EMP W E A L T H T H R O U G H K N O W L E D G E A D V I S E R S • C o u n t r y f a c t s • T o u r i s m • R e a l e s t a t e m a r k e t • H i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e • L e g a l a d v i c e • S t r e n g t h s • E c o n o m y • W e a k n e s s e s • P o l i t i c s DUBAI: THE 8th WONDER OF THE WORLD w w w . e m p a d v i s e r s . c o m report on DUBAI w w w . e m p a d v i s e r s . c o m EMP w e a l t h t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e A D V I S E R S Country facts Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf between Oman and Saudi Arabia Population: 2,921,376 (2021) GDP: $401.51 billion USD 2021; per capita $31,982.23 USD(2020) Area: 32,000 sq mi (82,880 sq km) Climate: The UAE was the first country in the Middle East to introduce the Satellite Delivered Information System technology (SADIS), a weather forecasting technology that covers the globe, with the exception of Polar Zones. According to the National Meteorological Authority (NMA), which is affiliated with the Ministry of Communications, the system supplies data on temperature, humidity, volcanoes and wind directions. It also enables the UAE to receive the latest forecasts for centres all over the world through direct contact with the world centre in London. The NMA has qualified forecasters to operate the system and is currently training more forecasters to operate it. The summer months, from June to September, are too hot for comfort. Midday temperatures range from 35 degrees C to 42 degrees C, and occasionally top 49 degrees C at the height of summer. During this period there is a sharp drop in night-time temperatures, with these falling to roughly half the midday readings, i.e. 20 degrees C to 28 degrees C, and providing a welcome respite from the searing heat of the day. Gulf waters exert a modifying influence on coastal zones, which experience less dramatic diurnal fluctuations in temperature, and higher humidity than inland regions. Although the evenings are not so cool, coastal towns do have the advantage of pleasantly refreshing sea breezes. Mountainous regions are also 2 REPORT ON • D U B A I w w w . e m p a d v i s e r s . c o m EMP w e a l t h t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e A D V I S E R S cooler and less humid. From December to March, the climate is considerably more equable with midday temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 degrees C and falling to as low as 9degrees C at night. 3 REPORT ON • D U B A I w w w . e m p a d v i s e r s . c o m EMP w e a l t h t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e A D V I S E R S The people: Expatriates make up at least 86% of Dubai’s population, and consist mainly of Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos, who take the emirate’s low- wage jobs. The government is attempting to address this imbalance through “Emiratization” (replacing expatriates with local employees), but most native graduates prefer well-paid work in the public sector. Expatriates from rich Western countries, along with Iranians and Lebanese, are employed mainly in white-collar capacities, and middle-class Indians are increasingly influential. Dubai’s population, which was 183,200 in 1975, has been growing by up to 7% a year. According to the official census, the population is currently estimated at 2.92m in 2021. The religious climate: Dubai’s official religion is Islam, and the call to prayer is heard five times a day. But the emirate’s commercial ethos and cosmopolitan inhabitants preclude strict enforcement of religious rules. Muslims make up about half the population, comprising UAE nationals (mostly Sunni); expat Arabs and Pakistanis (also Sunnis), and expat Iranians (Shi’ia). Most Indian expats are Hindu or Catholic. There have been terrorist alerts in Dubai since the start of the American-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, but the risk is deemed relatively low by the British and American governments. Dubai’s high standard of living tends to mitigate radicalism. Even the meagre wages of expatriate labourers are generous compared with salaries in their native countries. Ambitious UAE nationals aspire to an MBA from Harvard or MIT, and a job at the Dubai regional office of Citibank or Microsoft. Dubai British Schools: The Cambridge International School Cambridge International School, formerly, Cambridge High School - Dubai, offers the multinational community of Dubai a high quality British - style education at an economical cost. A full range of courses is offered leading to GCSE, IGSE, A/S and A level examinations. Extracurricular activities include many sports such as football, cricket, basketball and swimming. Contact: Telephone: +971-42824646 E-mail: [email protected] Principal E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.gemscis-dubai.com/en 4 REPORT ON • D U B A I w w w . e m p a d v i s e r s . c o m EMP w e a l t h t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e A D V I S E R S Deira International School, Dubai Deira International School offers the National Curriculum of England and Wales enhanced by international education particularly the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Deira International School, founded in 2005, is situated in the beautiful environs of Dubai Festival City and is a modern and exceptionally well-appointed campus. It has extensive sports fields a gymnasium, swimming pool, science laboratories, workshops, art rooms, music centres, libraries and other features. The school is growing rapidly to accommodate the local community and children from all areas of Dubai. Currently, with four form entries, the school accepts students aged from 3 – 18 (Pre- school – Year 12) and since 2008 has included Year 13. Children of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds are accepted upon successful completion of the entrance test and interview. There are no examinations in the primary years. Secondary students are prepared for Cambridge IGCSE followed by the IB Diploma, or a career centred vocational course. On January 2021 the school won an award for “Digital Technology in Learning at The International School Awards”. Contact: Tel: ++971 4 232 5552 General Inquiries: [email protected] Admissions/Student Registration: [email protected] Employment: [email protected] Accounts: [email protected] Website: https://www.disdubai.ae/ Dubai British School Emirates Hill The Foundation Stage curriculum is organized into six areas of learning: Personal, social and emotional development Communication, language and literacy Mathematical development Knowledge and understanding of the world Physical development Creative development. The Early Learning Goals establish expectations for most children to reach by the end of the Foundation Stage but are not a curriculum in themselves. They are organized into the six basic areas of learning and provide the basis for planning throughout the Foundation Stage, in essence laying secure foundations for future learning. The Foundation Stage program develops key learning skills such as listening, speaking, concentration, persistence and learning to work together and co-operate with other children. It also develops early communication, literacy and numeric skills that will prepare young children for Key Stage One of the National Curriculum. Contact: Tel: 9714 361 9361 Admissions number: 00971 549913009 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.dubaibritishschool.ae/ Dubai College Dubai College is a British system 11-18 school based in the Umm Suqeim area of Dubai in the UAE. Academic standards are high with around 80% of its Year 13 students gaining either an A or a B at A level while at GCSE 100% of students gain 5 A* to C grades each year and over 60% gain A*‘s and A’s. The maximum class size is 20. In addition to its academic successes, Dubai College provides an all-round education for the students. There is a thriving House system and two Drama productions (for lower and upper school) take place each year. The school excels in 5 REPORT ON • D U B A I w w w . e m p a d v i s e r s . c o m EMP w e a l t h t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e A D V I S E R S sports. At football, cricket, rugby and netball the school has been either champions or cup winners in their various age ranges at both local and gulf level over recent years. In addition to this, the school takes part in the Duke Of Edinburgh award scheme is annually involved in the ECIS mathematics competitions as well as competing in the Young Musician of the Gulf event which takes place in Bahrain.