Citadels of mega malls spread across Dubai, offer glittering visuals of the most famous brands. Biggest Malls in the region like Mall of the Emirates, City, Ibn Battuta, Wafi city are a few statements of the city\'s testimony. Dubai caters for all the segments specializing in fashion, electronics, and consumer goods, giving value for money to shoppers. Dubai shopping festival highlights the culmination of international business on a single paradise shoppers stage.

Education and Recreation
Dubai has one of the finest networks of modern schools, meting out the curriculum requirements of UK, USA,,France , Iran, India, and other countries. Institutions of international repute for higher education in specialized fields have set up their workshops in specialized free zones such as Knowledge. Apart from education children have plenty of avenues for fun with facilities like water parks, theme parks, entertainment areas and latest sport\'s facilities.

Climate
From October till May, Dubai has a pleasant climate with temperature ranging from 12 ° C to 40° C. During winter it rains intermittently. The city has virtually experienced no electricity or water shortages.    Village Center City

A Shoppers Paradise

Dubai is strategically located between Europe and the Far East, and stringed to over more than 100 Airlines and shipping lines catering to global access for people and businesses alike. The vision of the rulers specify specialized zones for development in the fields of high technology, media, trade along with the introduction of foreign ownership of land and properties. These avenues, along with facilitating laws are placing Dubai as a haven for major overseas investors.

A Luxury Lifestyle of Grandeur:
Dubai offers a comfortable lifestyle, with all the luxury conveniences It also offers great venues for entertainment, shopping, sport and eating out. A Cosmopolitan, multi-cultural environment with a substantial expatriate population and traditional warmth of the locals renders an instant liking for the place. A crime free, secure environment with a quality public transport system, plush taxis /cars for hire and landscaped roads, parks, provide a quality life.

Dubai Oasis offers some of the exquisite furnished apartments lavished in luxury, offering comfort and high class living in one of the most prestigious sport city in the world, Dubai. This is accentuated by the very fact that the glamorous gentry around the globe have set their sight for making Dubai their special home. Sports City

Language
English and Arabic are the officially used languages for business, and in social amenities generally. However, a wide spectrum of languages like Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Malayalam, Farsi, Pashtu along with a host of other languages are spoken - reflecting Dubai\'s great cosmopolitan population. 

Money
The currency is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED or DHS), which is divided into 100 fils. For usage the currency has denominations of convenience. It has been fixed to the United States Dollar at a rate of 3.67 for many years to ensure currency stability. US Dollars are accepted in hotels, shops, restaurants and taxis.

Cost of Living
The cost of living in Dubai is reasonable vis-à-vis the standard of living, compared to any part of the developed world. The items of day-to-day consumption are bountiful and quality is in consonance with international standards. Dubai also showcases a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables round the year in its outlets. The fuel is cheap, especially petrol and loans as well as credit rates are reasonable.

Visa
The access to Dubai is facilitated through simple visa procedures. For host of nationalities the visa is stamped on arrival. and for others visas can be procured through UAE embassies or consulates from their home countries

History
A scene from the pages of yore of 1800\'s depicts, Dubai in midst of backwater, whose people sustained from fishing, pearling and subsistence agriculture. In 1830, it was taken over by BaniYas tribe from the LIWA oasis to the south, (present Abu Dhabi emirate). The Maktoum family were in the forefront of the takeover and they have continued to rule ever since.
During the last part of 1800\'s, the then ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum, granted tax concessions and facilities to foreign traders, encouraging business to flourish. In 1903, a British shipping line made Dubai as its main port of call, due its vantage geographical location. Persian and Indian traders also settled down and thrived on business opportunity. Dubai along with other Emirates accepted protection of the British in 1892 by way of series of maritime agreements. British considered this part of Gulf region as communication link with its empire in India. It was known as \'Trucial coast\', until 1971, till its freeing from the British.

In 1971, federation of United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) was formed comprising of emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah, later Ras Al Khaimah also joined in 1972. In 1966, Dubai discovered oil and along with the acumen and foresight of its policies, led to fast pace development of its social and economic fabric, and the basis of a modern world-class city.

The Present
The population of Dubai is around 2 million with life expectancy of more than 70 years with per capita income of USD 28,000 and GDP USD 37.2 billion, as per government figures of 2006. The GDP growth is up 45% in 4 years, powered from 18% of GDP from trade and 26% from hospitality sector.