10 Crazy Facts About Dubai

Dubai's economy has flourished tremendously in the last few decades. From having one high-rise building between 1979 and 1999, the city has transformed itself into a skyline of 190 buildings, all over 150 meters tall, making it the city with the fourth most skyscrapers in the world. Contrary to popular belief, oil accounts for less than 5% of Dubai's GDP. The majority of it comes from real estate, transportation, commerce, trading, financial services, retail, and tourism. Only 15% of Dubai's population are Native Emirates. According to the 2013 census, the remaining 85% are expatriates, consisting primarily of Indians, 51%, Pakistanians, 17%, and Bangladeshians, 9%. Since its completion in 2009, the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest building in the world, measuring an astounding 829.8 meters. It is so tall that you can watch two sunsets in one day, one on the ground floor and another on the top floor. The Palm Islands are Dubai's three artificial islands. Palm Jumeirah, Daria Island, and Palm Jubeil Ali. The construction of the Palm Jumeirah was finished in November 2011. Take a look at these breathtaking pictures of it. Dira Island and Palm Jubeil Ali are still under construction. Once they are finished, they will, together with the other three islands, form a total of 520 kilometers of non-public beaches in Dubai. In Dubai, there's something called the VIP fridge magnet, shaped like a pizza box. If you push it, an order will be placed at the Red Tomato Pizza based on your previous preferences, and your pizza will be delivered shortly. Every year, high-end luxury cars are often found abandoned on the streets of Dubai, thanks to the laws that consider non-payment of a debt a criminal offense. Many expats and locals alike who struggle to clear their debts flee in panic, leaving their cars never to return. License plates in Dubai are a symbol of prestige and status, with some being auctioned and sold at over $9 million. Plates with one-digit numbers are most coveted, followed by two-digit numbers. The Dubai police force has a fleet of supercars, which includes the Lamborghini Inventador, Ferrari FF, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and a Bentley Continental GT. However, these supercars are not used for hot pursuits, but rather to patrol tourist spots. Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai from 1958 to 1990, said of their oil-centric economy, his son will ride a camel.