If you’ve ever seen photos of soaring skyscrapers surrounded by golden desert and turquoise sea, chances are you’ve seen Dubai. But where exactly is it? People often think Dubai is its own country, but it’s actually part of the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven emirates on the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai sits right on the Gulf, roughly between Saudi Arabia and Oman, and over the years it’s gone from a quiet fishing port to a global icon of modern life. It’s the kind of place that blends sand dunes with shopping malls, and tradition with futuristic ambition, which might be why everyone keeps asking about it.
(more…)