About Dubai
Dubai is one of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Synonymous with a high quality of life Dubai has become a location of choice for people to live and work, and as a tourism destination. This progressive and multi-cultural society is tolerant to the beliefs and needs of its highly cosmopolitan community. Of its population of nearly 1 million, 75% is expatriates from over 185 nationalities. Dubai has long earned its reputation as a pre-eminent commercial centre with an innovative, dynamic and entrepreneurial business culture.
Strategically located at the crossroads of trade and commerce between East and West, Dubai is in an ideal position to service and access markets that span the Middle East, North and South Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and the CIS. Moreover, Dubai occupies a time zone that gives it an unparalleled advantage in connecting markets as disparate as the Far East and the USA.
Dubai is politically stable and has a forward-looking, responsive Government with a progressive, pro-business attitude and a highly developed commitment to the private sector. The business friendly regulations and highly favorable tax and customs framework have played a key role in attracting business investment from all over the world in practically every sphere of economic activity. Moreover, consistently strong economic indicators and a relatively low cost work environment have contributed to Dubai’s rapid development and prosperity.
Dubai enjoys truly global connectivity. Its ultra modern airport handles 13.5 million passengers to over 140 destinations annually; its deepwater port has one of the largest throughputs in the world. Dubai is currently the third largest re-export centre in the world serving a massive regional market.
Dubai boasts the award-winning airline - Emirates Airlines and the world’s first seven star hotel, the Burj al Arab. Home to major sporting events including the Dubai World Cup (the world’s richest horse race), the Dubai Desert Gold Classic and the Dubai Rugby Sevens, Dubai is also a leading venue for world-class business forums. In September 2003, Dubai hosted the 2003 Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
A modern, safe, multicultural city with state-of-the-art medical, education, entertainment, shopping and sports facilities, and a plethora of amenities that make for a very high quality of life, Dubai is a city of choice for the modern professional and an ideal location for multinationals to establish a regional presence.
Regional Opportunity
Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and with access to large emerging markets, Dubai is set to become the first dedicated commodities centre in the time zone between Europe and the Far East. The region, encompasses, but is not limited to, the Gulf States, African countries, the Levant the Caspian and the former Soviet Union and the Indian Subcontinent. Home to 1.8 billion people, the region’s combined economy totals US$1.5 trillion in terms of GDP and is growing at an impressive rate of more than 5 per cent per annum.
Dubai has successfully positioned itself as the business hub of the region. The stable, pro-business approach of the Dubai government has now led to yet another world first, the creation of a unique and dedicated commodity market place, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.