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United Arab Emirates / DubaiThe United Arab Emirates shares its land borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman, and its considerable coastline with the Persian Gulf and, to a much smaller extent, the Gulf of Oman. Of the UAE's seven federated states, the emirate of Dubai claims the largest population—nearly 1.8 million inhabitants. And, due to the staggering growth of Dubai city in recent years — including the construction of Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world, and a number of man-made, palm-shaped islands that can be seen from outer space — Dubai also tends to be the state with which Americans are most familiar.
For many in Europe and the Middle East, shopping is the main attraction in Dubai city. Traditional souks — or markets — line Dubai Creek. The city owes its nickname, "City of Gold," to the Deira Gold Souk, which is the largest gold bazaar in the world. There, shoppers can find all kinds of jewelry, from traditional and modern designs to custom, made-to-order creations by local artisans. In the Deira Spice Souk, exotic aromas fill the air, rising from sacks that are piled high and overflowing with the likes of cloves, cumin, saffron and frankincense.
Also along the banks of the Creek lies Bastakia, the old part of the city. There, the Al-Fahidi Fort, built in 1800, now houses the Dubai Museum. A large section of the museum is dedicated to musical instruments, such as drums, flutes, lyres and goatskin bagpipes. A collection of weapons includes swords, spears, curved hanjar daggers and sharkskin shields. Photos chronicle the indigenous Bedouin tribes, as well as the old economy based on trade and pearl fishing.
The Duty Free Shops at Dubai International Airport is one of the largest duty-free operations in the world and the winner of several international awards. Plus, the city boasts over 14 million square feet of shopping malls, including the spectacular Dubai Mall with its 440,000-square-foot Fashion Avenue and such high-end stores as Chanel, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Roberto Cavalli, Topshop and Versace.
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