History of Dubai in Timeline
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. Its population is around 3.79 million as of 2024, with expatriates comprising over 90% of the residents.
1901: Dubai Established as a Free Port
In 1901, Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum established Dubai as a free port, eliminating taxation on imports and exports.
1902: Increased Steamer Visits
In 1902, the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Company's vessels made 21 visits to Dubai, marking a significant increase from previous years.
1904: Fortnightly Steamer Calls
From 1904, steamers called at Dubai fortnightly, increasing Dubai's role as a trading hub.
1906: Cargo Trade Volume
In 1906, steamers traded 70,000 tons of cargo through Dubai, solidifying its position as a key trading port.
1908: The "Great Storm" Disaster
In 1908, a major storm struck pearling boats off the coast of Dubai, causing significant loss of life and economic hardship.
1910: Bombardment by HMS Hyacinth
In 1910, the town was bombarded by HMS Hyacinth, resulting in 37 deaths.
1911: Poverty and Unrest
In 1911, Butti lamented about the misery and poverty raging amongst the tribes, leading to looting and killing.
1937: Oil Exploration Contract Signed
In 1937, an oil exploration contract was signed, guaranteeing royalty rights for Dubai.
1947: Border Dispute War
In 1947, a border dispute between Dubai and Abu Dhabi escalated into war, requiring British government arbitration.
1954: Dubai Municipality (DM) Established
In 1954, the Dubai Municipality (DM) was established by Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum for city planning, citizen services, and upkeep of local facilities.
1956: Dubai Police Force Founded
In 1956, the Dubai Police Force was founded in the locality of Naif and has law enforcement jurisdiction over the emirate.
1958: Sheikh Rashid as Ruler
From 1958, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum used revenue from trading activities to build infrastructure.
1959: First Hotel Constructed
In 1959, Dubai's first hotel, the Airlines Hotel, was constructed.
1959: First Telephone Company Established
In 1959, Dubai's first telephone company was established, with IAL owning 51%.
1959: First Master Plan
In 1959, Sheikh Rashid commissioned John Harris to create the city's first master plan.
1959: Construction of First Airport Started
In 1959, construction of Dubai's first airport was started.
September 1960: Terminal Building Opened
In September 1960, the terminal building of Dubai's first airport opened for business.
April 1961: MV Dara Disaster
In April 1961, the Dubai-based MV Dara was caught in high winds and explosions, resulting in 238 fatalities.
1961: Iran Air Commenced Services
In 1961, Iran Air commenced services to Shiraz.
1961: Operational Networks
In 1961, both the electricity and telephone companies rolled out operational networks.
1962: Loan for Bridge Construction
In 1962, Sheikh Rashid approached the Ruler of Qatar for a loan to build the first bridge crossing Dubai Creek.
1962: Infrastructure Development
In 1962, infrastructure development continued with new houses, offices, and flats being built.
May 1963: First Bridge Crossing
In May 1963, the first bridge crossing Dubai Creek was finished.
1965: Asphalt Runway Constructed
In 1965, the asphalt runway of Dubai Airport was constructed.
1966: High Gold Shipments
In 1966, Dubai received large shipments of gold, watches, and silver.
1966: Oil Discovered in Dubai
In 1966, oil was discovered in territorial waters off Dubai.
1967: Gold Market Price
In 1967, the market price of gold in India was significantly higher than its price in Dubai.
January 1968: British Withdrawal Announcement
On January 16, 1968, Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced the withdrawal of British troops from "East of Aden".
February 1968: Principle of Union Agreed
On February 18, 1968, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid agreed on the principle of union.
1968: Reliable Water Supply
By 1968, Dubai had a reliable supply of piped water.
1968: Infrastructure Development Plans
From 1968, Sheikh Rashid accelerated infrastructure development plans.
1968: Gold Trade
In 1968, Dubai's gold imports reached £56 million, with most being re-exported.
1968: Ambassador and Carlton Hotels
In 1968, the Ambassador and Carlton Hotels were constructed.
October 1969: Nine-State Union Meeting
In October 1969, the nine-state union suffered a setback due to British intervention.
1969: Oil Revenue Support
From 1969, oil revenue supported a period of growth.
1970: New Airport Terminal
In 1970, a new airport terminal building was constructed, including Dubai's first duty-free shops.
July 1971: Six Emirates Agreed
On July 18, 1971, six of the seven "trucial" emirates agreed on a union.
December 1971: Formation of United Arab Emirates
On December 2, 1971, Dubai, along with other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates.
February 1972: Ras Al Khaimah Joins UAE
On February 10, 1972, Ras Al Khaimah joined the UAE.
October 1972: Port Rashid Inaugurated
On October 5, 1972, Port Rashid was inaugurated.
1973: UAE Dirham Adopted
In 1973, Dubai adopted the UAE dirham as its currency.
1975: Population Growth
Between 1968 and 1975, the population grew by over 300%.
1977: Decision to Construct Dubai Hospital
In 1977, the decision to construct Dubai Hospital was made.
1979: Jebel Ali Port Established
In 1979, the establishment of the Jebel Ali port marked a significant development.
March 1983: Dubai Hospital Admitted Patients
In March 1983, Dubai Hospital began admitting patients.
1985: JAFZA Initiated
In 1985, Sheikh Mohammed initiated the JAFZA around the Jebel Ali port.
1991: Negative Financial Impact from the Gulf War
In early 1991, the Gulf War negatively impacted Dubai's finances, causing depositors and traders to withdraw money and affecting trade.
1995: Internet Introduced to Dubai
In 1995, Internet was introduced into the UAE, including Dubai, with a bandwidth of 7.5 Gbit/s and a capacity of 49 STM1 links.
December 1999: Burj Al Arab Opening
In December 1999, the Burj Al Arab, a luxury hotel, opened. It is often described as "the world's only 7-star hotel", although its management has never made that claim.
March 2000: Establishment of Dubai Financial Market
In March 2000, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) was established as a secondary market for trading securities and bonds.
2001: Start of Property Value Decrease
From 2001 to November 2008, some properties in Dubai lost as much as 64% of their value.
2001: Construction of Palm Jumeirah
In 2001, construction began on the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago created using land reclamation.
2002: Enactment of Electronic Transactions and Commerce Law
In 2002, Dubai enacted an Electronic Transactions and Commerce Law, dealing with digital signatures and electronic registers, and prohibiting ISPs from disclosing information gathered in providing services.
2002: Establishment of DMCC
In 2002, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) was established.
2003: Dubai Served as Refueling Base during Invasion of Iraq
In 2003, Dubai served as a refuelling base for allied forces at the Jebel Ali Free Zone during the Invasion of Iraq.
2003: Executive Authority Delegated to Dubai Executive Council
Since 2003, executive authority of managing and overseeing Dubai Governmental agencies has been delegated to the Dubai Executive Council.
September 2004: Opening of the Dubai International Financial Centre
In September 2004, the Dubai International Financial Centre (IFC) opened, attracting leading international firms and establishing NASDAQ Dubai.
2004: Property appreciation begins
From 2004 to 2006, Dubai experienced property appreciation due to the government's decision to diversify from a trade-based, oil-reliant economy.
2004: Announcement of Al Maktoum International Airport development
In 2004, the development of Al Maktoum International Airport was announced.
2004: First Dubai International Film Festival
Since 2004, the city has hosted the annual Dubai International Film Festival which serves as a showcase for Arab and Middle Eastern filmmaking talent.
2005: Foreign-born population in Dubai
In 2005, 84% of the population of metropolitan Dubai was foreign-born, about half of them from India.
2005: Formation of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
In 2005, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), an agency of the government of Dubai, was formed by a royal decree.
March 2006: Government Announces Steps to Allow Construction Unions
Towards the end of March 2006, the government announced steps to allow construction unions.
2006: DFM Trading Volume
As of the fourth quarter of 2006, the Dubai Financial Market's trading volume reached approximately 400 billion shares, worth a total of $95 billion, with a market capitalization of around $87 billion.
2006: Property appreciation ends
From 2004 to 2006, Dubai experienced property appreciation due to the government's decision to diversify from a trade-based, oil-reliant economy.
2006: Weekend change in Dubai
From 2006, the weekend was Friday and Saturday, as a compromise between Friday's holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday and Sunday.
2006: Establishment of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company
In 2006, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), known as Du, was established, ending Etisalat's virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Dubai.
2006: Completion of Palm Jumeirah
In 2006, the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago, was completed. It is the smallest and the original of the three Palm Islands.
2006: Construction of passenger bus shelters
In 2006, the transport authority announced the construction of 500 air-conditioned passenger bus shelters, and planned for 1,000 more across the emirates.
2007: Dubai Ranked Among World's Best Financial Cities
In 2007, a City Mayors survey ranked Dubai 44th among the world's best financial cities. The MasterCard Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index ranked Dubai 37th globally and first in the Middle East.
November 2008: Property depreciation in Dubai
In November 2008, a longer-term assessment of Dubai's property market showed depreciation with some properties losing as much as 64% of their value from 2001 to November 2008.
2008: Contemporary Art Galleries Emerge
In 2008, leading contemporary art galleries like Carbon 12 Dubai, Green Art, gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, and The Third Line began putting Dubai on the international art map.
2008: Public bus transport in Dubai
In 2008, the bus system services 140 routes and transported over 109 million people in Dubai.
February 2009: Dubai's foreign debt estimated
As of February 2009, Dubai's foreign debt was estimated at $80 billion.
April 2009: Opening of Palm Jumeirah Monorail
On 30 April 2009, a monorail line connecting the Palm Jumeirah to the mainland opened. It is the first monorail in the Middle East.
September 2009: Dubai Metro Opening
The Dubai Metro opened in September 2009. It consists of two lines (Red line and Green line) which run through the financial and residential areas of the city.
2009: Number of Schools in Dubai
As of 2009, there were 79 public schools and 207 private schools in Dubai.
2009: Dubai Hosted the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
In 2009, Dubai hosted the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
2009: Taxi trips
In 2009, taxi trips in Dubai exceeded 70 million trips, serving around 140.45 million passengers.
2009: Slaves in Dubai Documentary
In 2009, the documentary "Slaves in Dubai" highlighted alleged human rights violations against laborers, with the Dubai government denying the claims.
January 2010: Public transport usage in Dubai
In January 2010, the proportion of Dubai residents who use public transport stood at 6%.
January 2010: Burj Khalifa Opening
The Burj Khalifa opened on 4 January 2010. Before its inauguration it was known as the Burj Dubai, is a 828 metres (2,717 ft) high skyscraper and the tallest building in the world.
2010: Number of buses in service
By the end of 2010, there were 2,100 buses in service across Dubai city.
2010: Completion of the Burj Khalifa
In 2010, Dubai reached a culmination point with the completion of the Burj Khalifa, now the world's tallest building at 829.8 m (2,722 ft). Its design is derived from Islamic architecture, with a triple-lobed footprint based on the desert flower hymenocallis.
2010: Burj Khalifa Opened
In 2010, the Burj Khalifa opened in Dubai, becoming the tallest skyscraper in the world.
November 2011: Cities bid for Expo 2020
On 2 November 2011, four cities had their bids for Expo 2020 already lodged, with Dubai making a last-minute entry.
2011: Dubai's gold trading volumes
In 2011, Dubai's total gold trading volumes reached 580 tonnes in the first half of the year, with an average price of US$1,455 per troy ounce.
2012: Number of Medical Clinics
By the end of 2012, there were a total of 1,348 medical clinics in Dubai.
2012: Dubai Ranked Among World's Richest Cities
In 2012, a report by City Mayors indicated that Dubai was the world's 27th richest city in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).
2012: Dubai ranked 40th in Global City Competitiveness Index
In 2012, the Global City Competitiveness Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Dubai at No. 40 with a total score of 55.9.
2012: Dubai crowned as IFEA World Festival and Event City
In 2012, the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) crowned Dubai as IFEA World Festival and Event City.
February 2013: Delegation visits Dubai to examine readiness for Expo
In February 2013, the delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions visited Dubai to examine the Emirate's readiness for the Expo 2020.
February 2013: Dubai Miracle Garden Opening
On 14 February 2013, the Dubai Miracle Garden, a 72,000-metre flower garden, opened in Dubailand. It is the world's largest flower garden.
May 2013: Dubai Expo 2020 Master Plan revealed
In May 2013, the Dubai Expo 2020 Master Plan was revealed.
September 2013: Dubai Creek proposed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
As of September 2013, Dubai Creek has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
November 2013: Dubai wins right to host Expo 2020
On 27 November 2013, Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020.
2013: Report on future competitiveness of cities
According to its 2013 research report on the future competitiveness of cities, in 2025, Dubai will have moved up to 23rd place overall in the Index.
2013: UAE Nationals Constituted Only 15% of the Population
As of 2013, only about 15% of the Dubai's population was made up of UAE nationals, with the rest comprising expatriates.
2013: Burj Khalifa visitor count
In 2013, Burj Khalifa's observatory deck had over 1.87 million visitors making it one of Dubai's most popular tourist attractions.
2013: Synergy University Dubai Campus Opened
In 2013, Synergy University Dubai Campus opened its campus in Jumeirah Lakes Towers being a first University in Dubai to be located outside of Educational Zones (Knowledge Village or Academic City).
2013: Trade flows between China and Dubai increase
In 2013, trade flows between China and Dubai saw an increase that would lead to China becoming Dubai's largest international trading partner in 2014.
March 2014: Inaugural Dubai Food Festival
The inaugural Dubai Food Festival was held between 21 February to 15 March 2014. The event was aimed at enhancing and celebrating Dubai's position as the gastronomic capital of the region.
2014: China emerges as Dubai's largest trading partner
In 2014, China became Dubai's largest international trading partner with $47.7 billion in trade flows, a 29% increase from 2013. Other key partners included India, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.
2014: Cargo at Dubai International Airport
In 2014, Dubai International Airport handled 2.37 million tons of cargo, making it the sixth-busiest cargo airport in the world.
2014: Birth and Death Rates
In 2014, Dubai had an estimated 15.54 births and 1.99 deaths per 1,000 people.
2014: Dubai's Economy Growth Rate
In 2014, Dubai's economy growth rate was 6.1%.
2014: Dubai's Non-Oil Foreign Trade
In 2014, Dubai's non-oil foreign trade stood at $362 billion. Imports had the biggest share with a value of $230 billion while exports and re-exports stood at $31 billion and $101 billion respectively.
2014: Religious Demographics in Dubai
In 2014, more than 56% of Dubai residents were Muslims, while 25% were Christians and 16% were Hindus.
2014: Opening of Dubai Tram
In 2014, the first section of the Dubai Tram, a 10.6 km long tram line which serves 11 stations, was opened.
2015: Event pictures of Rugby 7 Dubai
Event pictures of Rugby 7 Dubai took place in 2015.
2015: Mandatory Health Insurance
In 2015, Dubai phased in mandatory health insurance for all inhabitants.
2015: Completion of first phase of Dubai Design District
In 2015, the AED 4 billion first phase of the Dubai Design District project was completed.
August 2016: Dubai Opera Opening
On 31 August 2016, Dubai Opera opened its doors in Downtown Dubai with a performance by Plácido Domingo.
2016: Dubai hosted 14.9 million overnight visitors
In 2016, Dubai hosted 14.9 million overnight visitors.
2016: DMCC Nominated as Global Free Zone of the Year
In 2016, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre was nominated as "Global Free Zone of the Year" by The Financial Times Magazine.
2016: World's First 3D-Printed Office Building Opened
In 2016, the world's first functioning 3D-printed office building was opened in Dubai. It took 17 days to build.
February 2017: Second Dubai Food Festival
The next Dubai Food Festival was held between 23 February 2017 to 11 March 2017.
March 2017: Second Dubai Food Festival
The second Dubai Food Festival was held between 23 February 2017 to 11 March 2017.
2017: Dubai Run is part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge
Since 2017, The Dubai Run is part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
2018: Dubai's tourism ranking and growth
As of 2018, Dubai was the fourth most-visited city in the world based on the number of international visitors and the fastest growing, increasing by a 10.7% rate.
2018: Emirates destinations as of 2018
As of 2018, Emirates operated internationally, serving over 150 destinations in over 70 countries across six continents.
2018: Dubai Marina Population
As of 2018, the Dubai Marina, an artificial canal city, had a population of 55,052.
2018: Dubai tops list for tourist spending
In 2018, Dubai topped the list for the fourth consecutive year with a total tourist spend of $30.82 billion, averaging $553 per day.
2018: Oil Contribution to GDP
In 2018, oil production contributed less than 1% to Dubai's GDP.
September 2019: Establishment of Higher Committee for Real Estate Planning
In September 2019, Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ordered the establishment of the Higher Committee for Real Estate Planning to study and evaluate future real estate construction projects.
September 2019: Population of Dubai Reached 3,331,420
As of September 2019, Dubai's population reached 3,331,420, representing a 5.64% annual increase.
October 2019: Dubai loosens liquor laws
In October 2019, Dubai loosened its liquor laws for the first time, allowing tourists to purchase alcohol from state-controlled stores.
2019: Princess Bee Produced "Hi Dubai"
In 2019, the Italian artist Princess Bee produced "Hi Dubai", the first cross media format revealing the "soul of the city" through the life and work experience of 25 Emirati and expat women.
2019: Tourists spend the most in Dubai
Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Index 2019 found that tourists spend more in Dubai than in any other country.
January 2020: Expats Fined for Islamophobic Facebook Posts
In January 2020, three Sri Lankan expats were fined 500,000 dirhams (US$136,000) each for posting defamatory Islamophobic Facebook posts.
April 2020: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Announced Building of Temple in Dubai
On April 5, 2020, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the building of one of their temples in Dubai.
October 2020: Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled
In October 2020, Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled to take place from 20 October 2020 until 10 April 2021 for 173 days.
December 2020: Jumeirah Gate Opening
In December 2020, Jumeirah Gate opened. It is a set of two towers connected at the bottom and with a sky bridge at the top.
2020: Federal Public Prosecution Clarified Employee Actions
As of 2020, the federal public prosecution clarified that "it is an offense when at least three public employees collectively leave work or one of the duties to achieve an unlawful purpose".
2020: Projected number of tourists in Dubai
By 2020, Dubai was expected to reach 20 million tourists.
2020: Planned transport improvements
By 2020, over AED 70 billion of transport improvements were planned for completion, when the population of the city was projected to exceed 3.5 million.
2020: Postponement of Expo 2020
Due to the impact of COVID-19 the organisers of Expo 2020 postponed the Expo by one year to begin in 2021.
2020: Dubai last minute entry
In 2011, Dubai made a last-minute entry bid for the Expo 2020.
2020: Dubai Fashion 2020 and Dubai Design District
In 2020, Dubai is supporting the economy and developing different sectors by launching projects such as Dubai Fashion 2020 and Dubai Design District.
2020: Indian Premier League Held in UAE
In 2020, The Indian Premier League cricket competition was held in UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Carnegie Endowment Report on Dubai's Role in Illicit Financial Flows
In 2020, a report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace highlighted Dubai's role in facilitating corruption and global illicit financial flows.
2020: School Ratings in Dubai
In 2020, a total of 17 schools were rated Outstanding, and a further 40 were rated Very Good in Dubai.
2020: Exposure of real estate owners facing sanctions
In 2020, data revealed that several real estate owners in Dubai were facing international sanctions or involved in criminal activities, due to minimal real estate regulations in the city.
2020: Dubai Unlocked Investigation Data Leak
In 2020, the 'Dubai Unlocked' investigation started with a data leak that showed Dubai's real estate market became a haven for criminals.
2020: Theatre of Digital Art Dubai Opens
In 2020, the Theatre of Digital Art Dubai (ToDA) opened, presenting immersive digital art, including contemporary work.
2020: LGBTQ tourists face issues and deportation
In 2020, there were cases where several LGBTQ tourists who travelled to Dubai faced issues and were deported.
2020: Property prices in Dubai increase by 124%
Since 2020, property prices in Dubai increased by 124%.
April 2021: Scheduled end of Dubai Expo 2020
Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled to take place from 20 October 2020 until 10 April 2021 for 173 days.
October 2021: Postponed Expo 2020 began
Due to the impact of COVID-19 the organisers of Expo 2020 postponed the Expo by one year to begin in October 2021 (the new dates are 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022).
2021: Dubai's GDP Projected at Over US$177 Billion
In 2021, Dubai's gross domestic product was projected at over US$177 billion.
2021: UAE ranked amongst most dangerous places for LGBTQ tourists
In 2021, the UAE was ranked amongst the 20 most dangerous places for LGBTQ tourists to visit.
January 2022: Dubai moves to a four-and-a-half day working week
On 1 January 2022, Dubai moved to a four-and-a-half day working week, with the weekend comprising Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday.
February 2022: Property prices increase due to Russian investment
Following February 2022, property prices in Dubai increased significantly as wealthy Russians started investing in the UAE's real estate after the Ukraine invasion.
March 2022: Postponed Expo 2020 concluded
Due to the impact of COVID-19 the organisers of Expo 2020 postponed the Expo by one year to conclude in March 2022 (the new dates were 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022).
March 2022: LGBTQ tourists face issues and deportation
In March 2022, Thai transgender model Rachaya Noppakaroon was deported from Dubai due to her passport stating her gender as male. In another case, a French influencer on TikTok and Snapchat, Ibrahim Godin, was sent back from Dubai.
2022: Data Leak Exposes Criminal Activity
In 2022, a data leak obtained by the U.S. Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) exposed international drug trade and money laundering activity.
2022: Foreign ownership in Dubai's real estate market evaluated
In 2022, the EU Tax Observatory and Norway's Centre for Tax Research evaluated that foreign ownership in Dubai's real estate market was worth approximately $160 billion. Until 2022, there was no obligation for real estate agents, brokers, and lawyers in Dubai to report large cash or cryptocurrency transactions to authorities.
2023: Increase in real estate transactions
In 2024, real estate transactions saw a 36.5% increase since 2023.
January 2024: Announcement of Aeternitas Tower
In early January 2024, Dubai announced its intentions to build the Aeternitas Tower, which will become the world's tallest residential clock tower.
March 2024: Dubai begins operating world's biggest waste-to-energy facility
In March 2024, Dubai started operating the world's largest waste-to-energy facility, which will power approximately 135,000 homes.
March 2024: Tori Towey Domestic Abuse Case
In March 2024, Tori Towey, a victim of domestic violence, was charged with attempting suicide and illegal consumption of alcohol after seeking help from authorities in Dubai.
April 2024: Record-Setting Flooding Inundated Dubai
In April 2024, record-setting flooding inundated Dubai, highlighting drainage issues related to climate change challenges.
June 2024: Expansion plans announced for The Dubai Mall
As of June 2024, Emaar Properties announced plans to expand The Dubai Mall, adding 240 luxury stores and new food outlets.
July 2024: Agreement signed to develop food logistics hub
In July 2024, Dubai signed an agreement to develop a logistics hub for food, fruits, and vegetables, planned to be the largest of its kind globally.
October 2024: Interpol Issues Red Notice Against Kinahan Cartel Member
On October 11, 2024, Interpol issued a red notice against Sean McGovern, a Kinahan Cartel member, who was arrested by the Dubai police. An extradition treaty was signed between Ireland and the UAE on October 21.
2024: Top 10 largest universities
According to the KHDA, In 2024, the top 10 largest universities by student numbers in Dubai are Middlesex University Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, and others.
2024: Dubai Authorities Charged an Irish Woman for Consuming Alcohol
In 2024, Dubai authorities charged an Irish woman for consuming alcohol.
2024: Tourism Ranking
In 2024, Dubai was ranked as the seventh most-visited city globally.
2024: Population Statistics
In 2024, Dubai's population was around 3.79 million, with over 90% being expatriates.
2024: QS World University Rankings
In 2024, Only 4 Dubai Universities are present in the QS World University Rankings.
2024: Real estate transactions reach all time high
In 2024, real estate transactions in Dubai are at an all time high, with 180,987 transactions worth AED 522.5bn.
2024: Dubai Smart City Index ranking
In 2024, the city of Dubai ranked 12 out of 142 cities in the Smart City Index.
2025: Projected ranking in Global City Competitiveness Index
According to a 2013 research report, in 2025 Dubai is projected to have moved up to 23rd place overall in the Global City Competitiveness Index.
2025: Hospitals to be built
By 2025, 3 more major hospitals scheduled to be built in Dubai.
2025: QS World University Rankings
Only 4 Dubai Universities are present in the QS World University Rankings 2024/2025.
