There is a particular hush to the Dubai desert before dawn-a taut, breathable quiet that feels like holding a note in your chest. Our van left the city while the skyscrapers still shimmered with their night lights, the Burj Khalifa a silver needle stitching darkness to the first seam of morning. An hour later, the road surrendered to sand and the air turned cool and clean. We stepped out into a bowl of starlight and low voices. The crew were already at work, unfurling the balloon's canopy across the ground, a bright, sleeping thing waiting to be woken.
When the burners flared for the first time, the cold air warmed against our cheeks and the balloon stirred. Orange fire licked into the silk and the whole shape heaved toward the sky with the slow certainty of the sun itself. A pilot with weathered hands briefed us-how to stand, where to hold, what to do when it came time to return to Earth. Then suddenly the ground just... slipped away. No jolt, no drama. The sand, the jeeps, the crew with their tether ropes-everything receded until it was all detail and pattern, as though the desert were an enormous map we'd unfolded between our fingers.
People talk about silence, but it isn't quite silence up there.
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It is the soft shiver of wind in your ears and the lungs of the burner exhaling when the pilot tips the flame. It is the quiet greed of eyes taking in more than they can name. The dunes rolled away in saffron waves, ridge upon ridge laid down like the ribs of some great sleeping animal.
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Camel tracks stitched faint cords from one hollow to the next. Far off, the Hajar Mountains rose like a rumor, their blue faces smudged with distance. Behind us, the Dubai skyline came into view, so thin and improbable it looked placed there by a careful hand.
Sunrise in the desert is not a moment; it is a negotiation. The sky bargains from indigo to violet to apricot, and the sand accepts each offer with a new shade of gold. The light arrives everywhere at once and then, very specifically, it lands on a wadi, a solitary ghaf tree, a small group of oryx that look like brushstrokes on the plain. In the basket, we forget our phones for a while. A couple from Munich share a glance that says: this is the memory we were hoping to buy. A grandmother from Sharjah holds the rail with one hand and wipes a single, unashamed tear with the other.
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Even the pilot grows quiet, as if he, too, is a guest of the morning.
Drifting teaches you the grammar of a place. Roads declare themselves as choices; dunes teach you patience. You learn how a shadow can tell time more honestly than a watch. Up there, the word “Dubai” expands. It is no longer only malls and marinas; it is also this fragile tapestry of sand and shape, this long breath before the city inhales for the day.
The landing is another kind of grace, an agreement with gravity. We bump, we drag, we laugh, we are gently certain again of being human. The ground resumes its old habits: heat rising, grit underfoot, the faint, salty scent of sweat and rope. The crew arrive in a spray of sand, the balloon sighs into itself, and we climb out with the lightness of people who have been elsewhere and returned.
Then comes the quiet punctuation of a light breakfast laid out beneath a shade canopy, the phrase that so many brochures tuck neatly into their promises: hot air balloon Dubai light breakfast. It sounds transactional; in truth it is a small ceremony. Copper dallahs sit on low tables, steam puffing from their spouts. Someone pours Arabic coffee-thin, gold, fragrant with cardamom-into tiny cups that warm your fingertips. Hot air balloon Dubai memory photos A plate of dates glows like polished wood. There is labneh drizzled with olive oil, flatbreads sprinkled with za'atar, a bowl of olives, slices of cucumber and tomato beaded with dew. On another tray: small pastries, honey in a glass jar, a modest scatter of fresh fruit.
After the riot of color in the sky, the meal is humble, and that humility feels perfect.
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You hold the little cup of coffee and the desert holds you back, the morning's warmth and memory pooling in your hands. Sweetness from a date, the agreeable sour of labneh on bread, sesame cracking under a tooth. People talk more now. The couple from Munich compares the dunes to the Alps, as if height and softness can be cousins. The grandmother shares a story about her father's first radio and how, as a child, she once thought sound lived in boxes. We laugh and pass the honey, and the pilot admits he still gets nervous before every flight, in a way that isn't fear but respect.
What stays with me is how precisely human the sequence feels. Rise slowly. Pay attention. Land kindly. Eat simply. It is a choreography that could belong to any culture, but it wears the desert's tailoring-nothing extra, everything essential. Hot air balloon Dubai wildlife view The light breakfast is not an add-on; it is the anchor. Hot air balloon Dubai scenic escape It invites the experience to settle somewhere between the tongue and the chest, between appetite and awe. It tells your body: remember this. Hot air balloon Dubai post flight celebration . It tells your mind: go slowly.
Soon we are folded back into vehicles, the city sharpening its lines as we approach. Traffic gathers, phones light up, schedules reclaim their nouns and verbs. But a good morning has a way of tinting the hours that follow. I find myself moving through the day with a private equilibrium, as if the basket's steady drift has rewired something in the way I carry time. The taste of cardamom lingers. In a meeting, I can still feel the dune's long shadow tilt across the sand.
It would be easy to say that a hot air balloon ride in Dubai is about spectacle. It is, of course. But to measure it only in gasps would be to miscount. It is also about proportion-yours to the land, the city's to the horizon, noise to quiet, hunger to satisfaction. It is about what you choose to do with the first light and the first bite. On paper, it is a line item: hot air balloon Dubai light breakfast. In practice, it is a small, exquisite way to become yourself again, briefly lighter than air, perfectly weighted by a cup of coffee you hold with both hands.
About Arabian oryx
Species of antelope
Arabian oryx
Male in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Bovidae
Subfamily:
Hippotraginae
Genus:
Oryx
Species:
O. leucoryx
Binomial name
Oryx leucoryx
(Pallas, 1777)
The Arabian oryx or white oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a medium-sized antelope with a distinct shoulder bump, long, straight horns, and a tufted tail.[2] It is a bovid, and the smallest member of the genus Oryx, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild by the early 1970s, but was saved in zoos and private reserves, and was reintroduced into the wild starting in 1980.
In 1986, the Arabian oryx was classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and in 2011, it was the first animal to revert to vulnerable status after previously being listed as extinct in the wild. It is listed in CITES Appendix I. In 2016, populations were estimated at 1,220 individuals in the wild, including 850 mature individuals, and 6,000–7,000 in captivity worldwide.[1]
Etymology
[edit]
The taxonomic name Oryx leucoryx is from the Greek orux (gazelle or antelope) and leukos (white). The Arabian oryx is also called the white oryx in English, dishon in Hebrew,[3] and is known as maha, wudhaihi, baqar al-wahsh, and boosolah in Arabic.[4]
Taxonomy
[edit]
The name "oryx" was introduced by Peter Simon Pallas in 1767 for the common eland as Antilope oryx. He also scientifically described the Arabian oryx as Oryx leucoryx, giving its range as "Arabia, and perhaps Libya". In 1816, Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville subdivided the antelope group, adopted Oryx as a genus name, and changed the species name Antilope oryx to Oryx gazella. In 1826, Martin Lichtenstein confused matters by transferring the name Oryx leucoryx to the scimitar oryx, now Oryx dammah. The Zoological Society of London obtained the first living individual in Europe in 1857. Not realizing this might be the Oryx leucoryx of previous authors, John Edward Gray proposed calling it Oryx beatrix after Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom. Oldfield Thomas renamed the scimitar oryx as Oryx algazal in 1903 and gave the Arabian oryx its original name.[4]
Description
[edit]
In Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve in Israel
The Arabian oryx' coat is an almost luminous white, the undersides and legs are brown, and black stripes occur where the head meets the neck, on the forehead, on the nose, and going from the horn down across the eye to the mouth. Both sexes have long, straight or slightly curved, ringed horns which are 0.61–1.49 m (2–4.9 ft). It stands between 0.79 and 1.25 m (2.6 and 4.1 ft) tall at the shoulder and typically weighs between 220 to 460 lb (100 to 209 kg).[5][2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]
Historically, the Arabian oryx probably ranged throughout most of the Middle East. In the early 1800s, they could still be found in the Sinai, Palestine, the Transjordan, much of Iraq, and most of the Arabian Peninsula. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, their range was pushed back towards Saudi Arabia, and by 1914, only a few survived outside that country. A few were reported in Jordan into the 1930s, but by the mid-1930s, the only remaining populations were in the Nafud Desert in northwestern Saudi Arabia and the Rub' al Khali in the south.[2]
In the 1930s, Arabian princes and oil company clerks started hunting Arabian oryxes with automobiles and rifles. Hunts grew in size, and some were reported to employ as many as 300 vehicles. By the middle of the 20th century, the northern population was effectively extinct.[2] The last Arabian oryx in the wild before reintroduction was reported in 1972.[6]
Arabian oryxes prefer to range in gravel deserts or hard sand, where their speed and endurance will protect them from most predators and hunters on foot. In the sand deserts in Saudi Arabia, they used to be found in the hard sand areas of the flats between the softer dunes and ridges.[2]
Arabian oryxes have been reintroduced to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and Jordan. A small population was introduced on Hawar Island, Bahrain, and large semi-managed populations at several sites in Qatar and the UAE. The total reintroduced population is now estimated to be around 1,000. This puts the Arabian oryx well over the threshold of 250 mature individuals needed to qualify for endangered status. However, the majority of the population is concentrated in Saudi Arabia.[1]
Behaviour and ecology
[edit]
The Arabian oryx rests during the heat of the day. A herd in Oman can range over 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi). Packs are of mixed sex and usually comprise between 2 and 15 induvials, though herds of up to 100 have been reported. Arabian oryxes are generally not aggressive toward one another, which allows herds to exist peacefully for some time.[7]
Feeding
[edit]
The diets of the Arabian oryx consist mainly of grasses, but it eats a large variety of vegetation, including buds, herbs, fruit, tubers and roots. Herds follow infrequent rains to eat the new plants that grow afterwards. They can go for several weeks without water.[7] In Oman, it primarily eats grasses of the genus Stipagrostis, flowers from Stipagrostis plants appeared highest in crude protein and water, while leaves seemed a better food source with other vegetation.[8]
Behavior
[edit]
When the Arabian oryx is not wandering its habitat or eating, it digs shallow depressions in the soft ground under shrubs or trees for resting. They can detect rainfall from a distance and follow in the direction of fresh plant growth. The number of individuals in a herd can vary greatly (up to 100 have been reported occasionally), but the average is 10 or fewer individuals.[9] Bachelor herds do not occur, and single territorial males are rare. Herds establish a straightforward hierarchy that involves all females and males above the age of about seven months.[10] Arabian oryxes tend to maintain visual contact with other herd members, with subordinate males taking positions between the main body of the herd and the outlying females. If separated, males will search areas where the herd last visited, settling into a solitary existence until the herd's return. Where water and grazing conditions permit, male Arabian oryxes establish territories. Bachelor males are solitary.[11] A dominance hierarchy is created within the herd by posturing displays, which avoid the danger of serious injury their long, sharp horns could potentially inflict. Males and females use their horns to defend the sparse territorial resources against interlopers.[12]
Adaptations for desert environments
[edit]
The Arabian oryx changes its physiology and behaviour at different times of the year to increase survival during times when food and water are in limited supply. During the summer, when droughts are common in the desert environments where it lives, the Arabian oryx will drastically reduce its minimal fasting metabolic rate by lying completely inactive beneath shade trees during the day and ranging over smaller areas at night to forage.[13] By letting its body temperature rise during the heat of the day, it uses less evaporative cooling and retains more body water, and at night, the cool night air lowers its temperature back to the normal range.[14] The oryx's arterial blood temperature is partly powered by a network of small arterial vessels with a large surface area called the rete mirabile, which branches from the two carotid arteries to the brain and allows for heat exchange between warm arterial blood and the cooler blood in the sinus cavities.[14] Because of these changes in behaviour and physiology, it was shown that Arabian oryx can reduce their urine volume, faecal water loss, and resting metabolic rate by at least 50%.[15]
The Arabian wolf is the Arabian oryx's only predator. In captivity and safe conditions in the wild, it has a maximum life span of up to 20 years.[11] In periods of drought, though, their life expectancy may be significantly reduced by malnutrition and dehydration. Other causes of death include fights between males, snakebites, disease, and drowning during floods.[16]
Importance to humans
[edit]
South Arabian fragment of a stela, depicts a reclining ibex and three Arabian oryx heads. The ibex was one of the most sacred animals in South Arabia, while the oryx antelope was associated with the god Attar, 5th century BC.
The Arabian oryx is the national animal of Jordan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates,[17] Bahrain, and Qatar.[18]
The Arabian oryx is also the namesake of several businesses on the Arabian peninsula, notably Al Maha Airways and Al Maha Petroleum.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word re'em is translated as 'unicorn'. In Modern Hebrew, the name re'em lavan, meaning white oryx, is used in error for the scimitar-horned oryxes living in the sanctuary Yotvata Hai Bar near Eilat.[19] The scimitar oryx is called re'em Sahara. The Arabian name ri'ïm is the equivalent of the Hebrew name re'em, also meaning white oryx, suggesting a borrowing from the Early Modern Era.
A Qatari oryx named "Orry" was chosen as the official games mascot for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha,[20] and is shown on tailfins of planes belonging to Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways.
Unicorn myth
[edit]
The myth of the one-horned unicorn may be based on oryxes that have lost one horn. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder held that the oryx was the unicorn's "prototype".[21] From certain angles, the oryx may seem to have one horn rather than two,[22][23] and given that its horns are made from hollow bone that cannot be regrown, if an Arabian oryx were to lose one of its horns, for the rest of its life, it would have only one.[21]
Another source for the concept may have originated from the translation of the Hebrew word re'em into Greek as μονόκερως, monokeros, in the Septuagint.[24] In Psalm 22:21, the word karen, meaning horn, is written in singular. The Roman Catholic Vulgata and the Douay-Rheims Bible translated re'em as rhinoceros; other translations are names for a wild bull, wild oxen, buffalo, or gaur, but in some languages, a word for unicorn is maintained. The Arabic translation alrim is the correct choice etymologically, meaning 'white oryx'.[25]
Conservation
[edit]
Main article: Arabian oryx reintroduction
Arabian oryx in Al Ain Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo and the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society of London (now Fauna and Flora International), with financial help from the World Wildlife Fund, are credited with saving the Arabian oryx from extinction. In 1962, these groups started the first captive-breeding herd in any zoo, at the Phoenix Zoo, sometimes referred to as "Operation Oryx".[26][27] Starting with nine animals, the Phoenix Zoo has had over 240 successful births. From Phoenix, Arabian oryxes were sent to other zoos and parks to start new herds.
In 1968, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, out of concern for the land's wildlife, particularly ungulates such as the Arabian oryx, founded the Al Ain Zoo to conserve them.[28]
Arabian oryxes were hunted to extinction in the wild by 1972. By 1980, the number of Arabian oryxes in captivity had increased to the point that Arabian oryx reintroduction was started. The first release, to Oman, was attempted with Arabian oryxes from the San Diego Wild Animal Park.[6] Although numbers in Oman have declined, there are now wild populations in Saudi Arabia and Israel,[29][30] as well. One of the largest populations is found in Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area, a large, fenced reserve in Saudi Arabia, covering more than 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi).[1]
On June 28, 2007, Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was the first site ever to be removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO's reason for this was the Omani government's decision to open 90% of the site to oil prospecting. The Arabian oryx population on the site has been reduced from 450 in 1996 to only 65 in 2007. At that time, there were fewer than four breeding pairs left on the site.[31][needs update]
In June 2011, the Arabian oryx was relisted as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. The IUCN estimated there were more than 1,200 Arabian oryx in the wild as of 4 December 2020[update] 2016, with 6,000–7,000 held in captivity worldwide in zoos, preserves, and private collections. Some of these are in large, fenced enclosures (free-roaming), including those in Syria (Al Talila), Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.[1] This is the first time the IUCN has reclassified a species as vulnerable after it had been listed as extinct in the wild.[32] The Arabian oryx is also listed in CITES Appendix I.[1]
References
[edit]
^ abcdefg
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Oryx leucoryx". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T15569A50191626. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T15569A50191626.en. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
^ abcdeTalbot, L. M. (1960). A Look at Threatened Species. The Fauna Preservation Society. pp. 84–91.
^Slifkin, Nathan, The Torah encyclopedia of the Animal kingdom, vol.1, OU Press, New York, 2015, pp.272-275
^ ab"Conservation Programme for Arabian Oryx: Taxonomy & description". National Wildlife Research Center. 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
^"Oryx". Animals & Plants. San Diego Zoo. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
^ abStanley-Price, Mark (July–August 1982). "The Yalooni Transfer". Saudi Aramco World. Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
^ abMassicot, P. (2007). "Arabian Oryx". Animal Info. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
^Spalton, J. A. (1999). "The food supply of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in the desert of Oman". Journal of Zoology. 248 (4): 433–441. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb01043.x.
^Leu, H. (2001) "Oryx leucoryx" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
^How to go wild. New Scientist (1989-10-28). Retrieved on 2013-01-01.
^ ab"Arabian Oryx". The Phoenix Zoo. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
^BBC (2012-04-27). Science & Nature – Wildfacts – Arabian oryx. Retrieved on 2013-01-01.
^Williams, J. B.; Ostrowski, S.; Bedin, E.; Ismail, K. (2001). "Seasonal variation in energy expenditure, water flux and food consumption of Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx". Journal of Experimental Biology. 204 (13): 2301–2311. Bibcode:2001JExpB.204.2301W. doi:10.1242/jeb.204.13.2301. PMID 11507113.
^ ab"Animals at the extremes: The desert environment". June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
^Ostrowski, S.; Williams, J. B.; Mésochina, P.; Sauerwein, H. (2005). "Physiological acclimation of a desert antelope, Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), to long-term food and water restriction". Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 176 (3): 191–201. doi:10.1007/s00360-005-0040-0. PMID 16283332. S2CID 14680361.
^"The Oryx Facts". The Arabian Oryx Project. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
^"The UAE National Symbols..." TEACH United Arab Emirates. 2 (2). Jess Jumeira School. Nov–Dec 2014.
^Orr, Tamra (30 June 2008). Qatar. Marshall Cavendish. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7614-2566-3. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
^The Arabian Oryx Project – Timeline. oryxoman.com
^Phoenix Zoo Species Survival Plan Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine. Phoenixzoo.org (2006-01-03). Retrieved on 2013-01-01.
^"History". Al Ain Zoo. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
^Saltz, D. (1998). "A long-term systematic approach to planning reintroductions: the Persian fallow deer and the Arabian oryx in Israel". Animal Conservation. 1 (4): 245. Bibcode:1998AnCon...1..245S. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.1998.tb00035.x. S2CID 85943063.
^Gilad, O.; Grant, W.E. & Saltz, D. (2008). "Simulated dynamics of Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in the Israeli Negev: Effects of migration corridors and post-reintroduction changes in natality on population viability". Ecological Modelling. 210 (1–2): 169. Bibcode:2008EcMod.210..169G. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.07.015.
^"Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary: first site ever to be deleted from UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
^Platt, John (17 June 2011). "Arabian Oryx Makes History as First Species to Be Upgraded from "Extinct in the Wild" to "Vulnerable"". scientificamerican.com. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
Further reading
[edit]
Silverberg, Robert (1967). The Auk, the Dodo, and the Oryx: Vanished and Vanishing Creatures. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company. LCCN 67002554. L.C. Card AC 67-10476.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Oryx leucoryx (category)
Wikispecies has information related to Oryx leucoryx.
Images and movies of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) at Arkive
Living Desert article
Arabian Oryx at Al Wabra Wildlife Preserve
Oryx leucoryx on Animal Diversity Web
Oryx leucoryx on Mammal Species of the World
v
t
e
Extant Artiodactyla species
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superorder: Laurasiatheria
Suborder Ruminantia
Antilocapridae
Antilocapra
Pronghorn (A. americana)
Giraffidae
Okapia
Okapi (O. johnstoni)
Giraffa
Northern giraffe (G. camelopardalis)
Southern giraffe (G. giraffa)
Reticulated giraffe (G. reticulata)
Masai giraffe (G. tippelskirchi)
Moschidae
Moschus
Anhui musk deer (M. anhuiensis)
Dwarf musk deer (M. berezovskii)
Alpine musk deer (M. chrysogaster)
Kashmir musk deer (M. cupreus)
Black musk deer (M. fuscus)
Himalayan musk deer (M. leucogaster)
Siberian musk deer (M. moschiferus)
Tragulidae
Hyemoschus
Water chevrotain (H. aquaticus)
Moschiola
Indian spotted chevrotain (M. indica)
Yellow-striped chevrotain (M. kathygre)
Sri Lankan spotted chevrotain (M. meminna)
Tragulus
Java mouse-deer (T. javanicus)
Lesser mouse-deer (T. kanchil)
Greater mouse-deer (T. napu)
Philippine mouse-deer (T. nigricans)
Vietnam mouse-deer (T. versicolor)
Williamson's mouse-deer (T. williamsoni)
Cervidae
Large family listed below
Bovidae
Large family listed below
Family Cervidae
Cervinae
Muntiacus
Bornean yellow muntjac (M. atherodes)
Hairy-fronted muntjac (M. crinifrons)
Fea's muntjac (M. feae)
Gongshan muntjac (M. gongshanensis)
Sumatran muntjac (M. montanus)
Southern red muntjac (M. muntjak)
Pu Hoat muntjac (M. puhoatensis)
Leaf muntjac (M. putaoensis)
Reeves's muntjac (M. reevesi)
Roosevelt's muntjac (M. rooseveltorum)
Truong Son muntjac (M. truongsonensis)
Northern red muntjac (M. vaginalis)
Giant muntjac (M. vuquangensis)
Elaphodus
Tufted deer (E. cephalophus)
Dama
European fallow deer (D. dama)
Persian fallow deer (D. mesopotamica)
Axis
Chital (A. axis)
Calamian deer (A. calamianensis)
Bawean deer (A. kuhlii)
Hog deer (A. porcinus)
Rucervus
Barasingha (R. duvaucelii)
Eld's deer (R. eldii)
Elaphurus
Père David's deer (E. davidianus)
Rusa
Visayan spotted deer (R. alfredi)
Philippine sambar (R. mariannus)
Rusa deer (R. timorensis)
Sambar (R. unicolor)
Cervus
Thorold's deer (C. albirostris)
Red deer (C. elaphus)
Elk (C. canadensis)
Central Asian red deer (C. hanglu)
Sika deer (C. nippon)
Capreolinae
Alces
Moose (A. alces)
Hydropotes
Water deer (H. inermis)
Capreolus
European roe deer (C. capreolus)
Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus)
Rangifer
Reindeer (R. tarandus)
Hippocamelus
Taruca (H. antisensis)
South Andean deer (H. bisulcus)
Mazama
Red brocket (M. americana)
Small red brocket (M. bororo)
Merida brocket (M. bricenii)
Dwarf brocket (M. chunyi)
Pygmy brocket (M. nana)
Amazonian brown brocket (M. nemorivaga)
Little red brocket (M. rufina)
Central American red brocket (M. temama)
Ozotoceros
Pampas deer (O. bezoarticus)
Blastocerus
Marsh deer (B. dichotomus)
Pudu
Northern pudu (P. mephistophiles)?
Southern pudu (P. pudu)
Pudella
Peruvian Yungas pudu (P. carlae)
Northern pudu (P. mephistophiles)
Odocoileus
Mule deer (O. hemionus)
Yucatan brown brocket (O. pandora)
White-tailed deer (O. virginianus)
Subulo
Gray brocket (S. gouazoubira)
Family Bovidae
Hippotraginae
Hippotragus
Roan antelope (H. equinus)
Sable antelope (H. niger)
Oryx
East African oryx (O. beisa)
Scimitar oryx (O. dammah)
Gemsbok (O. gazella)
Arabian oryx (O. leucoryx)
Addax
Addax (A. nasomaculatus)
Reduncinae
Kobus
Waterbuck (K. ellipsiprymnus)
Kob (K. kob)
Lechwe (K. leche)
Nile lechwe (K. megaceros)
Puku (K. vardonii)
Redunca
Southern reedbuck (R. arundinum)
Mountain reedbuck (R. fulvorufula)
Bohor reedbuck (R. redunca)
Aepycerotinae
Aepyceros
Impala (A. melampus)
Peleinae
Pelea
Grey rhebok (P. capreolus)
Alcelaphinae
Beatragus
Hirola (B. hunteri)
Damaliscus
Common tsessebe (D. lunatus)
Bontebok (D. pygargus)
Alcelaphus
Hartebeest (A. buselaphus)
Connochaetes
Black wildebeest (C. gnou)
Blue wildebeest (C. taurinus)
Pantholopinae
Pantholops
Tibetan antelope (P. hodgsonii)
Caprinae
Large subfamily listed below
Bovinae
Large subfamily listed below
Antilopinae
Large subfamily listed below
Family Bovidae (subfamily Caprinae)
Ammotragus
Barbary sheep (A. lervia)
Arabitragus
Arabian tahr (A. jayakari)
Budorcas
Takin (B. taxicolor)
Capra
Wild goat (C. aegagrus)
West Caucasian tur (C. caucasia)
East Caucasian tur (C. cylindricornis)
Markhor (C. falconeri)
Domestic goat (C. hircus)
Alpine ibex (C. ibex)
Nubian ibex (C. nubiana)
Iberian ibex (C. pyrenaica)
Siberian ibex (C. sibirica)
Walia ibex (C. walie)
Capricornis
Japanese serow (C. crispus)
Red serow (C. rubidus)
Mainland serow (C. sumatraensis)
Taiwan serow (C. swinhoei)
Hemitragus
Himalayan tahr (H. jemlahicus)
Naemorhedus
Red goral (N. baileyi)
Long-tailed goral (N. caudatus)
Himalayan goral (N. goral)
Chinese goral (N. griseus)
Oreamnos
Mountain goat (O. americanus)
Ovibos
Muskox (O. moschatus)
Nilgiritragus
Nilgiri tahr (N. hylocrius)
Ovis
Argali (O. ammon)
Domestic sheep (O. aries)
Bighorn sheep (O. canadensis)
Dall sheep (O. dalli)
Mouflon (O. gmelini)
Snow sheep (O. nivicola)
Urial (O. vignei)
Pseudois
Bharal (P. nayaur)
Rupicapra
Pyrenean chamois (R. pyrenaica)
Chamois (R. rupicapra)
Family Bovidae (subfamily Bovinae)
Boselaphini
Tetracerus
Four-horned antelope (T. quadricornis)
Boselaphus
Nilgai (B. tragocamelus)
Bovini
Bubalus
Wild water buffalo (B. arnee)
Domestic water buffalo (B. bubalis)
Lowland anoa (B. depressicornis)
Tamaraw (B. mindorensis)
Mountain anoa (B. quarlesi)
Bos
American bison (B. bison)
European bison (B. bonasus)
Bali cattle (B. domesticus)
Gayal (B. frontalis)
Gaur (B. gaurus)
Domestic yak (B. grunniens)
Zebu (B. indicus)
Banteng (B. javanicus)
Wild yak (B. mutus)
Cattle (B. taurus)
Pseudoryx
Saola (P. nghetinhensis)
Syncerus
African buffalo (S. caffer)
Tragelaphini
Tragelaphus (including kudus)
Nyala (T. angasii)
Mountain nyala (T. buxtoni)
Bongo (T. eurycerus)
Lesser kudu (T. imberbis)
Harnessed bushbuck (T. scriptus)
Sitatunga (T. spekeii)
Greater kudu (T. strepsiceros)
Cape bushbuck (T. sylvaticus)
Taurotragus
Giant eland (T. derbianus)
Common eland (T. oryx)
Family Bovidae (subfamily Antilopinae)
Antilopini
Ammodorcas
Dibatag (A. clarkei)
Antidorcas
Springbok (A. marsupialis)
Antilope
Blackbuck (A. cervicapra)
Eudorcas
Mongalla gazelle (E. albonotata)
Red-fronted gazelle (E. rufifrons)
Thomson's gazelle (E. thomsonii)
Heuglin's gazelle (E. tilonura)
Gazella
Arabian gazelle (G. arabica)
Chinkara (G. bennettii)
Cuvier's gazelle (G. cuvieri)
Dorcas gazelle (G. dorcas)
Mountain gazelle (G. gazella)
Rhim gazelle (G. leptoceros)
Speke's gazelle (G. spekei)
Goitered gazelle (G. subgutturosa)
Litocranius
Gerenuk (L. walleri)
Nanger
Dama gazelle (N. dama)
Grant's gazelle (N. granti)
Bright's gazelle (N. notatus)
Peter's gazelle (N. petersii)
Soemmerring's gazelle (N. soemmerringii)
Procapra
Mongolian gazelle (P. gutturosa)
Goa (P. picticaudata)
Przewalski's gazelle (P. przewalskii)
Saigini
Saiga
Saiga antelope (S. tatarica)
Neotragini
Dorcatragus
Beira (D. megalotis)
Madoqua
Günther's dik-dik (M. guentheri)
Kirk's dik-dik (M. kirkii)
Silver dik-dik (M. piacentinii)
Salt's dik-dik (M. saltiana)
Neotragus
Royal antelope (N. pygmaeus)
Nesotragus
Bates' pygmy antelope (N. batesi)
Suni (N. moschatus)
Oreotragus
Klipspringer (O. oreotragus)
Ourebia
Oribi (O. ourebi)
Raphicerus
Steenbok (R. campestris)
Cape grysbok (R. melanotis)
Sharpe's grysbok (R. sharpei)
Cephalophini
Cephalophus
Aders's duiker (C. adersi)
Brooke's duiker (C. brookei)
Peters' duiker (C. callipygus)
White-legged duiker (C. crusalbum)
Bay duiker (C. dorsalis)
Harvey's duiker (C. harveyi)
Jentink's duiker (C. jentinki)
White-bellied duiker (C. leucogaster)
Red forest duiker (C. natalensis)
Black duiker (C. niger)
Black-fronted duiker (C. nigrifrons)
Ogilby's duiker (C. ogilbyi)
Ruwenzori duiker (C. rubidis)
Red-flanked duiker (C. rufilatus)
Yellow-backed duiker (C. silvicultor)
Abbott's duiker (C. spadix)
Weyns's duiker (C. weynsi)
Zebra duiker (C. zebra)
Philantomba
Blue duiker (P. monticola)
Maxwell's duiker (P. maxwellii)
Walter's duiker (P. walteri)
Sylvicapra
Common duiker (S. grimmia)
Suborder Suina
Suidae
Babyrousa
Buru babirusa (B. babyrussa)
North Sulawesi babirusa (B. celebensis)
Togian babirusa (B. togeanensis)
Hylochoerus
Giant forest hog (H. meinertzhageni)
Phacochoerus
Desert warthog (P. aethiopicus)
Common warthog (P. africanus)
Porcula
Pygmy hog (P. salvania)
Potamochoerus
Bushpig (P. larvatus)
Red river hog (P. porcus)
Sus
Palawan bearded pig (S. ahoenobarbus)
Bornean bearded pig (S. barbatus)
Visayan warty pig (S. cebifrons)
Celebes warty pig (S. celebensis)
Domestic pig (S. domesticus)
Flores warty pig (S. heureni)
Oliver's warty pig (S. oliveri)
Philippine warty pig (S. philippensis)
Wild boar (S. scrofa)
Timor warty pig (S. timoriensis)
Javan warty pig (S. verrucosus)
Tayassuidae
Tayassu
White-lipped peccary (T. pecari)
Catagonus
Chacoan peccary (C. wagneri)
Dicotyles
Collared peccary (D. tajacu)
Suborder Tylopoda
Camelidae
Lama
Llama (L. glama)
Guanaco (L. guanicoe)
Alpaca (L. pacos)
Vicuña (L. vicugna)
Camelus
Domestic Bactrian camel (C. bactrianus)
Dromedary/Arabian camel (C. dromedarius)
Wild Bactrian camel (C. ferus)
Suborder Whippomorpha
Hippopotamidae
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus (H. amphibius)
Choeropsis
Pygmy hippopotamus (C. liberiensis)
Cetacea
see Cetacea
Taxon identifiers
Oryx leucoryx
Wikidata: Q237286
Wikispecies: Oryx leucoryx
ADW: Oryx_leucoryx
BioLib: 33673
BOLD: 462409
CoL: 7W6P2
ECOS: 767
EoL: 331080
EPPO: ORYXLE
GBIF: 5220164
iNaturalist: 42309
IRMNG: 10228200
ITIS: 625181
IUCN: 15569
MDD: 1006240
MSW: 14200958
NCBI: 39411
Observation.org: 86132
Open Tree of Life: 376064
Paleobiology Database: 149597
Species+: 4154
TSA: 12516
Xeno-canto: Oryx-leucoryx
Authority control databases: National
Israel
About Tourism in Dubai
The Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also called Al Bastakiya, is Dubai's historic district and major tourist destination.
Tourism in Dubai is a major part of the economy of Dubai. Dubai was the third most visited city in the world in 2023 with 17 million international visitors according to Euromonitor International.[1][2] Dubai hosts more than 800 hotels with more than 150,000 rooms.[3][4]
History
[edit]
The discovery of oil in 1966 kick-started the development of present Dubai, however Sheikh Hamad bin Maktoum (ruler from 1958 till 1990) realised one day Dubai would run out of oil and started building an economy that would outlast it.[5] A quote commonly attributed to Sheikh Rashid reflected his concern that Dubai's oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1969, would run out within a few generations. Sheikh Rashid stated "My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel".[6] Sheikh Rashid realized early he needed to diversify the emirate of Dubai's economy by building on the city's trading history and therefore he set out to establish Dubai as the region's trade and service hub. By 1979, he was successful in establishing the Jebel Ali Port, which became the logical shipping centre for the entire United Arab Emirates and the world's largest man-made port. He also upgraded Dubai International Airport and built the Dubai World Trade Centre, which was then the tallest building in the Middle East. By the end of the 1970s, the stage was set for the diversification of Dubai's economy away from oil and into other areas such as tourism.[7]
In 1989 the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board was established, to promote Dubai as a luxury destination for the up-tier market and influential business sectors. In January 1997, it was replaced with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).[8]
In May 2013, the government of Dubai launched the Dubai Tourism Strategy 2020, with the key objective to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2020 and making Dubai a first choice destination for international leisure travellers as well as business travellers.[9] In 2018, the strategy was expanded by setting new goals of attracting 21-23 million visitors in 2022 and 23-25 million visitors by 2025.[10] The key objectives from 2013 and 2018 were not met due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The need to maintain its tourism industry has hampered Dubai's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Along with COVID-19 Dubai's tourism sector has also been hurt by a greater international awareness of the status of human rights in the emirate and in particular the treatment of Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum.[12]
In November 2022, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced a national tourism strategy until 2031. The goal of the strategy is to attract Dh 100 billion in additional tourism investments (so that the tourism sector's contribution will be Dh450bn of Dubai's GDP in 2031) and receive 40 million hotel guests in 2031. The strategy includes 25 initiatives and policies to support the development of the tourism sector in the country.[13]
In April 2025, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism introduced a new programme offering media training to students for promotion of tourism in the UAE. Applicants are provided with flights, luxury apartment and three months of income, along with certification from Dubai College of Tourism for posting about traveling experiences in Dubai on social media. According to Middle East Eye, this program aims to whitewash its human rights violations and war crime accusations in Sudan.[14]
Visitors and visitor spending
[edit]
Since 1982, Dubai continued to be one of the fastest growing destinations for tourists. In 2002, visitors were mainly from other Gulf Cooperation Council members which accounted for 34% of tourists, South Asia accounted for 25%, other Arab states 16%, Europe 15%, and Africa 9%. In 2003, revenue from tourism exceeded $1 billion and surpassed oil revenues to directly and indirectly account for over 17% and 28% of GDP respectively.[15]
From January to June 2019 8.36 million international tourists visited Dubai. Most of the visitors were from India (997,000) followed by Saudi Arabia (755,000) and the United Kingdom (586,000).[16]
Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Index 2019 found that tourists spend more in Dubai than in any other country. In 2018, the country topped the list for the fourth year in a row with a total spend of $30.82 billion, a 3.8% increase over 2017 ($29.70 billion). The average spend per day was $553.[17]
In 2019, Dubai attracted a total of 16.73 million tourists, which was an increase of 5.09% on the previous year. However, in 2020, the number of visitors dropped to 5.51 million due to the coronavirus pandemic.[18]
Year
Total
international
visitors [19][20][21][15][22][23]
Increase/decrease
Visitor spending
($m)[24]
1982
374,400
—N/a
1990
632,903
69.04%
1991
716,642
13.23%
1992
944,350
31.77%
1993
1,088,000
15.21%
1994
1,239,000
13.88%
1995
1,601,000
29.22%
632.0
1996
1,768,000
10.43%
743.0
1997
1,792,000
1.36%
814.0
1998
2,184,000
21.88%
859.0
1999
2,481,000
13.60%
893.0
2000
3,027,000
22.01%
1,063.0
2001
3,626,625
19.81%
1,200.0
2002
4,756,280
31.15%
1,332.0
2003
4,980,228
4.71%
1,438.0
2004
5,420,000
8.83%
1,593.0
2005
6,160,003
13.65%
3,218.0
2006
6,441,670
4.57%
4,972.0
2007
6,951,798[25][26]
7.12%
6,072.0
2008
6,996,449[25]
0.64%
7,162.0
2009
7,580,000[27]
8.34%
7,352.0
2010
8,410,000
10.95%
8,577.0
2011
9,910,000
17.84%
9,204.0
2012
10,950,000
10.49%
10,924.0
2013
12,900,000
17.81%
12,389.0
2014
13,200,000
2.33%
15,221.0
2015
14,200,000
7.58%
25,587.1
2016
14,870,000
4.72%
28,657.4
2017
15,790,000
6.19%
29,705.5
2018
15,920,000
0.82%
34,609.5
2019
16,730,000
5.09%
38,413.3
2020
5,510,000[a]
-67.07%
24,615.4
2021
7,280,000[b]
32.12%
2022
14,360,000[28]
97.25%
2023
17,150,000[29]
19.4%
2024
18,720,000[30]
9.2%
Accommodation
[edit]
Main article: List of hotels in Dubai
Burj Al Arab hotel
In the last three years, Dubai saw an increase in 4 and 5 star hotels and number of rooms, but a decrease in standard hotel apartments. The total number of rooms increased by 9,098 from 2015 to 2017, an increase of 9.25%. Prior to the Expo 2020 hotels in Dubai were reducing room rates to stimulate demand as supply accelerated. Based on data of August 2019, Dubai hoteliers reported a 7.6% rise in supply against 7.4% increase in demand.[31] Average room rates stood at AED 486 in June 2019 while in the same month of 2018 average room rates were at 544 AED.[32] In July 2019, Dubai's Jumeirah Group LLC fired 500 people due to a decline in tourism. In the second quarter of 2019, hospitality sector has had the worst quarter since 2009.[33]
Hotel inventory numbers 2014-2023[19]
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total 5 star hotels
91
96
103
113
128
134
143
151
157
Total 5 star hotel rooms
31,551
33,122
35,853
38,543
43,133
44,067
47,035
49,585
51,809
Total 4 star hotels
106
112
122
146
158
161
181
189
194
Total 4 star hotel rooms
21,208
22,990
25,289
29,908
33,120
34,905
40,377
42,505
43,283
Total 1-3 star hotels
264
267
260
260
258
225
243
270
274
Total 1-3 star hotel rooms
19,714
21,767
21,591
22,634
24,491
21,732
25,384
28,512
28,789
Total hotel apartments (deluxe/superior)
66
66
65
68
68
74
80
82
85
Total deluxe/superior rooms
9,641
9,519
9,786
10,522
10,520
11,845
12,606
13,113
13,842
Total hotel apartments (standard)
150
140
131
129
129
117
108
112
111
Total standard rooms
16,219
15,447
14,930
14,360
14,856
14,398
12,548
12,781
12,568
Total establishments
657
677
681
681
716
741
711
755
804
821
Total available rooms
92,333
98,333
102,845
107,431
115,967
126,120
126,947
137,950
146,496
150,291
Average occupancy
79%
77%
78%
78%
76%
75%
54%
67%
73%
77%
Visitor Statistics
[edit]
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Rank
Country
6/2023
2022
1
India
1,223,000
1,842,000
5
Russia
616,000
758,000
4
United Kingdom
555,000
1,043,000
3
Saudi Arabia
538,000
1,216,000
2
Oman
511,000
1,311,000
6
United States
362,000
590,000
7
Germany
329,000
422,000
17
China
260,000
177,000
10
Iran
196,000
328,000
13
Israel
196,000
239,000
8
France
180,000
364,000
11
Egypt
168,000
288,000
12
Kuwait
152,000
260,000
9
Pakistan
152,000
356,000
14
Kazakhstan
145,000
234,000
15
Italy
130,000
212,000
19
Philippines
125,000
158,000
16
Australia
121,000
184,000
18
Canada
110,000
158,000
19
Japan
110,000
148,000
Attractions
[edit]
Main article: Tourist attractions in Dubai
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Al Fahidi Fort
Aspects of Dubai's old culture, while occasionally overshadowed by the boom in economic development, can be found by visiting places around the creek, which splits Dubai into two halves, Bur Dubai and Deira. The buildings lining the Bur Dubai side of the Creek provide the main flavor of the old city. Heritage Village is one of the few remaining parts of historical Dubai, containing preserved buildings. The adjoining Diving Village offers exhibits on pearl diving and fishing. The Diving Village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire "Shindagha" area into a cultural city, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by.
Boats on Dubai water line night view
Other attractions include the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House; the Dubai Museum in the restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was erected around 1799; and the Heritage Village of Hatta, situated 115 kilometers southeast of Dubai City in the heart of the rocky Hatta Mountains. The history of the village can be traced back 2000 – 3000 years. It consists of 30 buildings, each differing in size, interior layout and building materials used. Great care was taken to use the same materials as those used when originally built during the renovation such as mud, hay, sandalwood and palm fronds. The Sharia Mosque is an old mosque built in the early 19th century using the same building materials and consists of a large prayer hall, a court and courtyard, minaret and other utility rooms.[34] Other museums include the Al Ahmadiya School.
Shopping
[edit]
Main article: List of shopping malls in Dubai
Dubai Fountain at the Dubai Mall
Dubai has been nicknamed the "shopping capital of the Middle East."[35][36] The city draws large numbers of shopping tourists from countries within the region and from as far as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. Dubai is known for its souk districts. Souk is the Arabic word for market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged. Traditionally, dhows from the Far East, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargo and the goods would be bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks.[37]
Modern shopping malls and boutiques are also found in the city. Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport offers merchandise catering to the multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport. Outside of Duty Free areas and major sales, Dubai has a reputation for being one of the most expensive shopping destinations in the world.[38]
While boutiques, some electronics shops, department stores and supermarkets may operate on a fixed-price basis, most other outlets consider friendly negotiation as a way of life.
Dubai's numerous shopping centres cater for every consumer's need. Cars, clothing, jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting equipment and any other goods will all be likely to be under the same roof.[39]
The Dubai Shopping Festival is a month-long festival held during the month of January each year. During the festival the entire emirate becomes one massive shopping mall. Additionally, the festival brings together music shows, art exhibitions, and folk dances.[40]
The Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is the summer version of Dubai Shopping Festival held during June, July and August. Dubai Government launched Dubai Summer Surprises in 1998 in order to promote Dubai as a family holiday destination. DSS offers fun, entertainment, food deals and great offers on shopping.
Cultural sensitivity
[edit]
See also: Culture of Dubai
Tourists are required to obey some Muslim religious restrictions in public even if they are not Muslim themselves, such as refraining from eating or drinking in public places in the daytime during Ramadan.[41]
Dubai has a modest dress code as part of its criminal law.[42] Sleeveless tops and short dresses are not encouraged at Dubai Mall.[43][44] Clothes are advised to be in appropriate lengths.[42]
Homosexuality is criminalized in Dubai, including for tourists. However, there is a vibrant underground gay scene in Dubai and authorities do not actively search for homosexuals to enforce the law.[45]
Transportation
[edit]
Main article: Transportation in Dubai
Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic.
Most capitals and other major cities have direct flights to Dubai. More than 120 airlines operate to and from Dubai International Airport to more than 260 destinations. Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic.[46] Dubai is also the home base of the airline Emirates, which operates scheduled services to more than 100 destinations.
In June 2009 Emirates designated a special handling area at departures and arrivals for passengers with special needs, allowing wheelchair passengers to receive a more personalized service.[47][better source needed]
The establishment of the first cruise terminal in Dubai in 2001 and the opening of the enhanced New Dubai Cruise Terminal in February 2010 with higher handling capacity has drawn the attention of cruise line operators. Cruises to Dubai sail from: Singapore, Sydney, Athens, Dover, Venice, Cape Town, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Alexandria, Istanbul, New York City, Southampton, Barcelona, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Monte Carlo, Mombasa, Victoria, and Cairns among others.[48][better source needed]
The United Arab Emirates has a network of roads that connect major towns and villages, including a multi-lane highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with access to and from the bordering countries of Saudi Arabia and Oman. Highways and main roads in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are designated by an Emirate Route Number. Speed limits are displayed on road signs and are usually 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) around town and 100–120 km/h (62–75 mph) elsewhere.[49][better source needed]
Dubai ranked third in the best taxi services behind Tokyo and Singapore.[50][better source needed]
Illicit drugs
[edit]
Travelers entering Dubai are warned for harsh penalties regarding illicit drug use or smuggling. Authorities in Dubai use highly sensitive equipment to conduct thorough searches to find trace amount of illegal substances.[51] A senior Dubai judge was quoted on February 11, 2008, by the Dubai City News saying, "These laws help discourage anyone from carrying or using drugs. Even if the quantity of illegal drugs found on someone is 0.05 grams, they will be found guilty. The penalty is a minimum of four years. The message is clear — drugs will not be tolerated."[51]
Health
[edit]
Further information: Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates
No special immunizations are required, but tourists are encouraged to purchase appropriate medical insurance before travelling. Government immunization programs have led to recognition by a travel magazine.[47] As a latest addition to the established modern health care system, Dubai offers online health care contacts of virtually all medical doctors in Dubai.[52]
Sports tourism
[edit]
This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(September 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Dubai hosts the following international championships:
Dubai World Cup – the richest horse race in the world
Dubai Classic - the golf championship
Barclays Dubai Tennis for both men and women
UIM World Powerboat racing
Rugby Sevens
Dubai International Rally
Dubai Snooker Classic
The UAE Desert Challenge
The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon
See also
[edit]
United Arab Emirates portal
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dubai.
Developments in Dubai
List of development projects in Dubai
List of tourist attractions in the United Arab Emirates
Palm Islands
Notes
[edit]
^Due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
^Due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
[edit]
^
"Two of the most-visited cities in the world are in Turkey - this one is the unsung hero". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
^Kelly, Liv (2 February 2024). "This surprising city was the world's most visited in 2023". TimeOut.
^"Dubai to host ATM 2024; city has 150,000 rooms and welcomed 17m tourists last year". Arabian Business. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
^"Enterprise". Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
^"Dubai Tourist Information". Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved Sep 27, 2019.
^Gluckman, Ron. "Hong Kong of the Desert?". Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
^Sharpley, Richard (2009). Tourism Development and the Environment:Beyond Sustainability?. Earthscan. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-84407-732-8. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^"Sorry, the page you requested was not found". www.zu.ac.ae. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved Jan 30, 2020.
^"Dubai Department of Tourism Vision". www.visitdubai.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved Sep 27, 2019.
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