Dubai is known for its exuberance and grandeur. Luxury shopping, 7* hotels, world-class dining and incredible man-made islands. But, there's more than meets the eye to this dazzling destination. For all of its architectural wonders, Dubai is soaked in history and deep-rooted cultural heritage. Join us as we take a journey through 6 of the things you may not know about Dubai
Long before oil and tourism fuelled Dubai's incredible wealth, Dubai relied heavily on the art of pearl diving. A difficult and dangerous occupation, pearl diving accounted for roughly 90% of the region's income during the 19th century. Divers would spend weeks at sea, doing up to 300 dives, 14 hours a day. When artificial pearls were created in Japan in the 1950s, the trade was all but destroyed, taking away the region's most important trading resource.
2. Police drive an Aston Martin
Dubai's roads are home to some of the most incredible supercars in the world. Naturally, the local constabulary must keep up so their fleet is anything but ordinary.
The Dubai police force has an enviable armada of highly coveted brands including Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Bentley, plus BMW and Audi. In 2014, they added the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest police car in the world with a top speed of 253mph, reaching 0 to 60 in just 2.5 seconds. Who needs Batman in a place like Dubai?
3. World Records
In Dubai, everything is bigger and better, it's practically their slogan. The city is continually pushing limits and setting records, only to break them again further down the line.
The most recent record-breaker is the unusual, yet no less impressive feat, of building the world's tallest, supported topiary sculpture. A huge Mickey Mouse made of flowers. Others include the world's longest handmade gold chain and tallest chocolate sculpture. There are also records for the largest permanent projection mapping and largest water screen projection. We have a feeling there will be many more to come!
4. Vending Machines for (practically) Everything
Japan may be the undisputed king of vending machines per capita (one per 23 people), but Dubai is making up ground quickly. Forget fizzy drinks and chocolate, the machines in Dubai deliver an altogether different experience.
You'll find slots selling gold - 2.5 grams, 24-karat coins and even a one-ounce gold bar. They update rates every 10 minutes to correspond with changes in the market. Beauty products, gourmet food and even laptops can be bought from vending machines, but our personal favourite is the 24-hour gift vendor, where you can buy up to 35 last-minute goodies including perfume and designer teddy bears.
