Dubai (دبي) is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. With shape like a slant rectangle, it's bounded in the north by Sharjah and in the south by Abu Dhabi. The city is rather like an independent city-state and is the most modern and progressive emirate in the UAE, developing at a rapid pace, especially in the tourist and trade sectors.
Dubai is essentially a desert city with superb infrastructure and comparatively liberal policies (by regional standards). Boasting state-of-the-art tourist amenities, it quickly became popular and one of the most visited cities in the world. Just 5 h from Europe and 3 h from most parts of the Middle East, the Near East, and the subcontinent of India, Dubai makes a great short break for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining, sporting events, and other tourists' activities. It is a city of superlatives. For the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, Dubai is the destination. (Dubai Wikitravel)