Dubai is one of the seven members of the United Arab Emirates, also known as the UAE. It is the second largest emirate in the UAE and home to vast arid desert areas as well as scenic coastline and the western edge of the Hajar Mountains. The area covered by Dubai is just less than 1,600 square miles; it has actually grown in area over the decades due to some substantial projects to reclaim land from the sea.
Although Dubai originally generated much of its economic value from the oil and gas industry, in recent decades its economy has shifted quite dramatically to now generated the majority of its revenues from financial services, real estate and property development, and tourism. The recent world economic difficulties took a toll on Dubai’s financial resources, but it appears to be emerging from this challenging time and continues to be a highly desirable place to work and live.
The population of Dubai exceeded 1.75 million people in 2009, with many estimates suggesting the population will increase by another 5% to 10% by the end of 2010. These population figures include citizens of Dubai as well as a large population of expatriates who choose to live and work in Dubai some or all of the year.
Retail, tourism, and real estate are the primary drivers behind the Dubai economy. It is famous for its annual Dubai Shopping Festival, traditionally held in January and February, but there is never a bad time to go shopping in Dubai. People from all over the Middle East, and indeed from all over the world, flock to Dubai throughout the year to enjoy the world class shopping choices. Many people also choose Dubai as their preferred vacation spot by purchasing vacation property in the emirate.
Top industries and employers in Dubai
The top industries in Dubai include the following:
- Oil and Natural gas
- Real estate and Construction
- IT/Telecoms
- Banking and Finance
- Tourism and Hospitality
Within these various industries and areas there are a number of top employers, such as:
- Oil and Natural Gas – Lamprell Energy Ltd, RTE Group, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Dubai Petroleum Company
- Banking and Finance – Dubai Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, First Gulf Bank, National Bank of Dubai, Emirates Bank, Mashreq Bank, Dubai Group, First Gulf Financial Services, MAKASEB Islamic Financial Services
- IT/Telecoms – Galadari Group, Dubai Holding, Etisalat, Al Habtoor Group, Al Ghurair Group, Dubai Telecom Company, Eastern Link IT Company LLC, Al-Faris Information Technologies
Dubai is a desirable destination for many people from all over the world to find a career. Its attractive tax-free salaries and warm climate make it the place to be if you are looking for a job abroad.