There is a common confusion among many people. Firstly, it is where Dubai is located, and secondly, is Dubai a country. Interestingly, despite Dubai being a frontage of the Persian Gulf, an attractive place for tourism, and a thriving financial market, people have such confusion. Dubai is in what country? It is known for its luxury shopping, but the answer is still unknown to a considerable population.
It is best to get some basic information if you are planning to start a business in Dubai or planning a tourism visit. Plus, if you love to learn about the countries, their geographic locations, and neighboring countries, it is crucial to learn a little about the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It will directly answer where Dubai is and is Dubai a country or not. Let’s take a deep dive into geography to explore knowledge.
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Relation of Dubai with UAE
UAE also referred to as Emirates, is a country in western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman. It also shares a maritime border with Iran, the Persian Gulf, and Qatar. You might be surprised to know that there are seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An emirate is a territory that has its own ruler, known as an emir. The seven emirates that make up the UAE are as follows.
- Sharjah
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Ajman
- Umm Al Quwain
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Fujairah
Now you know that Dubai is an emirate instead of a country. From now on, questions like Dubai is in what country or is Dubai a country will not be confused anymore. You can confidently educate them. Another thing to note is that Dubai is not the capital of the UAE. Instead, Abu Dhabi holds the honor of being the country’s capital city.
A Word On History
Is Dubai a country? Today the answer is no, but the answer was different in the past. Before December 1971, all these emirates, which can be considered individual provinces, were separate states. In December 1971, all these states were united together by the ruler of Abu Dhabi and founded the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
That is why Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE. The rulers of all emirates elect the ruler of Abu Dhabi for the office of President of UAE. Furthermore, the ruler of Dubai is elected for the office of Prime Minister of the UAE.
Where Is Dubai Located?
Dubai is in what country? It is the UAE, and we know that by now. Let’s be more precise about the geographic location of Dubai. Dubai shares a significant part with the Persian Gulf coast. It means that one side of Dubai is situated on the Persian Gulf coast, which is why it is roughly at sea level. In the south of Dubai, it borders Abu Dhabi. Dubai also shares a border with Oman and Sharjah in the southeast and northeast, respectively.
Of all seven monarchies, Dubai is the most populous city in the UAE. Dubai falls directly into the Arabian desert. The border with Oman runs through flat sandy mountains. Being surrounded by desert, the environment supports date palms and wild grasses. Species like caracals, striped hyenas, desert foxes, falcons, etc., are common in Dubai’s desert. That is why we commonly see people in Dubai with these animals. Off Dubai’s coastline, a wide range of marine life exists. It includes sharks, whales, turtles, coral, dolphins, jellyfish, etc.
Dubai in the Race to Growing More
Every confusion is clear now, Be it about Dubai’s geographic location or questions like is Dubai a country. Let’s see how Dubai managed to become a demanding financial market and is still on the verge of growing. People may say that it is because Dubai has large oil reserves. By exporting oil to other countries, Dubai managed to become financially stable.
But there still is some confusion. If Dubai became stable because of the oil reserves, then how did it get a boom compared to other oil reserve-containing countries? This indicates that oil is not the sole factor that made Dubai one of the fastest-growing cities. What is contributing to the lightning-fast increase in the financial stability of Dubai is its geographic location.
Dubai is a gateway to the Persian Gulf. It is an entrance and exit point for others to enter or exit the Persian Gulf. The port of Dubai is one of the busiest ports in the Middle East. Countries that import and export using the Persian Gulf route use the Dubai port. Another factor contributing to the boom of Dubai is the ease of doing business.
Dubai has become a business hub as many businesses are located in Dubai. This is because there are no foreign ownership restrictions and custom duty benefits. Plus, as going to Dubai from Europe is super easy, tourism is another factor contributing to the city’s fast growth. It has many sweep spots for tourism, and Dubai is known for its luxury shopping. Plus, the airport of Dubai is one of the busiest ones, which is always busy with incoming and outgoing flights.
So, stating that oil reserves are the main reason for the financial boom is totally wrong. There are a plethora of factors that made Dubai grow at an extraordinary speed.
Conclusion
Is Dubai a country? This used to be a serious confusion, and many people are still unaware of the correct answer. The correct way to learn and educate others is by first knowing what the relationship between Dubai and UAE is. This would tell you why Dubai is a city instead of a country.
By the end of this article, you will know every basic fact. You will learn about the relationship between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other similar cities. What is more beneficial is that you will learn how Dubai managed to become a growing city. All significant reasons that contribute to the boom of the city are explained.