Location - Dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven Emirates’ and Dubai is the most popular destination of them all.

It is situated on the southern shore of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai is the second largest Emirate after Abu Dhabi and is usually recognised as the ‘Pearl of the Persian Gulf’. 

Dubai’s population is estimated at 1.5 million, a huge difference from 183,200 in 1975. Dubai is one of the most multicultural cities in the world with the expatriate community covering most of the population, with less than 10% of the total being national Emiratis. 

The state of Dubai is commonly referred to as a city because it has been distinguished as the most modern and cosmopolitan environments in the Emirates, especially due to its rapid technological transformation over the past few decades.

Dubai dominates the shipping activities of the United Arab Emirates. It has the largest shipping capacity with 103 berths, headed by Port Rashid, which is the leading port of the Arabian Gulf region, although Jebel Ali port, about 45 minutes further south, is larger.

Jebel Ali Port (DP World, Dubai) is the largest port in the Middle East handling over 11.5 million teu in 2010; it is ranked amongst the top 10 of 100 container facilities in the world.

DP World is one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world, DP World operates more than 60 terminals across six continents, with container handling generating around 80% of its revenue. In addition, the company currently has nine new developments and major expansions underway in nine countries.

The UAE can take advantage of its central location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  Dubai, the UAE's traditional cosmopolitan trading hub. 

The port of Jebel Ali has the largest man-made harbour in the world, with 71 berths and extensive dry dock capability.  Testement to its size are claims that when it was constructed in 1979 is was one of only three man-made objects visible from space, the other being the Hoover Dam and the Great Wall of China.