Dubai is the capital city of the Emirate of Dubai, one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With a population of 2.6 million, it is the largest city by population in the country, and the fastest-growing. To put the city’s population growth into perspective, when the CTBUH International Conference last came to Dubai 10 years ago in 2008, the population was only 1.6 million!
It is extremely well known for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage, and the Emirati people are welcoming and generous in their approach to visitors. With year-round sunshine, intriguing deserts, beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels and shopping malls, fascinating heritage attractions and a thriving business community, Dubai receives millions of leisure and business visitors each year from around the world. Dubai has a warm, sunny climate with hot temperatures for most of the year and low rainfall. October tends to be very warm a dry, with practically no precipitation and temperatures ranging from 22°C (72°F) to 35°C (95°F). However, Dubai is well suited for high temperatures, as public transport, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions are all air-conditioned.