The UAE - one of the most advanced regions in the world is made up of seven emirates including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While it is known for its luxurious atmosphere, technological advancements, and record-holding creations, the UAE is unique in many ways and these are some of the things you will only find within the country’s borders.
8 Gold & Gold-embellished Things
The people in UAE are obsessed with luxury and that’s why many things here are made up of gold. From gold embellished hotels to gold dresses, gold-plated cars, and even gold withdrawals from gold ATM Machines, the people in UAE are definitely in love with the element. Nowadays, it's not just used as decoration but also as an ingredient for food. That’s right; there are gold dishes in Dubai made with something called edible gold.
7 Tallest Building In The World
The UAE is one of the countries with the most skyscrapers in the world and by the way, Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world (since 2009) is located in Dubai. With its huge list of skyscrapers, other extremely tall skyscrapers claim top spots on the list of the world’s tallest buildings and some of them include - the Marina (425m) and the Princess Tower (413m).
6 Stringent Laws
Laws in The UAE are some of the most stringent in the world. From getting jailed for cursing on social media platforms to getting fined for taking pictures in public, many things considered normal in the western world can result in hefty fines, deportation, or even jail terms in this region. Not to mention, getting fined for driving a dusty car (the UAE is dusty) around town or getting arrested for showing public affection. By public affection we mean - kissing in public or even holding hands.
5 Dangerous Pets
Besides their love for luxury, people in this Emirate also cherish exotic pets. While only dogs and cats are common in other parts of the world, it used to be common to see a man walking to a building with a Leopard or driving around town with a Lion at the back seat of the car as it is considered a way to show high status. Due to the controversy around the issue, the government of UAE in 2016 banned owning exotic pets and individuals caught parading any of these creatures in public now risk up to 6 months in jail or a hefty fine.
4 Extravagant Vacations
The UAE is a place of lavish spending and while there are few places where travelers can enjoy affordable vacations, many resorts, hotels, and other vacations destinations/activities in the UAE are expensive. In places like Dubai, it’s easy to see a hotel suite that costs $24,000 per night at Burj Al Arab or Super Yacht rentals that costs thousands of dollars per hour. Not to mention the Limousines rentals, Helicopter flights, Desert Safaris, and Desert Hot air balloon rides, which are great things to enjoy but cost a lot of money. For many, a thousand dollar bill seems like a huge fine for breaking the law, and a $5000 bill might cause a panic attack for others. How about $80,000 - $100,000? Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the bills people receive comfortably in Dubai.
3 Four And Half Day WorkWeek
It used to be a 5-day work week in the UAE. Sunday was the start of the workweek, Thursday was the end, and the remaining days - Friday and Saturday were used as the weekend. In December 2021, the government of UAE revealed plans to adopt a 4.5-day work week thereby making it the first country in the world to implement this policy. This policy is scheduled to be implemented as early as January 1, 2022. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Workweek now lasts from Monday to Friday noon and the remaining hours of Friday plus Saturdays and Sundays will now serve as the weekend. This new policy has been implemented to align with the business schedule of the rest of the world and also boost work-life balance at the same time.
2 Luxurious Cars
The people in UAE make luxurious cars seem so cheap. For many, it is shocking to request for an Uber and be met with a Bugatti but these types of situations are common in places like Dubai. All over the streets of Dubai and the other UAE Emirates, it’s normal to see the police patrolling the streets with supercars such as – Ferrari FF, Lamborghini Aventador, and Bugatti Veyron. With these beasts distributed across the streets, the sounds of their engines will sure feel like music to the ears.
1 Deepest Dive Pool In The World
The UAE has a thing for record-holding creations which is why Dubai – one of the Emirates has unveiled another record-holding attraction - the world’s deepest dive pool. With up to 14 million liters of water and 60 m in depth, this record-holding pool is an underground city waiting to be explored.