阿联酋第一大城市，海湾乃至整个中东
地区的重要港口和最重要的
贸易中心之一，迪拜酋长国首府。位于阿拉伯国家间世界各地进行贸易的交叉点，与海湾石油富国相邻，与南亚次大陆隔阿拉伯海相望，离欧洲距离不远，与东非和南部非洲的
交通便利。
10公里长、名为胡尔的海湾穿过市中心，将市区一分为二，交通方便，
经济繁荣，进出口贸易十分发达，有"中东的
香港"之称。数百年来，这里一直是商人瞩目的良港。近30年，凭着大量的石油美元收入，迪拜以惊人的速度成长为一座拥有20余万人的著名现代化美丽城市。
市区西半部上有
汽车天桥联系，下有水底车道相通，海湾上造型美观、富有阿拉伯色彩的单桅帆船穿梭于两岸运送搭客。市区为纪念阿联酋第一口油井建成出油、建于60年代的石油纪念碑上托着的一把火炬，十分引人注目。距纪念碑不远，是迪拜钟楼和喷水池，钟楼4根支柱呈放射状，建筑造型新颖。市内没有河流，但拥有颇具规模的自来水厂。
城市绿化甚佳街道两旁棕榈成行，路中安全岛上鲜花茂盛，一派热带岛国景象。80年代建成的35层迪拜世界贸易中心，是中东地区最高的建筑。在欧美人集中的地区，除有漂亮的超现代化建筑，还建有豪华的超级市场；名牌珠宝店、
黄金店和钟表店鳞次栉比，各种首饰和商品应有尽有，高雅的服装争奇斗艳。
港口是迪拜的窗口；1972年竣工投入使用的拉希德港，建有中东规模最大的千货码头，它是世界上最繁忙的集装箱御港口，年吞吐量达1000多万吨。这里装配了先进的航标灯和许多现代辅助设备。由于其重要的地理位置，往返于东南亚和欧洲的货物经过该港中转，可节省近一半时间，降低40%的费用。80年代末就有100多家远洋公司的船只出入该港。1975年7月建成的迪拜另一大港杰贝尔·阿里港，是世界上最大的人造港口。1980年，阿里山地区成为自启陵由区后，该港拥有67个深水泊位，有许多现代化的集装箱集散场及仓库等。
市内还有22个政府贸易中心，1.2万个工商企业，数不胜数的宾馆、饭店。为适应快悄首戚节奏的时代步伐，建起了多层停车场、地下隧道，市郊建有高速公路及立交桥。目前，飞经迪拜的国际航线已达50多条，通往世界各地100多个城市，每年运送旅客达500多万人次；货运芹模通过半自动化的处理系统年处理能力达2.5万吨。目前，这里还设有数以千计的外国贸易公司办事机构，贸易中心的展厅已远远不够租用。迪拜已被视为中东地区最理想的贸易城。
阿联酋港口城市,迪拜是海湾和中东地区最大的商埠，素有“
商业之都”美誉。
不好意思，慢慢看，呵呵！
Where does the name Dubai come from?
There are several theories as to how Dubai was named.
One theory is that the word Dubai is a combination of the Farsi words for two and brothers, the latter referring to Deira and Bur Dubai.
Others believe that ‘Dubai’ was so named by people who considered its souq a smaller version of a thriving market named ‘Daba’.
Another possibility is that the name came from a word meaning money - people from Dubai were commonly believed to have money because it was a prosperous trading centre.
It is worth mentioning that there is another town named Dubai in the Al Dahna' region of Saudi Arabia, between Riyadh and Ad Dammam.
1833-1958
In the 18th century, Dubai was a small fishing and trading village inhabited by members of the Bani Yas.
The Al Maktoum family settled in Dubai in 1833 when members of the Al Bu Falasah seceded from Abu Dhabi.
Although he was young, Sheikh Maktoum bin Buti ruled Dubai effectively and it grew into a flourishing coastal town. As the population grew, Dubai branched into three distinct areas: Deira was the largest and the main commercial centre. On the western bank, Bur Dubai and Shindagha were separated by a wide stretch of sand called Ghubaiba, which would flood during high tide. Shindagha, situated on a narrow strip of land separating the sea from the creek, was the smallest area and the main residential district. The ruling sheikhs traditionally lived here and the late Sheikh Saeed's house is still standing. Shindagha was probably the site of the original Bani Yas village.
Donkeys and camels provided transportation on land. Crossing the creek meant a long and arduous journey around the end of the creek or a ride in an abra, a small wooden boat that ferries passengers to this day. Abras were also used to transport people to ships.
Deira's souq, the town's public market, was lined with narrow, covered passageways. With 350 shops of commodities from around the world, it was the largest market in the region.
‘Many of the craftsmen in the suq had no shop, but worked on a vacant piece of ground as close as possible to their clients. They were known by name, and the cry would go round the suq, "Where is Hassan the mattress-maker?" until it reached him and he was able to make contact with the potential client. A mattress-maker's creation was vulnerable to visits from passers-by, who might stop to pray on it or simply to rest and chat.
Prior to the introduction of electricity in 1952, kerosene lamps or candles were used for lighting and charcoal, imported from the interior of Oman, was used for cooking and making coffee. Sweet water came from wells around Dubai.
The majority of the inhabitants lived in barastis, huts constructed from palm fronds. Extended families dwelled in compounds amid the compounds of relatives. Houses were constructed of gypsum from the salt marshes at the end of the creek and coral stone.
The town's highest points were the wind towers of the coral stone houses, the watchtowers and Al Fahidi Fort. Wind towers were used for ventilation - a house would cool as water on the floor beneath the tower evaporated. Built in 1799, the Fort is Dubai's oldest surviving structure and it has served as the seat of government, the ruler's residence and as a jail.