9 Facts About Dubai That the City’s Experts Don’t Even Know About

Dubai is one of the fastest-developing cities in the world. In the 1960s, it was a barren desert with a couple of buildings and now it's the most densely populated city in the United Arab Emirates! Did you know that there is a big ski resort right in the middle of a desert in Dubai?

Bright Side has gathered the most interesting facts about Dubai that will probably amaze you.

9. A sports car's destiny in Dubai

Dubai police can be found with expensive cars like an Aston Martin, Ferrari, or Mercedes. Of course, such cars are used mostly for shows and exhibitions. Nevertheless, sometimes policemen drive them to patrol the wealthier tourist-friendly areas.

Thanks to economic growth, some wealthy citizens can afford luxury cars too. Police sports vehicles might be used to chase the owners of such cars in case of inappropriate or illegal activity.

Unfortunately, thousands of abandoned high-performance cars can be found in Dubai. The reason for this is rather simple: most of them were bought before the financial crisis in 2009. When the economy crashed, many people suddenly found themselves in deep debt and went bankrupt. They had no choice but to leave their cars so as not to pay taxes.

8. 77% of all people are immigrants.

Only 23% of people living in Dubai were born in the UAE. Workers who construct new buildings are usually immigrants from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. It's worth noting, their quality of life differs drastically from the UAE citizens' luxurious lifestyle.

7. Sometimes you can see unusual pets.

We all know that wealthy people have extraordinary taste and the citizens of Dubai are no exception to this rule. Rich Sheikhs and businessmen used to have cheetahs, tigers, and lions as pets. Why are we using the past tense? That's because nowadays, such animals are illegal pets in the UAE. The country has passed a law banning the private ownership and trade of wild and dangerous animals.

6. Taxes have only just been implemented in Dubai.

In the past, Dubai was a tax-free city. Taxation has been a project for the last 10 years that came into action after the crash of the city's economy. The main reason for the implementation of taxes was an attempt to increase Dubai's revenue.

The UAE implemented VAT at the rate of 5% on January 1, 2018. Nevertheless, almost 100 products, healthcare services, and education are still tax-free.

The VAT rate in the UAE is rather low compared to the world's standards. The UAE retail sector will be protected and the increased prices won't be a shock to people with low income.

5. A city of rapid changes

According to the City Momentum Index from 2014, Dubai is one of the fastest-developing countries - so fast, that 42 subway stations were built just in 3 years! 20% of all elevating cranes are located in Dubai.

What's more, is that Dubai is currently building the biggest amusement park called Dubailand that will include artificial islands and resorts.

4. The Burj Khalifa Hotel uses enough gold to cover the Mona Lisa painting 46,265 times.

The Burj Khalifa is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. 8,000 sqm (86,111 sq ft) of 22-carat gold leaf is incorporated in the decor. The hotel uses enough gold to cover The Mona Lisa painting 46, 265 times!

3. In Dubai, robots take part in camel racing.

Instead of traditional horse racing, there are camel races in Dubai. The most surprising fact is that robots take part in competitions instead of people. The cost of each robot varies from $3,000 to $10,000. Over the years, these races have peaked more and more interest among people.

2. There will be a neighborhood under the dome that will be larger than Monaco.

There will be a 4.5 million sqm district under the dome that will have theatres, malls, hotels, and parks. The building will be constructed specially for pedestrians and will be supplied with computers that ensure a comfortable climate.

1. There's an indoor ski resort in Dubai.

There's an indoor ski resort of 22,500 sqm in the largest mall in Dubai. The resort features an 85 meter-high (279 ft) indoor mountain with 5 slopes and a 400 meter-long (1,300 ft) run. Furthermore, adjoining the slopes is a 3,000 sqm park play area comprising sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slide, climbing towers, giant snowballs, and an ice cave.

Do you know any other amazing facts about Dubai? Drop them in the comments!