooler, but still pleasant, so you can still indulge in outdoor fun like jet-skiing and swimming, you can shop the outdoor markets in comfort, and don’t worry about missing Christmas festivities–the Winter Expo is always in full swing each early December!
