Sheikhs, oil, skyscrapers - we are sure that most of us have these three words that come to mind when we mention them.
Also, the Emirates is on the list of countries where it is warm in winter. But we decided to expand your understanding of this country a little and have prepared 25 interesting facts about the UAE.
1. The United Arab Emirates is a unique country; for some 40 years there was only desert on this territory.
2. The UAE is truly a rich country. There are 59 thousand dollar millionaires per 5 million population.
3. The UAE has excellent social security. Thus, for the birth of a boy, the state makes a gift to the family in the amount of $50 thousand.
4. Each young family in the UAE receives from the government a comfortable villa and 70 thousand dirhams (about $19 thousand) for a wedding.
5. The average monthly salary of a civil servant is about $10,000
6. All these benefits apply only to local residents. 70% of the UAE population are workers from South and Southeast Asia who earn $200-300 per month.
7. The UAE is a Muslim country, and there are a lot of prohibitions, especially related to alcohol. Thus, in the emirate of Sharjah there is a complete ban on alcohol, the consumption and transportation of which is considered a criminal offense.
8. In the UAE, it is prohibited to photograph government buildings, military installations, mansions, palaces, flags, and local women; men are allowed only with their permission.
9 . The Emirates are hell for a hitchhiker, this is an administrative violation.
10. The government restricts freedom of speech. There is no yellow press in the UAE; they do not write about the personal lives of sheikhs.
11. Facebook and many other sites are blocked in the UAE. According to the Telecommunications Supervision Committee, which controls access to the Internet, it may contain information that is harmful, from the point of view of the Koran.
12. Non-Muslim tourists in the UAE are not allowed to visit mosques. By the way, for tourists, the Sharjah region is an excellent option for a trip, and you can find out about the cost of a tour there on the websites of specialized travel agencies.
13. By the way, you should take off your shoes when entering mosques and houses. Prayers should not be walked around in front.
14. Littering on the streets is strictly prohibited. The fine for throwing garbage on the street is 500 dirhams, even if you just missed the trash can.
15. Fines for violating traffic rules are enormous. Running a red light costs $800
16. traffic police in United Arab Emirates No. All violations are recorded by cameras, and at the end of the year, when passing a technical inspection, the driver is billed.
17. All bus stops in the same Dubai are equipped with air conditioning.
18. The coldest months in the UAE are December and January. At this time, the air temperature during the day is on average +28, at night +18. The question of where it’s warm in winter disappears by itself.
19. One of the favorite sports in the UAE is camel racing. Moreover, now camels are controlled by miniature robots.
20. The UAE loves gold very much. According to statistics, each resident of the United Arab Emirates buys 38 grams of gold per year.
21. An Arab man should give 5 kilograms of gold jewelry in case of matchmaking with an Arab woman.
22. Arab men are increasingly marrying foreign women: there is no need to pay relatives for a bride.
23. In the UAE, people often marry not for love, but at the will of their parents - conservatism and religious customs leave no chance for young people to choose their life partner on their own.
24. The UAE has big problems with water. 30% comes from natural sources, the rest is so-called desalinated water.
25. Very soon, most emirates will run out of oil reserves. The only exception is the state of Abu Dhabi.
What comes to your mind when you first mention UAE? Surely, oil, sheikhs and fantastic skyscrapers, right? It's right. But we want to expand your knowledge, and we invite you to learn something more interesting about the state, which just a few decades ago was just a desert. So, some interesting facts about the UAE.
About people
The UAE is a very rich country. A little more than 5 million people live in it, including 59 thousand dollar millionaires. The sheikh rules the state, and power is inherited. The country takes care of its newborns and at birth each child receives a huge social package. Boys are especially lucky: at birth, the family receives 50 thousand dollars. Until they reach adulthood, each child receives $150 per month. The state also takes care of young families. The government allocates from 18 to 30 thousand dollars for a wedding, and the young family receives a comfortable villa as a gift. In general, the local population receives free education, free medicine and has the right to free housing. The indigenous population in the UAE is small, less than 13%. The rest of the country's inhabitants are from South Asia and the Philippines. They mostly work (the cheapest labor). The average Arab earns about $15,000 a year in the UAE and has a $2,000 benefit. And a government employee earns about $10,000 a month. By the way, women can serve in the UAE army and police.
About oil, money and gold
Thanks to income from oil production and skillful investment of capital in the development of industry and agriculture, the country has become one of the most successful in the world. Tourism has begun to develop rapidly in the UAE, which is an integral part of the country's economy. And oil in the UAE is much cleaner than in Russia. The country has the highest number of ATMs per capita in the world. There is even an ATM that dispenses gold bars (at the Emirates Palace Hotel). In the UAE, everyone loves gold. Can you imagine that every resident of the Emirates buys 38 grams of gold annually. If an Arab wants to marry an Arab woman, then on the day of matchmaking he is obliged to give at least 5 kg of gold jewelry. Dubai is the center of jewelry trade in the Middle East. The country's jewelers constantly surprise with their products. So, in 1999, a gold chain was made, 4 kilometers long and 22 carats. Confectioners are not far behind. In the UAE, cupcakes sell for $1,000 each. This is the Golden Phoenix. All the decorations on it are made of edible gold and chocolate, and the cupcake is sprinkled with gold dust on top. Same thing pastry served on a 24k gold cake stand.
About buildings
The most phantasmagoric buildings in the world were first built in Dubai. For example, the World Trade Center skyscraper in 1979, which remained the tallest in the world until 1991. What can we say about the Burj Khalifa tower, which soars 828 meters into the air. And the fountain, which is located near the tower, shoots jets of water at 130 meters, and the illumination of the fountain is visible at 35 meters in height. It also has its own “leaning tower” - Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi, with the largest slope in the world. The tallest residential building in the world was also built in Dubai - the Princes Tower residence (height 414 meters). The list of the largest mosques in the world includes the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which can accommodate up to 41 thousand believers, has the largest chandelier in the world (15 m high, 10 m in diameter and weighs more than 9 tons) and a carpet , listed in the Guinness Book of Records (its length is 133 m, width 48 m, weight 48 tons). And the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah is even visible from space. In the near future, it is planned to open its own Disneyland - Dubailand, which will be twice the size of its brother.
About prohibitions and laws
Since the UAE is a Muslim country, prohibitions are strictly observed here and people live according to the laws of the Koran. The sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in three emirates. The country does not allow photography of government institutions, military installations, private buildings or women. If you decide to hitchhike around the country, this may be fraught with an administrative violation. Freedom of speech is difficult in the UAE. You will not find anything about the personal lives of sheikhs in any publication. Also, on the Internet, many people are blocked social networks, including Facebook. From the Quran's point of view, the Internet may contain harmful information. If you are not a Muslim, you are not allowed to enter the mosque (except in those that are public places). When entering the mosque, you must take off your shoes. In the UAE you will pay fines for any reason - for throwing garbage on the street the fine is almost $136, for running a red light - $800, etc. But punishment is not limited to fines. Punishment in the form of public beatings or stoning is quite possible. For adultery, you can generally lose your head.
About entertainment
Since the United Arab Emirates is located in the desert, one of the most popular entertainments here is the racing of “ships of the desert” - camels. In the past, the races involved riders. Now the camels are controlled by robots. As an alternative to camel racing, desert jeep safaris are offered. A popular entertainment in the UAE is falconry - an elite entertainment and a privilege of the nobility. This is because the cost of birds is affordable only for rich people in the UAE. Arabs love cinema. For example, on the island of Sir Bani Yas, you can watch movies simply in the open air, sitting comfortably on a sun lounger. If you want to plunge into winter, go to Ski Dubai Park. All conditions for a ski holiday have been created here: slopes, ski lifts, areas for snowboarders, snowball fights, snow slides and equipment rentals for winter sports. The Emirati authorities are trying to turn any deserted piece of land into an oasis. But besides bushes, little grows in the desert. That's why palm trees are planted. Pleasure is not cheap. One palm tree costs about 10 thousand dollars. Since the climate in the country is hot all year round, the government has ensured that bus stops in the country are closed and air-conditioned.
And this is just part interesting facts about the United Arab Emirates. Going on vacation to the country of green oases and majestic dunes, you will get the most indelible impressions and an unforgettable adventure. The state took care of this. We wish you good luck!
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What is the Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a state consisting of seven small emirates, each of which is also a small state with absolute monarchy. These are the emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Sharjah.
The state is headed by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, the government is headed by the Emir of Dubai.
Power throughout the state is inherited.
Coat of arms, flag, anthem of the UAE
- The coat of arms depicts a falcon - a symbol of autocracy in the country; it has 7 feathers in its tail, the feathers symbolize the seven emirates. Falcon yellow color is the color of the desert, which occupies most of the country.
The four-color flag (red, green, white and black) also symbolizes national unity.
And here is the translation of the anthem text into Russian (approximately):
Prosper, my country, the union of our Emirates lives,
You exist for the sake of the nation,
Whose religion is Islam and whose commandment is the Koran,
I made you stronger in the name of God, oh Motherland,
My country, my country, my country, my country
God always protects you from adversity,
We vowed to build and work,
Work sincerely, work sincerely,
Until our last breath we will be sincere, sincere,
Security has allowed our flag to fly, O our Emirates,
Symbol of the Arab world
We sacrifice ourselves for you, we support you with our blood,
We invest our souls in you, O Motherland!
People are like people
Only indigenous residents - 11 percent, ethnic Arabs - a third of the 4.8 million population, that is, 1.6 million people. There were once 59 thousand dollar millionaires (of course, this number does not include people from South Asia and the Philippines - Pakistanis, Indians, etc.). Now, maybe this figure is even higher. Well, incomes are growing, there are more and more millionaires...
Local residents speak Arabic, most of them speak English. Hotels have Russian-speaking staff, and in shops and shopping centers there are sellers who speak Russian.
Such difficult Arab sheikhs
Sheikhs are members of the ruling families of the emirates that make up the UAE. This title is obtained for life. (Sheikh is like a prince in Ancient Rus'). Each emirate has its own ruling dynasty.
- Founder of the UAE - Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - legendary personality. This is the 14th ruler from the Al Nahyan family, who has ruled the territory of the emirate of Abu Dhabi for about 250 years. Sheikh Zayed raised 19 sons who now occupy high government positions or run their own businesses. One of the sons, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan since November 3, 2004. holds the position of ruler (president) of the UAE.
Forbes magazine estimated Sheikh Zayed's fortune at $20 billion. Sheikh Zayed died in 2004. The cause of his death has not been announced.
The Emirate of Dubai has begun to change better side under Sheikh Rasheen bin Said Al Maktoum (reigned from 1958 to 1990) This remarkable sheikh began to invest oil revenues in the country's infrastructure, strengthening the authority of Dubai as a zone of free enterprise and trade. The current ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, continues the planned line.
Sheikhs, of course, are very rich people - they buy islands, yachts, gold laptops and smartphones, what are smartphones - golden Jacuzzis, which are made with such buyers in mind.
These are some of the richest people in the world. They live in the most beautiful, luxuriously furnished palaces, which are prohibited from being photographed. Like many ordinary mortals, sheikhs are educated, very smart, love horses, gold and beautiful women(keep up to 4 wives - the Koran allows), some write poetry (for example, Sheikh of Dubai Muhammad bin Rashid al Maktoum is a recognized poet), are fond of sports and care about the welfare of their emirate and its residents.
- One of the sheikhs recently became famous for writing his name in kilometer-long letters in the sand. Of course, he didn’t write it himself - workers worked for several weeks so that the name “HAMAD” could be seen even from space. A huge, never-before-seen autograph is located on Al Futaisi Island, 5 km from Abu Dhabi. Its length is 3 km, the letters are made by drainage trenches that absorb water (so that the inscription on the sand is not washed away by the ocean)
A sheikh with the name Hamad bin Hamdan al-Nahyan is over 60 years old, one of his nicknames is Sheikh Rainbow. According to rumors, the sheikh's car park contains 200 cars, and is built in the shape of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. In the car park there is a car, thanks to which the sheikh got his nickname. These are Mercedes 500 SELs, painted in seven colors of the rainbow.
Sheikhs usually do not waste time on trifles - this is not a royal business, so Sheikh Hamad has in his fleet the largest truck in the world with four bedrooms in the cab.
He also has a motor home - a giant vehicle in the shape of a globe. Its size is exactly a millionth of the size of our planet.
But this original sheikh is famous not only for flaunting his wealth, but also for his love for people and caring for them. Sheikh Hamad helps doctors with money, even built an entire nephrology medical center in Morocco with his own money and pays salaries to its staff.
The state takes care of its citizens
This is expressed in various benefits and gifts from the state that we, ordinary Russians, never dreamed of.
For example, each young family receives from the state a luxurious villa and 70 thousand dirhams for a wedding.
For the birth of a boy, the state makes a gift to the family - 50 thousand dollars.
Work and salaries
Almost all Arab men are in government service or running their own businesses.
The average monthly salary of civil servants is about $10,000; airport workers receive $20,000.
Get a job Good work It’s hard, companies try to select only the best personnel. Sometimes the competition reaches several dozen people per place.
During the term of the contract, it is not customary to change its terms and salary.
The Emirates tries to use cheap labor wherever possible, since it costs several times less than European labor.
Workers from South Asia and the Philippines earn $200 - $300 per month. Hindus, Filipinos, Pakistanis manage to live on this money, eat and send money home.
There are no taxes to pay in Dubai, which is why many wealthy people live here and run their businesses.
Alcohol in the UAE
In the Emirates, alcohol can be bought in hotels and restaurants, but it is highly not recommended to leave the hotel drunk to avoid problems with the police.
- It is allowed to import two liters of spirits and 2 liters of wine per person purchased at the airport or in a duty-free shop, but the person must be an adult and not a Muslim.
Drunk brawling can land you in jail.
In the emirate of Sharjah, a complete ban on alcohol, its transportation or consumption is considered a criminal offense.
A drop of nicotine kills a horse
And in general, smoking is harmful to health, but no one really pays attention to this. There are no problems with cigarettes, but smoking is prohibited indoors. Hookah smoking is common.
It is allowed to import 10 blocks of cigarettes, 2 kg of tobacco and 400 cigars.
Purebred Arabian horses
- Many consider this breed the most beautiful in the world. These horses are of pure blood, since the Arabs always cherished them like the apple of their eye, and are very expensive - the cost of some can reach several million dollars.
Pesnyar, an Arabian stallion born at the Stavropol Stud Farm, was sold in 1981 for $1 million. Another Arabian stallion, Menes, was leased in the USA for 2.4 million dollars... this is in Russia, that is, in the USSR.
Arabian horses are in the stables of Vladimir Putin - these are gifts from the King of Jordan and the former head of Pakistan - Musharraf, and in the stables of many heads of state.
At one time, the Arabian stallion Marengo rode under the saddle of Napoleon, and Smetanka, bought from the Turkish Sultan for a huge sum at that time, was used by Count Orlov to breed the famous Orlov trotting breed of horses.
Arabian horses are distinguished not only by their recognized grace and beauty, but also by their extremely flexible character and good temperament, as well as their soft and smooth gaits. These are horses worthy of carrying a person of royal blood in the saddle.
Desert ships
Camels are one of the symbols of the country and part of the local culture. However, young people prefer to drive around in air-conditioned super-expensive cars, and so that traditions do not fade away, the country began to hold an annual Camel Festival in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The nine-day program of the holiday, which attracts thousands of guests, includes camel racing (by the way, the animals are now often controlled by mini-robots at the races), an auction with fabulous prices, and a beauty contest for camels of different breeds - dark and light in color. The main sponsor of the festival is the President of the UAE, so the prizes are appropriate - large sums of money and luxury cars.
Buying a fur coat is a responsible matter
And it requires some knowledge. Fur coats are sold almost everywhere here, but the concentration of fur shops is Nasser Square in Dubai.
Fur coats of different styles, furs and manufacturers (from American to Greek and Italian). Light and heat do not affect fur, since fur coats are stored in special ventilated warehouses with air conditioning, under dim lighting. Prices are 20-50% lower than in Russia, depending on the fur and the model of the product.
Gold can be edible
At least in the Emirates, it is sometimes used when making cupcakes - they are wrapped in edible thin gold plates. This pleasure costs about 40,000 rubles. per piece, and is not served at the sheikh’s table, as you might think, but is sold in pastry shops.
- On average, gold consumption in the Emirates is 15 kg per year per person. This is how much they buy it and don’t eat it.
Here they sell and buy jewelry, household items, clothes - blouses and vests, cars covered with gold, and even a plane one prince dreamed of covering with gold.
In Abu Dhabi, there is a machine selling gold bars, the weight of which ranges from 1.5 to 10g.
Gold in the Emirates is sold in shops and shopping centers, but the Gold Souk in Dubai is especially famous. Gold Souk is one of the largest gold markets in the world.
At the Burj Al Arab hotel (Dubai), they make gold or platinum tattoos for everyone, but this is an expensive pleasure.
UAE reference pearls
Because of its qualities and unique shine.
Not long ago, in the emirate of Umm al-Quwain, the world's oldest pearl was found, its age is approximately 7.5 thousand years.
Pearls are currently grown in special farms, and tourists can visit interesting excursion to one of these farms in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.
Also the Jumeirah Group company since March 2, 2012. organized adventure boat trips for tourists. The excursion begins from the island of Palm Jebel Ali on a special Arabian dhow boat, and you can retrieve pearl-bearing shells from the bottom yourself (albeit under the guidance of experienced instructors).
White and black
These are the colors of national clothing. Men here wear white (sometimes a different color) tunics called dishdash, and they only wear suits to European business meetings. Women wear a long black abaya, with anything underneath, even branded European items.
Army
Both men and women from the age of 18 can serve in the UAE army. The service life is not specified. Many hired soldiers and ultra-modern military equipment- We must protect unimaginable riches and skyscrapers. The armed forces are the National Coast Guard, Navy (+Marines), Air Force and Air Defense.
Police
There are no traffic police here. All violations are recorded by special cameras, and at the end of the year the driver is issued an invoice when passing a technical inspection.
The police are strict, but calm and courteous. Many people wear civilian clothes, and there are a lot of police officers at the Gold Market.
If there are any mistakes or violations on your part, you cannot try to “agree” with the police - it is fraught with even bigger problems.
The police have the most modern equipment, mostly BMW cars, many SUVs.
In the UAE, it is customary to “knock” on the police for any reason. Hindus are especially guilty of this; it is encouraged in every possible way.
Sports, it’s here too
Gambling people live in the UAE, although gambling And sports betting prohibited here. One of my favorite sports is camel racing. They are held at specially equipped hippodromes.
The camels are controlled by special miniature robots. Camels are not at all such sedate animals as we are used to seeing them - in competitions they reach speeds of up to 60 km per hour.
Dubai also hosts international horse racing - these are the most expensive races in the world. Horses of the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, horses of sheikhs and leaders of other countries often participate in them.
In May 2001 The UAE became the first Arab country to be admitted to the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Dubai hosts the 24 Hours of Endurance Car Race.
Football is one of the most popular sports in the UAE.
Every year the UAE organizes world boat races.
For tourists there are aquatic species sports and entertainment, horse riding, bowling, tennis, diving, golf, skating, sailing, etc.
Photo for memory
In the UAE, it is prohibited to photograph sheikhs' palaces, mansions, government buildings, military installations, women (on purpose. If an Arab woman is not the main subject of photography, but appears in the “background” of the frame, it’s okay). Before taking a photograph of a man, you need to ask his permission.
Transport
For lovers of hitchhiking, there is disappointing news - you cannot hitchhike in the UAE, it is an administrative offense.
For violating traffic rules, the fines are very large - for example, driving through a red light will cost $800.
- In Dubai, bus stops are equipped with air conditioning.
There is a separate women's taxi for women, and buses have a separate section, just like the subway has a separate carriage. In general, traveling is not prohibited, but the women themselves then refuse because large quantity Hindus, Pakistanis and other public, “devouring” women with their gaze - this is due to living for a long time without wives.
The metro is not underground, but on the surface, a train without a driver.
Since 2013 In Dubai, it was planned to introduce an innovation - to place photographs of Dubai attractions on car license plates. Each car owner will be able to choose a photo from the proposed list. Proceeds from the sale of exclusive license plates will be used to help victims of road accidents and to improve traffic conditions. But at the time of publication of the article this was not implemented.
The most expensive license plate "1" was sold for $14 million at an auction in the UAE in 2008.
What color is the press in the UAE?
There is no yellow press in the UAE. Freedom of speech is limited, many sites containing information unacceptable from the point of view of the Koran are blocked.
Press coverage of the personal lives of sheikhs and in general ruling family prohibited.
Media in Russian: “Russian Radio in the UAE” 96.3 FM (since 2012, Radio Europe Plus has been broadcasting on this frequency in the UAE) “Russian Emirates” Magazine, “Business Emirates” Magazine, “Keys of the East” Guide.
Missed the ballot box - no excuse
The Emirates is very clean. Littering on the street is prohibited, and even if you miss the ballot box, you will have to pay a fine of 500 dirhams. It’s better, of course, not to litter, and therefore not to pay.
About the weather
The coldest months are December and January. Temperature during the day is + 28, at night - +18.
A unique experiment on creating artificial rain was conducted in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The experiment was successful, but cost $11 million. The customer of the project was the Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, one of the richest people in the world.
Now the UAE sheikhs can change the weather at will.
People meet, people fall in love, get married...
An Arab man can have up to four wives. Each equally receives material benefits (one gets a house, the other gets a house, also with cars, gold, etc.) and the attention of her husband. Polygamy is gradually disappearing - it is expensive.
In case of matchmaking with an Arab woman, a man must give her 5 kg of new gold jewelry. They also marry foreigners, but an Arab woman can only marry an Arab man.
Often people marry not for love, but according to the will of their parents. There are no “civil” marriages, cohabitation is prohibited.
About water
Despite the fact that the Emirates are located on the Arabian Peninsula, and sea water There's plenty of it, you can't drink it. Everyone probably read in childhood about travelers who were shipwrecked and drifting on some raft in the hope of being saved. Surely someone alone could not stand it and got drunk on salty sea water, and died in terrible agony.
Fresh water here is obtained from natural sources - about 30 percent, and 70 percent is artificially desalinated water (a labor-intensive and expensive process). Even though fresh water is clean, it is better to boil it rather than drink it raw from the tap.
About oil
The discovery of oil deposits gave impetus to the development and prosperity of the country. The oil is cleaner here and best quality than in Russia.
Capital
Abu Dhabi - beautiful city, in which bright and colorful fresh flowers are created various compositions in parks. In that amazing city Exotic plants were brought from all over the world.
The translation of the name of the emirate and the capital of the UAE is “father of the gazelle.” There is a legend - a hunter wounded a gazelle, and, getting lost in the heat of the chase, died of thirst. Not far from his body and the body of the killed gazelle, a source was discovered, which they called “Abu Dhabi”.
Dubai
Most Big City UAE. The world's largest shopping centers are concentrated here, the area of which is larger than the size of football fields, famous markets:
Fish, fruit and vegetable, where you can also buy small real sailors' pipes and strong tobacco to go with them,
Spice market - you can also buy incense, rose water, natural cosmetics from India, Iran, Pakistan, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka
Gold market,
Incense market - here they sell perfumes, Arabic aromatic oils with fabulously beautiful and mysterious names - “The Secret of the Harem”, “Bride of the Desert”, etc. In this market you can buy rare specimens perfumes and oils, existing in almost one copy. Oriental aromas are persistent and rich, spicy and sensual.
Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world, but the translation of its name does not sound so beautiful, approximately - “locust”, only in an affectionate version, such as “locust”.
Palm trees
These are artificial artificial islands in the form of palm trees - Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira. So far, only Jumeirah has developed urban infrastructure, with hotels, shops, restaurants, etc.
Marine life
As a trophy, if you are lucky, you can bring barracuda, small shark, stingray, tuna, king fish from fishing
Medicine
With the discovery of oil fields, huge investments were made in the development of medicine, modern medical centers, hospitals and clinics.
Both public and private medical services are flourishing; hospitals and clinics have modern equipment and a sufficient number of qualified personnel.
Education
Local residents can receive free higher education at any university in the world, but in order to avoid the outflow of young people, branches of the most famous and prestigious foreign universities have been opened in the UAE.
Holidays and other joys of life
The most important holiday is a religious one, during which fasting is observed. It is called Ramadan, and during it everyone, both foreigners and non-Muslims, is prohibited from eating or drinking on the streets until sunset. This can be done in a hotel, or in a very few restaurants, the windows of which are tightly curtained so as not to offend the feelings of those fasting. For violation there is a fine, and persistent violators are deported.
1st of January - New Year, December 2 is celebrated as the day of the formation of the state (the event occurred in 1971)
There are also religious holidays, the dates of which are determined by the phases of the moon by a special committee and may differ in different territories.
For local residents, entertainment is monotonous; mainly women and families go to malls (huge shopping centers) and restaurants for entertainment. Arab women do not have fun in discos and nightclubs.
Emirates Airlines
- Emirates is considered one of the best airlines in the world.
In 2012, the Emirates Airline brand was recognized as the most valuable brand in aviation ($3.2 billion).
The company's aircraft fly to 72 countries on all continents.
Rules of conduct in society
It is not customary to walk around those praying in front.
When entering a mosque or home, it is customary to take off your shoes.
You cannot point your feet towards another person.
You can't kiss or otherwise express your feelings on the street.
For making an indecent gesture or swearing in public, you can be fined or even imprisoned. Fighting is also prohibited. Therefore, everyone tries to be as polite as possible, and in the event of a conflict, the one who first contacted the police is usually right.
The shops
There are few people working 24/7; most of them close at 11 pm.
Not all pharmacies are open 24 hours
In the Emirates you can buy any goods and medicines.
Graduate of the Faculty of International Relations of the Far Eastern Federal University in 2011
Dubai is located in the southern part of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula, and is both a city and an emirate in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). Due to its advantageous strategic position, it was important shopping center since ancient times. The intricate architecture and multiculture make the UAE one of the most beautiful tourist hotspots in the world. Below is a list of interesting facts about Dubai and the UAE that you may not know.
Fact No. 1. The Persian Gulf was formerly known as the "Pirate Coast". Until 1853, tribes attacked merchant ships from India. The Al Maktoum dynasty has ruled Dubai since 1833.
Fact No. 2. Mohamed Bin Majid, considered the first Arab cartographer and navigator, was born in Julfar (present-day emirates of Ras al-Kheim and Sharjah) in 1421. He became famous in the West after he guided Vasco da Gama from Africa to India using Arabic maps, which were previously unknown to Europeans.
Fact No. 3. The United Arab Emirates, despite its name, has an Arab minority (13%), while South Asians (primarily from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) form the largest group.
Fact No. 4. Dubai has an area of 4114 square kilometers. This is larger in area than Singapore (687 km2), Hong Kong (1104 km2) and the Maldives (300 km2) combined.
Fact No. 5. The word Dubai may have come from Daba, which means crawl, denoting the process by which the Dubai Creek sea flows slowly into the interior of the emirate. Another interesting version, expressed by the poet Ahmad Mohammad Obaid, says that Dubai got its name from the word Daba, which is also called locust.
Fact No. 6. buildings
Dubai built its first skyscraper, the World Trade Center, in 1979. It remained the only skyscraper until 1991. There are currently around 450 single skyscrapers in Dubai.
The Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi is 160 meters high and is recognized as the building with the highest slope in the world. Its slope is four times greater than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The 35-storey building is the main building for the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition.
Dubai holds the record - the tallest residential building in the world is the Princess Tower residence, whose construction was completed in early 2012. It rises to 414 meters.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest in the country, located on 22,412 square meters and can accommodate approximately 41,000 worshippers. The mosque has the largest chandelier in the world - 15 meters high, 10 meters in diameter and weighing more than nine tons.
The Palm Jumeirah is the world's largest artificial island visible from space. The palm islands are built using land reclamation techniques. If the builders used all the sand that was spent on the construction of Palma to build a wall five meters high, it would be able to reach the Moon. Palm Island adds 520 kilometers of UAE coastline. Moreover, you can get there not only by car, but also by monorail (the only one now in the entire region). However, one of Dubai's most famous creations, World of Islands, is sinking back into the ocean.
Dubai asked Disneyland to consider an application to build a resort, but was refused because Dubai was too small. Therefore, Dubai decided to build its own theme park called Dubailand. When it opens, it will be twice the size of Disneyland Florida and is expected to become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 200,000 visitors per day. The park has already signed contracts with Marvel Comics, Universal Studios, and others.
The success of the UAE as a nation can be illustrated most tall building in the world. Burj Khalifa soars to a height of 828 meters. Designed by Adam Smith, the building, which took 6 years to construct, was officially opened on January 4, 2010. Not many people know that in 1956 Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to build a similar building 1600 m high (528 floors) in Chicago. The Burj Khalifa is only half the height of Wright's design.
The fountain at the Burj Khalifa is capable of shooting jets of water 130 meters (this is higher than 50 storey house), making it the most powerful and largest automated fountain in the world. The lights shining from the fountain are visible at an altitude of 35 km.
Fact No. 7. Business and Economics
When the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) officially opened in early 2012, it covered a retail area larger than the entire island of Singapore. When fully operational, the zone will become the largest container port in the region and account for almost 15 percent of the UAE's GDP.
The Dubai Mall has 3.9 million square meters of retail space, making it the largest shopping mall in the world. More steel was used in the construction of the building than in Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Dubai has approximately 30,000 working cranes. There are a total of 150,000 of them in the world - this means that Dubai uses about 20% of the world's cranes.
Dubai Duty Free is the busiest location retail worldwide for travelers, with sales of $1.46 billion (AED 5.36 billion) at the end of 2012. Branded perfumes accounted for 15 percent of total sales. Over the 10 months of 2012, travelers took with them 1,702 tons of sweets, 421 tons of dates and 347 kilograms of caviar.
Oil was discovered in Dubai in 1963, but today oil accounts for only about 11% of Dubai's revenue. Tourism and trade make up a larger percentage of the economy. Since July 2012, about 70 percent of the UAE's daily oil output has been sent through the Fujairah pipeline, avoiding a potential bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline can transport 1,800,000 barrels of oil per day to a storage facility in the Gulf of Oman.
Fact No. 8. Money
The UAE has one of the highest per capita numbers of ATMs in urban areas in the world. In 2012, there were 5,000 ATMs located throughout the UAE, up from 2,400 in 2008. By comparison, the Marshall Islands in the Pacific are still waiting for their first ATM.
The Emirates Palace Hotel is home to the first ATM in the UAE - and the world - that sells gold bars. Since May 2010, the machine has dispensed precious metal an average of 150 times a day.
The Golden Phoenix is the world's most expensive cupcake, priced at $1,000. It is decorated with edible 23k gold and chocolate leaves, sprinkled with edible gold dust and served on a 24k gold cake stand.
Dubai is the center of the jewelry trade in the Middle East. To live up to its reputation, the longest gold chain was made in the emirate during the 1999 Dubai Shopping Festival. The 22-carat chain was four kilometers long.
Fact No. 9. Water-earth-air
Meydan Hippodrome has the longest grandstand in the world. It was opened in March 2009. The hippodrome cannot be unnoticed, as it is 1.6 kilometers long. The Dubai World Cup is the most prestigious equestrian competition that takes place at night. The world's best come to race at Meydan Racecourse. The 2012 meeting had a prize fund of $27.25 million.
A surprising fact is that in 1968, there were only 13 license plates registered in Dubai. As of 2012, there are more than 1,130 thousand registered cars in Dubai. Despite the fact that the global auto industry is still experiencing better times Due to the crisis, companies such as Ford, Volvo, Porsche, Hyundai, BMW and Toyota increased their sales in 2012 from 7% to 40% in the region. By the way, Dubai Police have added Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Bentleys to their patrol fleet. This allows them to catch riders who disturb public peace.
Dubai Metro was opened on the ninth day of the ninth month of the ninth year at 9 pm by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai Metro system is the longest automated network in the world. The 75-kilometre network that criss-crosses the city has 87 autonomous trains on the route - and not a single driver. Passenger trains are climate controlled at 20 degrees Celsius. The trains are certified to be carbon neutral in operation.
The world's largest ship (Dhow) is under development at Al Jaddaf in Dubai. The vessel will be capable of carrying more cargo over long distances and will be more environmentally friendly than any other vessel of its type. This will be the world's first mixed-use vessel with innovative technologies.
The UAE not only buys planes, but also helps build them. Spare parts and components for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner are produced by the aerospace concern Strata in Al Ain. Fly Emirates airline operates the most big park One of the largest aircraft in the world is the Airbus A380. The company was the first airline in the world to provide on-board showers for its passengers. Emirates and Etihad have ordered 100 of the new generation superjumbo Airbus A380. This means the UAE will be home to the largest number of double-decker aircraft than anywhere else in the world. This is one of the reasons why Dubai Airport opened a dedicated and world's first terminal for its A380 aircraft on January 2, 2013. As of January 2014, Emirates already had 44 such aircraft in its fleet.
On April 23, 2011, the UAE joined the space race. The country's first satellite was launched into orbit on a European Space Agency Arianne rocket launched from French Guiana. The satellite now orbits 36,000 km above the Earth and provides enhanced communications services. By 2020, the UAE plans to launch the first 4 satellites created in the Emirates.
Fact No. 10. Ecology
Probably the middle of the desert - last place, where you expect to see fresh fish. However, at the extreme southern tip of the Liwa oasis crescent is a fish farm that, thanks to desalination, produces several types of fish for Abu Dhabi supermarkets.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the UAE is home to the largest number of date palms on the planet. The count was carried out in 2009, when there were 42 million date palms, this moment there are many more of them.
Dugongs remain critically endangered, but the UAE is leading the fight to save sea cows. The UAE has strict laws to protect dugongs, including banning drift net fishing. Sir Bani Yas Island is a protected area for this species.
When fully completed, Masdar City will be home to 60,000 people living and working in the greenest place on earth. More than 80 percent of the water will be recycled water, and the city's electricity will come entirely from renewable sources.
Fact No. 11. Society
Although the UAE is one of the safest places on earth, where racial tension between different citizens is considered unheard of, crime does occur and can be just as violent as in more dangerous parts of the world. The main difference is the small number of crimes. There are two main reasons why the crime rate in Dubai and the rest of the UAE is minimal: firstly, the well-coordinated work of law enforcement agencies, and secondly, because the majority of Dubai residents are representatives of the middle class.
The Emirates has a social security program for the local population: free education, free medical care and the right to free housing. However, in Lately subsidies have been reduced, but local people are encouraged to take up public sector jobs. Those who want to organize their own business in the UAE must enlist the support of a local resident, who will act as a guarantor and own 51% of the shares - regardless of whether he takes part in the business or not, unless you open a company in a free zone. It is constantly mentioned on the Internet that in the UAE they give $50,000 for the birth of a child. However, this is completely unreliable information. Each family receives from $150 (depending on the emirate) per month for each child until he reaches adulthood. However, if an Emirati marries an Emirati, the state can provide from $18 to $30 thousand for wedding expenses, as well as provide a hall for the wedding and celebration.
These are just some of the facts about the UAE, which can be listed endlessly. However, you can immediately notice that the Emirates are trying to be the best of the best in any projects. Coherence of work, an integrated business approach, a structured system of legislation - everything that makes the country different from other Arab countries of our time. Often this is due to just one fear, which can be expressed in the words of the great Founding Father of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid, when asked about the future of Dubai: “My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land.” Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel."
- United Arab Emirates- a unique country, for some 40 years there was only desert on this territory;
- The UAE is truly a rich country. There are 59 thousand dollar millionaires per 5 million population;
- The UAE has excellent social security. Thus, for the birth of a boy, the state makes a gift to the family in the amount of $50 thousand;
- Every young family in UAE receives from the government a comfortable villa and 70 thousand dirhams (about $19 thousand) for a wedding;
- The average monthly salary of a civil servant is about $10,000;
- All these benefits apply only to local residents. 70% of the UAE population are workers from South and Southeast Asia who earn $200-300 per month;
- The UAE is a Muslim country, and there are a lot of prohibitions, especially related to alcohol. Thus, in the emirate of Sharjah there is a complete ban on alcohol, the consumption and transportation of which is considered a criminal offense;
- In the UAE, it is prohibited to photograph government buildings, military installations, mansions, palaces, flags, and local women. Men are allowed only with their permission;
- Emirates is hell for hitchhiker, this is an administrative violation;
- The government restricts freedom of speech. There is no yellow press in the UAE; they do not write about the personal lives of sheikhs;
- Many websites are blocked in the UAE. According to the Telecommunications Oversight Committee, which controls access to the Internet, it may contain information that is harmful, from the point of view of the Koran;
- Non-Muslim tourists in the UAE are not allowed to visit mosques;
- Shoes should be removed when entering mosques and houses. Prayers should not be walked around in front;
- Littering on the streets is strictly prohibited. The fine for throwing garbage on the street is 500 dirhams, even if you just missed the trash can;
- Fines for violating traffic rules are enormous. Running a red light costs $800;
- There are no traffic police in the United Arab Emirates. All violations are recorded by cameras, and at the end of the year, when passing a technical inspection, the driver is billed;
- All bus stops are in the same Dubai equipped with air conditioning;
- The coldest months in the UAE are December and January. At this time, the air temperature during the day is on average +28, at night +18. The question of where it’s warm in winter disappears by itself.
- One of the favorite sports in the UAE is camel racing. Moreover, now camels are controlled by miniature robots;
- The UAE loves gold very much. According to statistics, each resident of the United Arab Emirates buys 38 grams of gold per year;
- An Arab man should give 5 kilograms of gold jewelry in case of matchmaking with an Arab woman;
- Arab men are increasingly marrying foreign women - there is no need to pay relatives for a bride;
- In the UAE, people often marry not for love, but at the will of their parents - conservatism and religious customs leave no chance for young people to choose their life partner on their own;
- The UAE has big problems with water. 30% comes from natural sources, the rest of the water is so-called desalinated;
- Very soon, most emirates will run out of oil reserves. The only exception is the state of Abu Dhabi;
- In the UAE, only 30 percent of fresh water comes from natural springs or artesian wells. 70 percent of the water is desalinated water. Desalination is a very energy-intensive and expensive process; 1 liter of such water costs four times more than natural water. Tap water in the UAE is quite clean, but drinking it without boiling is still not recommended;
- Many states in the UAE will run out of oil reserves by 2010. The only exception is the state of Abu Dhabi, in which 95 percent of the country's oil reserves are concentrated. The states of Dubai and Sharjah are preparing in advance for the fact that the petrodollar fuel for their economies will soon cease. Trade is successfully developing here (there are free economic zones), tourism, industry, and even Agriculture. Thus, in 2000, revenues from oil production amounted to only 12 percent of the GDP of the emirate of Dubai;
- In the mid-1980s, the ruler of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, set the goal of reducing the country's dependence on foreign agricultural products. Large investments were attracted to agriculture: agricultural farms and poultry farms were built. In air-conditioned greenhouses, 2-3 crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes are harvested here per year. Fruits grown include mangoes, apples, and strawberries. The UAE is famous for its dates. The most fertile areas of the UAE are the Al Ain oasis;
- The Internet has become widespread in the UAE. Some UAE hotels provide access to the World Wide Web directly from your room. For example, hotels JUMEHARAH BEACH HOTEL, HILTON DUBAI JUMEIRAH, LE MERIDIEN MINA SEYAHI in Dubai. However, a department specially created by the UAE authorities blocks access to sites with content or photographs reprehensible from the point of view of the Koran;
- Capital UAE — Abu Dhabi- is rightly called a “park city”. The imperative “Walk on the lawns!” applies here, exotic trees brought from all over the world grow, and luxurious shady gardens grow green. As scientists have established, it is precisely because of the abundance of green spaces in the city that the average air temperature is usually 1-1.5 degrees lower than in the surrounding desert;
- The coldest months in the UAE are December and January. At this time, the air temperature during the day averages +28, at night +18;
- Religious customs leave Arab youth almost no opportunity to choose their life partner on their own - parents decide everything. This is probably why the divorce rate is very high here - (30 percent of marriages);
- In recent years Emirates faced big problems in the family issue: more and more Arab women remain single. Arab men increasingly prefer to marry foreign women: there is no need to pay relatives for a bride;
- In the mosque UAE Gentiles are usually not allowed. The only mosque in the confederation that deviates from this rule is the mosque in the city of Dubai, in the Jumeirah area. The mosque houses the “Center for Cultural and Religious Understanding,” which was created by Sheikh Maktoum of the emirate in 1998. Organized visits to the mosque by tourists are held once a week, on Thursdays, from 10:00 am. During Ramadan, the same center organizes for those wishing to visit the homes of local residents and participate in a festive meal (by appointment).