Tourism and retail[edit]

See also: Tourism in Dubai and List of tourist attractions in Dubai

Dubai Marina beach in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)

Tourism is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign
cash into the emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, [171][172] but also on its
possession of other ancient and modern attractions. [173] As of 2018, Dubai is the fourth most-
visited city in the world based on the number of international visitors and the fastest growing,
increasing by a 10.7% rate.[174] The city hosted 14.9 million overnight visitors in 2016, and is
expected to reach 20 million tourists by 2020. [175]

The Dubai Fountain in Burj Khalifa lake, Downtown Dubai

Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East".[176] Dubai alone has more than
70 shopping centres, including the world's largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall. Dubai is also
known for the historical souk districts located on either side of its creek. Traditionally, dhows from
East Asia, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargo and the goods would be
bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks. Dubai Creek played a vital role in sustaining
the life of the community in the city and was the resource which originally drove the economic
boom in Dubai.[177] As of September 2013, Dubai creek has been proposed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.[178] Many boutiques and jewellery stores are also found in the city. Dubai is also
referred to as "the City of Gold" as the Gold Souk in Deira houses nearly 250 gold retail shops.[179]

View of the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab

Dubai Creek Park in Dubai Creek also plays a vital role in Dubai tourism as it showcase some of
the most famous tourist attractions in Dubai such as Dolphinarium, Cable Car, Camel Ride,
Horse Carriage and Exotic Birds Shows.[180]
Dubai has a wide range of parks like Safa park, Mushrif park, Hamriya park, etc. Each park is
uniquely distinct from the other. Mushrif park showcases different houses around the world. A
visitor can check out the architectural features of the outside as well as the inside of each house.
Some of the most popular beaches in Dubai are Umm Suqeim Beach, Al Mamzar Beach Park,
JBR Open Beach, Kite Beach, Black Palace Beach and Royal Island Beach Club.
Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Index 2019 found that tourists spend more in Dubai than
in any other country. In 2018, the country topped the list for the fourth year in a row with a total
spend of $30.82 billion. The average spend per day was found to be $553. [181]
In October 2019, Dubai loosened its liquor laws for the first time in history, under which it allowed
tourists to purchase alcohol from state-controlled stores. Previously, alcohol was only accessible
for the locals with special licences. The crucial policy shift came as the United Arab
Emirates witnessed a severe economic crisis that led to a drop in alcohol sales by volume in a
decade.[182]
In 2020, a Customs investigation highlighted that an Indian native and a major hawala dealer,
Rabins Hameed, financed smuggling of gold through diplomatic channels and other smuggling
networks from Dubai. He was also involved in the 2015 Nedumbassery gold smuggling case,
where 1,500 kg of gold was smuggled in two years. A Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued
against Rabins and one of his partners, Faisal. Besides, INTERPOL was also being approached
for extradition of the two accused, who were operating from the UAE.[183]

Expo 2020[edit]
See also: Expo 2020
On 2 November 2011, four cities had their bids for Expo 2020 already lodged, with Dubai making
a last-minute entry. The delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions, which visited
Dubai in February 2013 to examine the Emirate's readiness for the largest exposition, was
impressed by the infrastructure and the level of national support. In May 2013, Dubai Expo 2020
Master Plan was revealed.[184] Dubai then won the right to host Expo 2020 on 27 November 2013.
[185]
 The event will bring huge economic benefits by generating activities worth billions of dirhams
and may create over 270,000 jobs.[186]
The main site of Dubai Expo 2020 will be a 438-hectare area (1,083 acres), part of the
new Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali urban development, located midway between Dubai and Abu
Dhabi.[187] Moreover, the Expo 2020 also created various social enlistment projects and monetary
boons to the city targeting the year 2020, such as initiating the world's largest solar power
project.[188]
The Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled to take place from 20 October 2020 until 10 April 2021 for
173 days where there would be 192 country pavilions featuring narratives from every part of the
globe, have different thematic districts that would promote learning the wildlife in the forest
exhibit to many other experiences.[189]
Due to the impact of COVID-19 the organisers of Expo 2020 postponed the Expo by one year to
begin in 2021 (the new dates are 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022).[190][191]
Dubai is trying to build an inclusive, barrier-free and a disabled-friendly city by the time it hosts
Expo 2020. The city has already brought in changes by introducing wheelchair friendly taxis,
pavements with slopes and tactile indicators on the floor for the visually-impaired at all the metro
stations.[192]

Architecture[edit]
See also: List of tallest buildings in Dubai and Developments in Dubai
Skyline of Downtown Dubai from a helicopter in 2015.

Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest man-made structure

Interior of a Dubai Metro station

Dubai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles. Many
modern interpretations of Islamic architecture can be found here, due to a boom in construction
and architectural innovation in the Arab World in general, and in Dubai in particular, supported
not only by top Arab or international architectural and engineering design firms such as Al
Hashemi and Aedas, but also by top firms of New York and Chicago. [193] As a result of this boom,
modern Islamic – and world – architecture has literally been taken to new levels in skyscraper
building design and technology. Dubai now has more completed or topped-out skyscrapers
higher than 2⁄3 km (2,200 ft), 1⁄3 km (1,100 ft), or 1⁄4 km (820 ft) than any other city. A culmination
point was reached in 2010 with the completion of the Burj Khalifa (Khalifa Tower), now by far the
world's tallest building at 829.8 m (2,722 ft). The Burj Khalifa's design is derived from the
patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, with the triple-lobed footprint of the building
based on an abstracted version of the desert flower hymenocallis which is native to the Dubai
region.[194]
The completion of the Khalifa Tower, following the constructi