(in
Arabic: dubaīy)
can either refer to one of the seven
emirates
in the
United Arab Emirates
(UAE), or that emirate's main city, sometimes called
"Dubai City" to distinguish it from the emirate.The
modern emirate of Dubai was created consequent with the
formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. However,
written accounts documenting the existence of the city
have existed at least 150 years prior to the formation
of the UAE. Dubai shares
legal,
political,
military
and
economic
functions with the other emirates within a
federal
framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over
some functions such as civic
law enforcement
and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has
the largest population and is the second largest emirate
by area, after
Abu Dhabi.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess
veto
power over critical matters of national importance in
the country's
legislature.
Dubai has been ruled by the
Al Maktoum
dynasty since 1833. The emirates' current ruler,
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.
A majority of
the emirate's revenues are from
trade,
manufacturing
and
financial services.
Revenues from
petroleum
and
natural gas
contribute less than 6% (2006) of Dubai's
US$ 37
billion economy (2005). Dubai has attracted world-wide
attention through innovative real estate projects and
sports events. This increased attention, coinciding with
its emergence as a world business hub
