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It was in 1966 when sweet, sweet oil was first discovered in Dubai — but before this economic revolution, things weren’t quite as luxurious! This simple desert port in the UAE traded pearls and spices, but it was totally old world. Suddenly, Dubai was one of the richest places on earth!

Nowadays, Dubai stands at the same line with cities like New-York, Singapore, Sydney, London, and in many ways even considered more luxurious and advanced. Did you know, for example, that the first man to ever fly with his own wings chose to do it amongst Dubai skyscrapers? There is so much you don’t know about Dubai – and you should know!

Cheetah Riding Shotgun

Why, what’s this right here? A Savannah beast, chilling in the passenger seat? Yes, that’s exactly right. Pet ownership is a completely different game over in Dubai. The more dangerous, the better!

Allegedly, this is less common now than decades ago. Residents might not want to flaunt their big cats in public due to the risk of a large fine. But in private? Still a secret thing! For awhile, seeing a cheetah in traffic in the Emirati city really was an everyday sight. Wild, much?

Mercedes > Camel

While it might seem like a stereotype, camels really are used today throughout the Middle East. And that includes Dubai! An important part of the cultural heritage, they were used for centuries as ships of the desert. Emiratis still love them, humps and all!

Camels are loyal companions, and they provide a few other emergency benefits in harsh environments. Locals believe their milk is a health elixir, and people ate them if times got tough. Today, Dubai has plenty of other dining and transportation options. But the strong cultural connection means tourists will see plenty of chances to ride one on vacation. It’s bumpy, but quite charming!

Lion Kings

Instagram is filled with images of Dubai residents hanging out with their big cats. Lions, tigers, and cheetahs seem to be the most popular. This has resulted in injury and death more than once, unsurprisingly! In 2016, a new law demanded that they be restricted to zoos and other professional facilities. Did locals listen?

 It used to be common to take a stroll with a tiger in the public park and on the beach, but the fines discouraged it. Status symbols for the wealthy are hard to take away: Even Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, recently posted selfies with a lion cub on social media! Getting rid of the fad hasn’t been easy, it seems.

Good as Gold

Every modern country has ATM machines, nowadays. No big deal, right? Well, Dubai has taken that amenity to a whole new level. It’s obvious that gold dispensers were missing from the market! Aptly titled “Gold to Go”, these machines can be seen around the UAE.

Just in case customers doubted the authenticity, even the outside of the machine is covered in a thin layer of the good stuff. Using the service means choosing from more than 320 products from gold bars to special coins. Prices of the 24-carat currency are updated every ten minutes for current exchange rates. Super convenient, isn’t it?

The World’s Only 7-Star Hotel

The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai. It’s the third tallest hotel in the world, and stands on an artificial island near Jumeirah Beach. In Arabic, it means “Tower of the Arabs”, and is shaped like a ship. It claims to be the most luxurious on earth, built with $1 billion!

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Does it live up to the hype? Adorned everywhere in gold and marble, guests can enjoy the amenities of a billionaire or royal. With a Rolls-Royce or helicopter chauffeur, personal butlers, and Hermès toiletries, it’s easy to settle in. At $1,500 a night to start, there are three aquariums, pools of every kind, Michelin-star chefs, and more. It might be worth a try, just once! 

Need A Lift?

When owning a fleet of luxury vehicles is as common as owning a car, standing out from the crowd is no easy task! Why not fly high for a change, above the packed traffic? In Dubai, the UberCHOPPER is landing. Get ready, for a reasonable fee: AED 530 per person, with a group of six!

The exclusive UberChopper service started for UAE National Day and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. It was so successful that Uber decided invest more in the area. With plans to put down $250 million in the Middle East and North Africa, it’s a serious bid. Flying carpets, these are not!

Those Beach Laws Though

Dubai is home to some of the world’s most stunning beaches. Its crystal waters, golden sand, and city skyline provide a beautiful backdrop for photos. But for tourists popping in, it’s important to know the rules of the road. Or in this case, the sand!

It’s not uncommon to find family beaches that exclude men, just for women and kids. But where they do swim, men are asked to wear swimming trunks for modesty. No tight, itty-bitty bottoms, sorry! Women are told  that bikinis are allowed on the beach, but not on the way to the beach in public. Indecency is not tolerated, and it only takes one person to complain for a real problem with police!

Cold, Breezy Bus Stops

While it seems like everyone in the kingdom has a collection of luxury cars, there is another side of things. The UAE has the fifth-largest migrant worker population in the world. How do 7.8 million of them actually get around in the sweltering heat?

When the city wanted to encourage the use of public buses, they built something very practical. They created these air-conditioned Passenger Bus Shelters, or bus stops. The $20 million project has already been implemented, and there are plans to install WiFi. Shockingly, the highest temperature in Dubai reaches 119 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s crazy out there!

All that Glitters is Gold, Really

Just a quick look around reveals that many of Dubai’s residents have more money than they know what to do with it. Gold plated cars? Perhaps even a fleet to play with? It’s not even uncommon. There really are no limits for auto lovers, when that oil flows! 

Auto shows are always exciting in the kingdom, and there’s a lot of precious metal novelty. One dazzling gold-plated car that premeried at Automechanika Dubai in 2016 was worth $1 million! The sparking, customized Nissan R35 GT-R was named the Godzilla. Pretty intimidating? Not for Emiratis!

Stuntman Strikes Again

Skiing usually involves snow. But in the desert, there’s not too much to go around. Dubai residents have figured out a way to slide and glide in the heat, using only and SUV. Leaning to one side while doing a sharp turn is a pretty neat street trick, it turns out.

But are the police in on the fun, at all? According to Director of the General Traffic Department at Dubai Police, Brigadier Saif Muheir Al Mazrouei, no way! The authorities have been arresting young drivers left and right, in a real effort to crack down. Viral YouTube videos have encouraged the trend, unfortunately!

Coffee for Kings

All around the world, Starbucks has a unique look, feel, and design. It’s shockingly standardized, for such a big, international chain. But in Dubai, things look a little different. Who exactly would feel relaxed and at home, here? The Emiratis, that’s who!

This regally decorated café is not like any other location, visually. But it does offer all the classic frappacinos and matcha tea lattes. It might be interesting to try coffee the Emirati way, though: Traditionally, ground Arabic coffee beans are combined with crushed cardamom, whole cloves, a pinch of saffron, and rosewater. How did Starbucks even succeed?

Jetman Rises

Valentines Day, 2020: Vince Reffet took off in front of the world, headed to Jumeirah Beach Residence. In only 8 seconds, he reached an impressive 100 meters in the sky! And that was just the beginning. How high did he fly, and why?

After 12 seconds he reached 200 meters, and went steadily upwards. At the end of his 3 minute flight, he reached an astonishing 1800 meters! What was the record reached in this stunt? As it turns out, it was the first time that flying aerobatics and hovering were both performed safely at this high altitude. And the audience loved the loop-de-loops, as a bonus!