30+ Interesting Facts About Dubai That You Might Not Know

There’s a lot about Dubai you probably think you already know. And that’s because countless travelers, ourselves included, have documented their experiences touring Dubai.

But we wanted to take it a step further. Here’s a list of fascinating facts about Dubai that you might not have come across before, perfect for helping you get to know the city better, especially if you’re planning to visit Dubai for the first time.

Interesting Facts About Dubai

1. Some ATMs dispense gold, where you can literally withdraw gold bars and coins.
2. The metro has a women-and-children-only cabin – a unique cultural feature to ensure comfortable commuting.
3. No street addresses in older areas – historically, people used landmarks to give directions instead of numbered addresses.
4. Winter is beach season in this part of the world, that is, months between October and February, when much of the world is cold, Dubai has perfect weather. It’s also the busiest and most expensive time to visit Dubai. In Which Month is Dubai the Most Expensive?
5. You can ski in the desert – Ski Dubai, inside the Mall of the Emirates, maintains snow all year round.
6. Many restaurants don’t open until sunset during Ramadan – an important detail for travelers visiting during the holy month. Visiting Dubai During Ramadan – How it is and What to Expect
7. Dubai introduced a robot police officer (a pilot program) in 2017. The robot was used to report crimes, pay fines, and get information by tapping a touchscreen on its chest.
8. Water taxis (abras) cost just 1 dirham – an authentic way to cross the Dubai Creek that locals still use daily. You can find this in the old town or in the Deira area.
9. Air-conditioned bus stops – a necessity especially in the summer, and surprisingly luxurious for public transport.
10. World’s highest 360-degree infinity pool – Aura Skypool offers an unreal view from 210 meters above the ground.
11. Dubai has more expatriates than locals – about 85–90% of the population is comprised of expatriates.
12. Home deliveries by motorcycle are everywhere – from food to groceries, Dubai is a delivery paradise.
13. The Dubai Frame is not just for photos – the attraction site offers a museum experience that showcases “old Dubai” as well as the “new Dubai.” You get to see this from 15o metres off the ground. The Ultimate Guide to Visiting The Dubai Frame – Prices, Directions, History & More
14. Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787, is the oldest existing building in Dubai, which is now a Dubai Museum. It was once the residence of a ruler, a prison, and even a weapons arsenal.
15. The Dubai Mall has more visitors annually than New York City, over 100 million footfalls a year, which is double the number of people who visit New York.
16. Dubai’s tallest building before the Burj Khalifa was the World Trade Centre, which measures 149 metres compared to Burj Khalifa’s height, which is 830 metres. This just shows how dramatically the skyline has changed.
17. The city imports most of its sand – despite being surrounded by desert, desert sand is too fine for concrete, so construction sand comes from abroad, from countries such as Austrtalia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt among others.
18. Jebel Ali Port is the largest man-made harbor in the world – and a key reason Dubai became a global logistics hub.
19. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world’s busiest for international passengers, connecting over 260 destinations.
20. Property ownership for foreigners was only legalized in 2002, sparking the real estate boom that gave rise to Palm Jumeirah and other megaprojects.
21. Oil contributes less than 1% to Dubai’s GDP today – trade, real estate, aviation, and tourism drive the economy.
22. The UAE dirham was introduced in 1973 – before that, Dubai used the Qatari & Dubai riyal, while Abu Dhabi was using the Bahraini dinar.
23. In 2025, the UAE government changed the symbol of the UAE Dirham.
24. Dubai hosts the 3rd richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, with a prize purse of $12 million, coming after cups in Saudi Arabia and Australia, which offer a prize purse of $12 million each.
25. The Global Village festival park attracts over 9 million visitors annually – a cultural showcase of 90+ countries.
26. Dubai has one of the lowest crime rates in the world – thanks to strict laws and high-tech surveillance – UAE Ranked as the 2nd Safest Country in the World
27. Water in Dubai is desalinated seawater – the city has some of the largest desalination plants in the world.
28. Dubai Miracle Garden has over 150 million flowers arranged in elaborate designs — including a full-sized Emirates A380 plane made of flowers.
29. Dubai International Airport has a dedicated terminal (T3) exclusively for Emirates Airlines, one of the largest airline terminals in the world.
30. Dubai’s population is 70% male, due to the large number of male expatriate workers.
31. While in Dubai, it is better to pay using the local currency than your home currency. Read why this is the preferred way.

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