What Ancient City Does Dubai Sit On?

Ed-Dur

The site of the Ancient Near Eastern City of Ed-Dur today. It thrived in the 1st century CE as a coastal port and city that traded across the ancient world.
Shown within United Arab Emirates
Alternative name	Ed-Dour
Location	Umm Al Quwain, the UAE
History

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What is the old part of Dubai called?

Bur Dubai (in Arabic: بر دبي ) is a historic district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located on the western side of the Dubai Creek. The name literally translates to Mainland Dubai, a reference to the traditional separation of the Bur Dubai area from Deira by the Dubai Creek.

Is Dubai an ancient city?

Dubai is thought to have been established as a fishing village in the early 18th century and was, by 1822, a town of some 700–800 members of the Bani Yas tribe and subject to the rule of Sheikh Tahnun bin Shakhbut of Abu Dhabi.

Was Dubai a desert before?

Three decades ago, Dubai was little more than desert. Before the discovery of oil in Dubai in 1966, the city was an unremarkable port in the Gulf region. While it had existed as a trading port along important Middle Eastern trade routes since the 1800s, its main industry was pearling, which dried up after the 1930s.

What was Dubai before?

Dubai, also spelled Dubayy, constituent emirate of the United Arab Emirates (formerly Trucial States or Trucial Oman ).

Who founded Dubai?

Sheikh Rashid ibn Saeed Al Maktoum, also spelled Sheikh Rāshid ibn Saʿīd Āl Maktūm, (born 1910?, in the desert inland from the Persian Gulf—died October 7, 1990, Dubai, United Arab Emirates), Arab statesman largely responsible for creating the modern emirate of Dubai and a cofounder (1971) of the United Arab Emirates.

Is Dubai a First World country?

The UAE is a country which exist since 1971 and never support either side of the conflict. It was never the First world country and neither was it ever part of them. The UAE is a developing country though and gains more and more influence in the World Economy.

Is Dubai built by slaves?

Like the rest of the Gulf region, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are being built by expat workers. They are strictly segregated, and a hierarchy worthy of previous centuries prevails.

Was UAE a British colony?

The Trucial States remained an informal British protectorate until the treaties were revoked on 1 December 1971. The following day, six of the sheikhdoms—Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah—formed the United Arab Emirates; the seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined 10 February 1972.

How was Dubai built so fast?

Coupled with the joining of the newly independent country of Qatar and Dubai to create a new currency, the Riyal, after the devaluation of the Persian Gulf rupee which had been issued by the Government of India, it enabled Dubai to rapidly expand and grow.

What language is spoken in Dubai?

The official language of the United Arab Emirates is Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic is taught in schools, and most native Emiratis speak a dialect of Gulf Arabic that is generally similar to that spoken in surrounding countries.

Is Dubai sinking?

Dubai’s Man-Made Islands for the Super Rich are Reportedly Sinking Back into the Sea. Dubai is known for its excess. According to Nakheel, the developer, some 70% of the 300 islands were sold before reports that the islands are sinking into the sea began hitting the news.

Can you wear shorts in Dubai?

What should tourists wear in Dubai? When visiting Dubai as a tourist, you will be glad to know that the dress code in tourist places and hotels isn’t very strict. Men can wear shorts, pants, shirts, or t-shirts. Women can wear dresses, skirts, shorts, and t-shirts, blouses, tops…

How did Dubai get so rich?

Oil was discovered in Dubai just over 50 years ago, but only accounts for one percent of its earnings. The move away from oil led to a boost in tourism, and the little oil Dubai eventually discovered in 1966 went towards building the city we know today.

The Lost Desert Cities of Dubai: The Hidden History

Dubai promotes itself as a cutting-edge city with spectacular buildings and seemingly limitless wealth. Although its deserts conceal abandoned towns and a buried history, these remnants of the past illustrate how the region’s early people adapted to and survived catastrophic climatic change in the distant past. There is little doubt that Dubai is the quintessential 21st-century metropolis. It is home to the world’s tallest structure, which draws thirteen million tourists every year, and its airport, which recently gained the title of busiest in the world in terms of international passengers, is a major attraction.

Despite this, the history of this desert nation is remarkably rich.

In 1947, Methuen released the book ‘Sand Kings of Oman,’ which included a map graphic.

The Mysterious Land of Magan and the Earliest Cities

Developments in the Hajar Mountains, east of Dubai, five thousand years ago altered the course of history. It was discovered that the land along the present-day border with Oman, which had previously supported only a meager hunter-gatherer existence, had a valuable copper deposit after millennia of being a poor hunting and gathering ground. It wasn’t long before humanity discovered how to mine it, extract the metal, and combine it with tin to create bronze. The ‘Land of Magan,’ as it was known at the time, quickly rose to prominence as a major supplier of bronze for tools and weapons to the entire Middle East region, and in particular to the world’s first cities, which were emerging in Sumeria at the time, cities such as Ur and Uruk, which were both founded in the same year.

Excavations have uncovered a plethora of structures, tombs, and parts of falaj water­courses dating back to this period at Hili, which is located about fifty acres north of Al Ain, the UAE’s third biggest city, and serves as the focal point of the country’s sole UNESCO World Heritage site.

They’re like a miniature version of the magnificent Inca stone walls at Machu Picchu, except that those walls are just 500 years old, but the masonry on the Hili tomb is 4,700 years old.

The Lost Cities of the Iron Age: Mleiha, Tell Abraq and Ad-Dur

Moving ahead 2,000 years, iron had replaced bronze and was transforming life on the Arabian peninsula. Mleiha, a walled hamlet on the edge of the desert near Al Dhaid, around an hour’s drive from Dubai, was a significant center for manufacturing and using iron. The city of Mleiha was a mile wide and hundreds of houses and metal-working sites when it was at its peak around the time of Christ. It had been continuously inhabited for over 500 years from the mid-Iron Age until the 1stcentury AD, when it was abandoned and forgotten, its walls crumbling and becoming covered by drifting sand.

It was discovered that two iron-foundries, which produced both weapons and coinage, were located on the site; they were protected by the fort and surrounded by several residences, showing that a substantial number of people lived and worked there.

Each of the sites, Tell Abraq and Ad-Dur, is fascinating in its own right.

Ad-Dur, which is nearly four miles broad, is located on the shore opposite contemporary Umm al-Quwain and is a massive archaeological site.

Julfar: the Ultimate Medieval Arabian Lost City

Julfar, a medieval city in Arabia, is one of the most renowned lost cities in the world — tantalizingly so since historians have known it existed through written documents but have been unable to locate it. It is one of the most famous lost cities in the world because it is one of the most mysterious. A thousand years ago, Julfar was a thriving port city that was home to the great Arabian seafarer Ahmed ibn Majid and, according to tradition, the mythical Sindbad the Sailor. But after falling into ruin and vanishing from human memory for over two centuries, the city was revived and rebuilt.

1. Even though Julfar was thought to be located somewhere around the Persian Gulf coast north of Dubai, researchers did not discover the real location until the 1960s.
2. Julfar flourished throughout the 10th to 14th centuries, as did long-distance Arab commerce and navigation, with Arab navigators often journeying halfway across the world during this period.
3. Julfar was the greatest and most significant city in the southern Gulf for more than a thousand years since it served as the major base for these journeys and commerce.
4. Pages from the Book of Useful Information, a masterpiece on navigation written by Ahmed ibn Majid, Julfar’s most renowned citizen (Alrahalah).
5. (Photo courtesy of The National) In spite of this, other nations were always watching and spying on such an important trade center.
6. Approximately a century later, the Persians seized it, only to lose it in 1750 to the Qawasim tribe from Sharjah, who established themselves next-door at Ras al-Khaimah, which they have continued to rule to this day.
7. The majority of Julfar is most likely still buried beneath the spreading dunes north of Ras al-Khaimah today, according to current estimates.
8. It seems like almost every year, new discoveries are unearthed that help to fill in a few more blank spots in the jigsaw puzzle that is the history of our most incredible nation.

The Great Tomb in Hili, Al Ain, which was created circa 3000 BC, is the featured image (Photo: David Millar) David Millar contributed to this article.

References

Al-Abdessalaam, Thabit Zahran, and their colleagues The Natural History of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Trident Publishing, London, published a book in 2006 called Francis Heard-Bey is the author of this work. From the Trucial States all the way to the United Arab Emirates. Motivate Publishing was established in 2004. Kay, Shirley, and others Ras al-Khaimah is shown in this portrait. Motivate Publishing was established in 2004. David Millar is a writer who lives in the United Kingdom. A Journey Beyond Dubai: In Search of Lost Cities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Petraglia and J.I.

Springer Publishing Company, 2009.

Trident Press published a book in 1999 titled

Dubai (city)

As the city and capital of the emirate ofDubai, Dubai is also known as Dubayy. The emirate, which includes Dubai as its capital, is one of the wealthiest in the United Arab Emirates, which was established in 1971 following the country’s separation from Great Britain and became independent in 1971. When it comes to the origin of the term Dubai, there are various ideas. One believes it has something to do with thedaba, a species of locust that infests the region, while another believes it has something to do with a market that used to operate near the city.

13.5 square kilometers (13.5 square miles) (35 square km).

Character of the city

As well as sun-seeking tourists, Dubai is a city of skyscrapers, ports, and beaches, where substantial commerce is conducted alongside them. Because to its huge expatriate community, it has the appearance of a Middle Eastern melting pot, with a generally accepting attitude. Affiliations with religious organizations are not prevalent in city life. Islam is the predominant religion in Dubai, however churches and Hindu temples live peacefully alongside the city’s mosques. Quiz on the Encyclopedia Britannica Quiz on the world’s largest, tallest, and smallest structures What is the name of the world’s tiniest island nation?

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Aerial image of Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

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As a result of its administrative efficiency and openness to commerce, Dubai has seen phenomenal growth in a reasonably safe environment. Dissension with Dubai’s authoritarian government and ruling class, on the other hand, is not allowed, and a culture of covert corruption continues to prevail.

Landscape

Small lengths of sandy beaches may be found in the western region of Dubai, which have aided in the growth of the city’s tourism sector. Dubai’s leadership have tried to expand the city’s restricted seafronts, and, in the lack of natural offshore islands, developers have been urged to create massive man-made islands off the coast of the city, a move that has sparked international controversy. These include the Palm Jumeirah, which is shaped like a palm tree and is the most well-known of them.

Palm Jumeirah is a landmark in Dubai.

Image courtesy of NASA.

City site and layout

Dubai is located on the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf, straddling a natural inlet known as Dubai Creek. Because the early city’s economy was based on fishing, pearl diving, and marine trade, the area served as Dubai’s geographic center for more than a century. Those who have lived in Dubai for a long time may recognize the buildings that line the creek, the most of which date back to the 1960s and are rarely more than two floors high. A number of much older structures have been renovated in the Bastakiyyah area, which is located on the western side of the creek.

The new city center is comprised of a stretch of towers that along Sheikh Zayed Road in Abu Dhabi.

The Dubai International Financial Centre, which is housed in a futuristic arch-shaped building, and the Burj Khalifa, which was the world’s tallest building at the time of its official opening in 2010 and was named after the president of the United Arab Emirates and emir of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, are both located close to Sheikh Zayed Road.

The Burj al-Arab, a massive sail-shaped structure that serves as a luxury hotel, is located on the outskirts of the city.

Climate

In common with the rest of the Persian Gulf coastline, Dubai enjoys a hot temperature all year round. Humidity is highest during the summer months and lowest during the rest of the year, with the exception of the winter months.

The coldest winter month is often January, with lows of approximately 15 degrees Celsius (49 degrees Fahrenheit), while the warmest summer month is typically July, with highs of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

People

Over the past two centuries, Dubai’s population has slowly increased from a few thousand native residents to well over two million, representing a tenfold increase. The majority of the early population growth were the result of merchants from neighboring nations deciding to migrate to Dubai because of the city’s business-friendly atmosphere, according to the United Nations Population Division. The city’s building boom in the latter part of the twentieth century resulted in a significant increase in the number of South Asian laborers as well as an influx of talented expats from all over the world, who today play an essential role in Dubai’s multi-sector economy.

The majority of the expatriate population, with the exception of laborers who are housed in work camps outside the city boundaries, is scattered across Dubai.

There are large Christian, Hindu, and Sikh groups in this country, but the majority of the indigenous people and the majority of the expatriate population are Muslim.

The Best Things To See and Do in Dubai’s Old Quarter

Visit the Dubai Creek to get a sense of what life was like in the Emirate a century ago. There’s so much to see and do in Dubai — from climbing the world’s tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa, to skiing indoors at Ski Dubai, there’s something for everyone. Dubai, on the other hand, was formerly a fishing community centered on a small stream. Dubai’s Old Quarter is the best destination to come and learn more about the history and traditions of this Emirate if you want to witness what life was like before the city began to develop at an alarming rate.

browse for reasonably priced items while getting a sense of what it’s like to be at a typical Arabic market The quality of all pieces is guaranteed by the Dubai government, so visitors may purchase with confidence at the souk’s hundreds of retail outlets, where bargaining is encouraged in order to get the best deals.

1. It is possible to meander through the maze-like alleys and see the ancient architecture of this merchants’ neighborhood, which was founded in the 18th century.
2. Nowadays, the area is no longer the dwelling of merchants who conduct business along the Dubai Creek.
3. The Al Bastakiya quarter has been around since the nineteenth century|Culture Trip The XVA Gallery, located in Al Bastakiya, is perhaps one of the city’s most unusual and intriguing attractions.
4. The gallery delivers exhibitions by significant regional artists to the area, as well as a touch of art to the neighborhood’s traditional and historical atmosphere.
5. Visit to the XVA Gallery in Al Bastakiya|Cultural Outing A dream destination for coffee enthusiasts from all over the world, theCoffee Museumin Al Bastakiya is a must-see attraction.
6. Local Arabic coffee, Ethiopian coffee, and Japanese coffee are among the most popular varieties of coffee supplied by the Coffee Museum, which is located in downtown San Francisco.
7. The Coffee Museum is housed in a classic Arabic setting.

This is an excellent location to sample traditional Arabic cuisine and immerse yourself deeper in the culture of the region.

Enjoy classic Arabic cuisine in a traditional setting|Cultural Experience The Dubai Museum, which is considered to be Dubai’s most popular attraction, was created inside the old Al Fahidi Fort, which dates back to 1787.

To this day, the museum enables visitors to stroll through many reconstructions of what Dubai used to look like in the past – giving an immersive experience for travelers to observe how the city has evolved into what it is now.

The city provides a diverse selection of traditional things, ranging from the more commonplace presents such as magnets and mugs to the more unusual items like as camel-milk soap and Emirati apparel and jewelry.

Shopping in this traditional market, as opposed to shopping at a mall, provides travellers with the option to negotiate and acquire the best possible deal for their purchases.

The spice souk offers visitors the opportunity to shop for traditional and rare spices in a classic setting while also acquiring some of the highest quality spices available in the region.

The sights and fragrances of the spice souk are unlike anything else|Cultural Experience TheDubai Creekwas the starting point of life in the city – from the fisherman to the merchants, this saltwater channel has played an important role in the development of the city.

Visitors and residents may travel across the Dubai Creek in a sharedabra, a traditional boat that serves as a water taxi, for as little as one dirham (£0.22) each way.

Boat trip over the creek|Cultural Experiences The local workers packing the trade ships is one of the few scenes visitors can witness today in Dubai that more accurately depicts the city’s history than the one they are witnessing.

Neither the boats nor the packing method are in any way contemporary or sophisticated, which stands in stark contrast to the rest of life in this gleaming modern Emirate. Traditional dhows are still utilized for commerce today|Cultural Experiences

A New Underwater City of Atlantis? Dubai’s Got One!

Plato is credited with inventing the tale of Atlantis around 360 B.C. (more than 2,300 years ago). In his view, this utopian civilisation, built by half-God and half-human beings, had been condemned to extinction by the gods for having become greedy, self-serving, and amoral, and had therefore perished in the oceans. The exact location of the sea is uncertain. Plato said that Atlantis existed 9,000 years before his time and that the myth of the city had been passed down down the generations by priests, poets, and others.

It is said that Atlantis was located off the coast of Spain, in the Mediterranean, or perhaps under Antarctica, depending on who you ask.

Everything you could possibly conceive,” said Charles Orser, curator of history at the New York State Museum in Albany.

However, a man-made underwater metropolis has recently opened in Dubai, and it is called The World.

Listed below are eleven of the world’s real-life versions of Atlantis, both man-made and naturally formed.

Recently, the city of Dubai opened the Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest pool, which has a “abandoned” underwater city, which divers may explore. It also has an underwater film studio, which is the largest in the region, as well as a media editing room, which is conveniently located within the facility. Additionally, state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment have been installed inside the pool to allow for the creation of various atmospheres. Divers may even play underwater pool at an underwater arcade, which is located beneath the surface of the sea.

• After taking a site tour with one of the dive experts, divers will have the opportunity to explore the pool and underwater metropolis on their own.
• Sixty-six cameras have been put around the pool at strategic locations to ensure the safety of divers and that no one becomes disoriented while exploring the underwater metropolis.
• Diving in the chamber helps divers to gradually acclimate to surface pressure, reducing the likelihood of developing decompression sickness.
• “Do not go to the observation deck at the top of the building after diving.” After every dive, it is suggested that you wait 18-24 hours before climbing more than 300 meters in altitude after the dive (1,000 feet).

Although diving is not recommended after seeing the world’s tallest building, the notification states that there is no danger in doing so. The facility is now only accessible by invitation, but it will be open to the general public later this year. (Photo courtesy of DEEP DIVE DUBAI)

Dwarka

The city of Dwarka, often known as the “Gateway to Heaven,” was discovered sunk around 100 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Cambay, a bay on India’s Arabian Sea coast. Ancient structures, relics, pillars, and grids of a city were discovered by divers. The city of Dwarka, which has been submerged for thousands of years. (Image courtesy of Daily Motion)

Port Royal

Approximately 2,000 people were murdered and the city of Port Royal was dragged beneath the surface of the Jamaican sea on June 7, 1692, by a tremendous earthquake followed by a tsunami. This city, formerly known as the “wickedest on the planet,” was the headquarters of Caribbean pirates (like Blackbeard). Port Royal is a town in the British Virgin Islands. (Image courtesy of Pinterest) Although the pirates claimed that the drowning of Port Royal was due to an act of God, this did not deter them from continuing their journey up the coast, robbing ships for riches along the way.

Diving is permitted in the underwater metropolis, but visitors must first get special authorization from the authorities.

Phanagoria

Phanagoria, which was built in the 6th century B.C., was reputedly the biggest city in ancient Greece and the capital of the Bosphoran Kingdom, according to historical records. Today, it is a part of Russia, with a third of the historic town submerged under the Black Sea, earning it the moniker “Russian Atlantis” for its location on the coast of the Black Sea. On the other hand, two-thirds of the city is built on land, creating a massive archaeological site that can be explored both dry and wet, with discoveries continually being found.

(Photo courtesy of robertonencini/Shutterstock.) Phanagoria has been the site of the discovery of ancient artifacts.

The Lost Villages

The Lost Villages are a collection of 10 drowned Canadian villages, formerly known as the municipalities of Cornwall and Osnabruck in the province of Ontario, Canada. Both of these areas were drowned in 1958 as a result of the building of a river through them. Today, buildings and pathways may still be seen from certain sections above the water’s surface, indicating that the region was formerly inhabited.

Pavlopetri

Pavlopetri, located on the southern shore of the Greek island of Lakonia, is claimed to be the world’s oldest underwater city, dating back to the Bronze Age. The inundation of the city is thought to have occurred around 5,000 years ago, according to historical records. Since its discovery in the late 1960s, it has been recognized as a significant archaeological site of international significance. It is a unique discovery in that we have discovered on the seabed an almost complete city, complete with streets, buildings, gardens, tombs, and what appears to be a religious complex,” said Jon Henderson from the University of Nottingham, as quoted by BBC.

“It is a unique discovery in that we have discovered on the seabed an almost complete city,” Henderson added. Pavlopetri. (Image courtesy of YouTube and the University of Nottingham)

Shicheng

The sunken city of Shicheng, located beneath the waters of Lake Qiandao in China, was formerly a component of two separate regions known as Chun’an and Sui’an. In 1957, the city was drowned, according to National Geographic, when the government erected a hydroelectric power station in the region.

Sant Romà de Sau

San Romà de Sau, a 1,000-year-old village in the Osona region of Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, has been completely submerged by water since it was founded. When the reservoir isn’t full, the bell tower of the San Romà de Sau church remains visible above the surface of the water. During droughts, however, people can still visit the ruins because they are completely exposed because there is no water present.

Titicaca’s Pre-Incan Ruins

Under the waters of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, in the Andes between Bolivia and Peru, there exist the remnants of what is believed to be an ancient temple complex, which is submerged beneath the surface of the water. There is a 660-foot-long, 160-foot-wide temple on the site, as well as a terrace for growing crops, a 2,600-foot wall, and a pre-Incan road. The site is believed to be 1,000 to 1,500 years old.

The City Of Thonis-Heracleion

This sunken city, which is more than 2,000 years old and is considered to be one of the most significant port towns in the Mediterranean, lies at the bottom of the sea off the northern coast of Egypt.

China’s Lion City

The Han dynasty is credited with building China’s Lion City, which is considered to be more than 1400 years old. It has an area equivalent to 62 football fields. Ruins in the Chinese city of Lion. WU LIXIN / CHINA SCENIC / through National Geographics contributed to this image. The sea levels are increasing all around the world. Unfortunately, this means that some of our ports may also become submerged ruins at some point in the future!

Will We Ever Live In Underwater Cities?

In the words of Ian Koblick, head of the Marine Resources Development Foundation, “the technology is now in place to establish undersea colonies that can support up to one hundred people.” The few bunker-like habitats that are now in use can serve as a model for future construction. “There are no technological stumbling blocks.” As Koblick explains, “If you had the money and the necessity, you could do it right now.” For a population of more than one hundred people, technical advancements would be required to manage emergency evacuation systems as well as environmental controls for air supply and humidity.

He is the co-author of a book titled “Living and Working in the Sea,” and he is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost authority on underwater human settlement.

It was then turned intoJules’ Undersea Lodge by him and his business partner Dr.

The hotel has been in operation since 1986 at the Marine Resources Development Foundation environmental teaching center in Key Largo, Florida, and is the world’s only undersea hotel.

Its supporters argue that it has the potential to solve overpopulation issues and protect against the likelihood of man-made or natural calamities making land-based human life impossible. The issue is, to what extent is this feasible?

Things to do in the ancient city of Petra

A vacation to Jordan would be incomplete without a stop in the mesmerizing city of Petra, located in the country’s southernmost region. Known for its jaw-dropping features and rich history, this famed archaeological city has been practically carved into its surrounds by time and nature. Petra, which is located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, is half-built and half-intricately carved into the rose-colored sandstone of the Jordan Valley. There’s much to take your breath away when you’re surrounded by mountains and connected to them through passageways and gorges.

As the light alters the city, take notice of the changing colours of the rocks around you.

Enter through Bab Al-Siq Triclinium

When you arrive in Petra, the first thing you’ll notice is this magnificently carved gateway with its intricate carvings. Its magnificently weathered front serves as a dramatic and evocative greeting to the city, as it stands proudly in the center of it all. The triclinium, which consisted of three seats, was used by the Nabataeans to pay tribute to their ancestors. It is located next to the Obelisk Tomb and serves as the gateway to the city’s main entrance, from where you will begin your 1200-metre trip to the tomb.

Look for the Cobblestone Water Channels

They were cut into the rock as water channels and dams, and they are excellent examples of early sustainability practices. Visit on a wet day and you might be able to witness the system in operation. Don’t feel like walking? Take a camel ride or a carriage ride through the city to see the sights in a whole different light.

The Treasury

The Treasury may be found directly in front of you after you exit the Bab Al-Siq Triclinium on the other side of the street. A great highlight of the tour, this rock-hewn temple may look familiar from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and it is a must-see attraction. In the evenings, when hundreds of lights illuminate the path through the Bab Al-Siq Triclinium and into the Treasury, the 43-metre-high edifice becomes even more spectacular.

Take in the view from the High Palace of Sacrifice

The High Palace of Sacrifice is reached by ascending a flight of stone stairs. Expect breathtaking views of Petra and some of the city’s most spectacular rock colors as you hike over the mountains. You’ll come across a plethora of Nabataean architecture at every step, until arriving to the spectacular Palace, where the Nabataeans staged religious rites to honor their gods and to commemorate their achievements.

Hike up 822 steps to the Monastery building

Eight hundred and twenty-two stairs have been cut out of the mountainside to lead you up to the magnificent Monastery edifice, which has been beautifully built. Even though it’s a lengthy hike up, it’s well worth it when you witness the spectacular views across the surrounding valley. If you’re staying to watch the sunset, this is without a doubt one of the greatest spots in the area to get a good view of it. What better way to cross something off your bucket list this year than to travel to the ancient city of Petra.

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3 ways the U.A.E. is the Sparta of the modern-day Middle East

“Little Sparta,” as the name suggests. In an interview with The Washington Post last week, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis referred to the United Arab Emirates as “the most dangerous country on the planet.” The UAE is a Gulf state whose strong security connections with the United States were the focus of an exposé published last week. Moreover, according to my colleague Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Mattis is not the only senior military officer in the United States who has drawn a positive comparison between the emirate and the ancient Greek city-state.

• The United Arab Emirates’ involvement in the battle demonstrated a toughness and resolve that may have gone unnoticed in the media.
• The ancient city-state was renowned for its stern, daring soldiers, who held back the march of the Persian empire and eventually went on to establish a short independent state of their own in the region.
• Dynastic rulersThe authority in each of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates derives from powerful dynastic families that have risen to prominence in that city.
• Not unexpectedly, the al-Nahyans of Abu Dhabi and the al-Maktoums of Dubai are two of the most powerful families in the world, hailing from the two most powerful emirates.
• There’s a disagreement with the Persians.
• At the naval battle of Salamis in 480 BC, the Spartan leader Eurybiades defeated the Persian fleet and captured the city of Sparta.
• According to a senior United States official, the nation’s engagement in Afghanistan after the United States invaded the country in 2001 — it sent special troops in 2003 and invested in the construction of mosques and hospitals — was all about countering Tehran’s influence.

And, despite the United Arab Emirates’ concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, the two nations maintain strong economic links.

An oppressed underclass of people Although some nineteenth-century historians regarded ancient Sparta as a stronghold of Western civilization and principles, ancient Sparta was a desolate, desolate place.

Slave uprisings were a constant source of concern in the city-state, and its administration spent the majority of its time putting down these uprisings and harassing the slave population.

As has been widely reported, the United Arab Emirates boasts one of the world’s largest migrant workforces.

Inequities and injustices encountered by migrant and domestic workers in the Gulf nations’ rich economies are frequently cited by human rights organizations.

The country’s “kafala,” or sponsorship system, binds foreign employees to their employers, forcing them to toil in conditions that are similar to indentured servitude, according to the International Labor Organization.

Is Dubai the Babylon of Revelation?

Located on the banks of the Euphrates River in what is now modern Iraq, ancient Babylon was a flourishing metropolis. The reborn city of Babylon prophesied in the biblical book of Revelation will be a resurrected version of her, but the location of this fanciful metropolis is still up in the air. Even though Revelation 17:3-5 (NIV) depicts the city of Jerusalem symbolically as “a lady sitting on a beast in the sea,” the allusion to her placement on seven hills in verse nine suggests that she will be an actual location.

Babylon in the Last Days (also known as Babylon the Great) Revelation 17:1 (NIV) predicts that Babylon would “sit on many seas,” and Revelation 18:19 (NIV) predicts that “those who have ships on the sea will become rich by her wealth,” both of which are accurate.

Located on “many waterways,” including the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Indian Ocean, Dubai is a world-renowned tourist destination.

As part of its real estate expansion, Dubai is also developing residential islands in the Persian Gulf, providing more proof of its existence “on many oceans.” Local real estate companies are constructing man-made islands and canals, which will double Dubai’s coastline and further enhance the city’s allure as a destination for billionaires, according to Hazel Wong, an architect for the city.

• Babylon is shown in Revelation 17:3-5 (NIV) as a lady who is lavishly and royally adorned, and who is encrusted with gold, precious stones, and pearls.
• After her demise, the Bible predicts that people would wonder, “Was there ever a city like this tremendous metropolis?” asks the Bible.
• Exclusive travel firm Luxury Travel promotes Dubai City because of its “many sumptuous hotels, towering sights, matchless shopping, magnificent entertainment and business options,” according to the company’s website.
• When she is destroyed, all of the world’s merchants will grieve and lament for her loss.
• (Revelation 18:15-19, New International Version) Dubai’s international trade is already well-known for its extensive reach.
• and no city exists whose kings and merchants will weep and mourn at her destruction.” “Pastor Walter James Taylor, the Founding Pastor of Livermore Valley Worship Center, expresses his gratitude.

“This is the city of Dubai.” The End of Days and the Destruction of Babylon Because Babylon’s alliance with “the kingdoms of the world” is mentioned in Revelation 17:2 (NIV), and because she will sit amid “peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages,” the future Babylon will have international power.

1. According to the United Arab Emirates Interact, Dubai is already acknowledged as a worldwide Emirate, with 81 percent of its citizens being expats.
2. The prostitute and the beast are shown in Revelation 17:6 (NIV) as the author of the book of Revelation’s disciple John, who is taken aback by the unsettling image of Babylon represented by the beast.
3. He said that the seven heads on the beast represent the seven hills on which the city would be built, as well as the seven kings who will reign over the city.
4. The federal capital is Abu Dhabi, and the other six are Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Dubai.

Is the fact that the number seven appears to be a coincidence? Beyond the sheer quantity of buildings, however, there is no disputing that Dubai has remarkable resemblance to the magnificent city of Babylon described in the Bible’s last book of Revelation. More information may be found at:

• In the Biblical Book of Revelation, there are two witnesses who testify to the Messiah’s coming.

4 Archaeological Sites Within Driving Distance of Dubai, From Bronze-age Tombs to Ancient Trading Posts

History is the next big thing in the United Arab Emirates, according to local media. With the upcoming inauguration of theMuseum of the Future and the highly anticipated start of the postponed Expo 2020 Dubai, the United Arab Emirates is looking ahead with optimism to its golden jubilee celebrations in this year. However, it is also beginning to look more closely at the ancient past, with a number of locations around the nation exposing long-forgotten secrets and unsolved riddles to those who are willing to look.

Photo courtesy of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Board.

Saruq Al-Hadid

According to Mansour Boraik, main archaeological specialist for the emirate of Dubai, the discovery of this Bronze Age town in the emirate’s desert in 2002 has turned our understanding of ancient life in southern Arabia on its head. It was long believed that people had relocated to the shore to fish and trade five thousand years ago, but Saruq Al-Hadid was a tree-filled oasis, and people hunted animals and established themselves there, according to Boraik. This early hub of metallurgy, which was occupied from the third millennium B.C.

More than 12,000 objects, including daggers, seals, gold jewelry, and, perhaps most intriguingly, hundreds of metal snakes, have been discovered in the excavation site.

Two people sit around a campfire outside of dome-shaped tents at Jebel Hafit Desert Park, where they are enjoying the desert scenery.

Photo courtesy of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Board.

Jebel Hafit Desert Park

Al Ain, located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has been a vital oasis in the desert for millennia. Also located here is Abu Dhabi’s tallest peak, Jebel Hafit, and the Jebel Hafit Desert Park, which was just recently opened and exhibits artifacts from the numerous civilizations that have occupied the region over the centuries. Hiking routes lead to 122 beehive-shaped stone graves that were created by a semi-nomadic Bronze Age tribe more than 5,000 years ago. The tombs are well identified. Many of them have been studied by archaeologists, but others may yet contain valuable artifacts.

When the tombs are best viewed, they are best seen in the golden light of the early morning.

Simply prepared and delicious meals are available from the local food truck, but for the whole desert camp experience, prepare dinner over your personal bonfire.

In the background, the Dubai skyline can be seen beyond the ruins of an ancient city from the ninth century at the Jumeirah Archaeological Site. With the Dubai skyline in the background, the ruins of a ninth-century city at the Jumeirah Archaeological Site are visible.| Courtesy of Nicola Chilton

Jumeirah Archaeological Site

The remnants of a ninth-century city, the earliest early-Islamic site unearthed in the United Arab Emirates, may be found in this coastal Dubai suburb. Before embarking on a guided buggy tour through the ruins of a market, mosque, and the city’s first “hotel,” a thousand-year-old caravanserai for traders from Oman, Persia, and beyond, pay a visit to the newJumeirah Archaeological Sitevisitors’ center to view finds from the dig, including carnelian beads, glazed jars, and silver coins. The onsiteArabian Tea Houseis the perfect place to unwind with a delicious karakchai and mull over the riddles that yet linger.

Emirati city of Sharjah’s Mleiha Archaeological Centre, with the Al Faya Mountains in the background, is home to the Umm An Nar Tomb of the Bronze Age, which dates back to the Mleiha period.

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Mleiha Archaeological Center

An region with a notable claim to fame may be found among the sweeping red dunes of Sharjah, an emirate located just north of Dubai. According to archeological evidence discovered in Mleihadate, modern people may have arrived here as early as 130,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest sites they visited after leaving Africa. These relics, as well as others from the later Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, are on display in the superb archaeological center, which includes flint tools from the sixth millennium B.C., Bronze Age red-coral necklaces, and foreign coins from the first century A.D.

This is time travel at its finest.

Khor Dubai – UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai) is a natural seawater inlet of the Arabian Gulf located in the heart of Dubai with a 14-kilometer length and between 100 and 500 meters width that flows south-east and finishes at the Ras Al-Khor nature sanctuary. It is the largest natural seawater inlet in the world. As a natural boundary separating Bur Dubai from Deira, the creek has played an important role in the economic growth of Dubai and the vicinity throughout much of the city’s history. According to historical records, the earliest known mention of Dubai was made in 1587, when the Venetian pearl dealer Gaspero Balbi traveled to the region and wrote about Dubai’s pearling business.

The creek was most likely the primary reason for Dubai’s establishment and early development as a trading port; the beginning point for this development could be traced back to 1833, when approximately 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by Sheikh Maktoum bin Buti Al-Falasi, established a settlement in the Bur Dubai area, near the creek’s mouth.

1. As it turned out, fishing, another important “business” at the time, thrived along the creek’s warm and shallow waters, which were home to an abundance of diverse and abundant marine life.
2. Increasingly important as a commercial hub in the second part of the twentieth century, the creek was subjected to a series of upgrades to allow larger vessels to pass while also making loading and unloading of cargo more convenient.
3. The creek was originally dredged in 1961 to allow vessels with a draft of 7 feet (2.1 m) to pass through it at all times; it was dredged again in the 1960s and 1970s to provide anchorage for local and coastal commerce of up to 500 tons.
4. Today, Abras (which are now powered by diesel engines) are still used to transport passengers between Deira, Shindagha, and Bur Dubai on a regular basis.
5. Despite the spectacular growth of Modern Dubai over tens of kilometers along the shoreline, the creek has remained the very “heart” of the city, despite the city’s impressive expansion.

While there is no longer as much activity on and along the creek as there was in the past due to the fact that tourism has become an important part of the city’s continued development, there is still plenty going on: a variety of vessels weave their way up and down the creek, giving visitors a sense of how important this small stretch of water has been in the city’s development.

1. Deira was the city’s main commercial district, and Bur Dubai served as the city’s residential district.
2. With the government’s focused effort, the shoreline in Bur Dubai has generally kept its old skyline, which is distinguished by the characteristic wind towers of the Bastakia neighborhood, which have been preserved owing to the government’s determined effort.
3. This list includes such sites as the repaired and changed Faheidi Fort, schools, and mosques located across the Deira sector, as well as reconstructed residences in Shindagha neighborhood, among other places of interest.
4. Ancient merchants’ families from the Emirate and neighboring countries who made significant contributions to the establishment of contemporary Dubai may still be seen in their bustling covered lanes, with stores carrying the names of their descendants.

According to tradition, the first 4,5 km of the Creek, from its original mouth to the first bridge built to connect the two banks, is included in the site, as is the harbour itself, which includes the quay and the docks where hundreds of wooden boats continue to moor and unload cargo in accordance with a century-old tradition.

The most well-preserved portions of the three ancient districts (Shindagha, Bastakia, and Deira) with the main traditional souqs and the Faheidi Fort are included inside the property’s perimeter walls.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

It is widely acknowledged that Khor Dubai and its surrounding historic neighbourhoods constitute an outstanding and universally valuable site in which natural, architectural, and cultural components combine to form a unique urban landscape in which influences and human interactions from throughout the Gulf region blend to form a coherent and alive ensemble that preserves both tangible and intangible heritage values.

The site’s Outstanding Universal Value is determined by the criterion (ii), (iii), and (v) listed below, which are all met.

Criteria to be considered (iii) Khor Dubai, with its unique urban landscape formed by the Gulf water inlet and the residential neighbourhood that developed along it at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, is an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition based on the development of international commerce and free trade in the Gulf region during the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries.

The traditional wind-tower houses, which are the last remaining example of an entire neighbourhood on the Arabian coast of the Gulf, distinguish the architectural ensembles formed by residential and commercial quarters opening on, and connected by, the creek — which was the main thoroughfare bringing in goods, wealth, and know-how from the neighboring countries — from the rest of the world.

1. They have retained their symbolic significance for Dubai up to the present day.
2. Criteria to be considered (v) As an amazing example of a traditional settlement symbolic of human interaction with a unique marine environment, Dubai stands out as an outstanding example of traditional settlement.
3. The Creek, which served as a secure harbor for the wooden boats that crossed the Gulf and a fertile fishing ground, is intimately linked to the origins of human existence in Dubai.
4. Along the Creek’s banks flourished a commercial center that was unlike any other in the world, specializing in the trade of pearls, gold, textiles, and spices.
5. It is important to note that the recent expansion of contemporary Dubai has not obliterated the city’s historical nucleus, which continues to be the very heart of the whole urban region.

Statements of authenticity and/or integrity

Khor Dubai’s authenticity is largely concerned with the real canal. Despite the fact that it has lost its physical look, the creek has retained its economic and social significance as the primary commercial artery connecting Dubai with the rest of the Gulf region. The development of the city along the creek has transformed the original sandy beaches where the boats used to rest into stone quays, but wooden boats (dhows) continue to load and unload goods and to sell them in the city souqs, with the only obvious innovation being the replacement of traditional sails with modern engines.

The actual “spirit” of the place is still fully present and authentic, with the creek serving as the focal point of an urban ensemble that includes the historic fort, specialized souqs, elegant mosques, and vibrant residential quarters (Shindagha, Bastakia, Al-Ras), all of which are connected, both functionally and symbolically, by the continuous cruising of traditional wooden boats (abras and dhows) transporting people and goods across the waterway.

When it comes to architecture, the authenticity is reflected in the efforts of the Architectural Heritage Department of the Dubai Municipality, which is actively protecting the physical fabric of the city, respecting the urban form, traditional building techniques and materials, and ensuring that wind-towers remain as symbolic elements of the cityscape, among other things.

Khor Dubai’s ancient urban landscape is an authentic, living, and lively setting in which the many aspects that make up Dubai’s character can still be found in their various forms.

Comparison with other similar properties

Khor Dubai may be compared to a number of other locations that are comparable in terms of natural elements (such as the creek) as well as their commercial and urban functions. Khor Dubai’s uniqueness as a historic urban landscape, on the other hand, lies in its ability to maintain its position as a regional economic hub, despite the extraordinarily quick changes brought about by the discovery and production of oil in the region. However, while Dubai has grown from a small commercial settlement to a major global metropolis, its original core on the banks of the creek, along with the very water inlet that aided in its formation, have managed to maintain their overall appearance, their primary commercial function, and their greater regional importance.

A survey of the shore and islands of the Persian Gulf conducted between 1820 and 1829 reveals that many cities in the Gulf Area were founded either along creeks, such as Ajman, Sharjah, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Bushire and Bahrain in the Gulf Region, or adjacent to them, such as the cities of Jazeerat Al-Hamra and Um Al-Quwain in the United Arab Emirates.

At the global scale, seawater inlets produced by glacial occurrences (fjords) have similarly aided the expansion of significant human settlements in Northern Europe (particularly in Norway), owing to the secure harbors they provide and the abundant fish supplies they provide.

As “market” locations and cities, a number of sites in the region and on the World Heritage List have played a significant economic, symbolic, and historical significance in the region’s history, according to the functional level.

On a global scale, it can be compared to cities as disparate and disparate as Tabriz in Iran, Hoi Ahn in Vietnam, MalaccaGeorgetown in Malaysia, Aleppo in Syria, and Samarkand in Uzbekistan, all of which have already been inscribed on the World Heritage List as traditional commercial poles (on the sea or inland) of major international significance, as well as cities as distant and disparate as Beijing in China.

Dubai’s prominence as a commercial center in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries can be attributed to two distinct characteristics that are not always found elsewhere: the fact that it is a free trade zone, as well as the fact that it is an international center for the sale of rare and precious goods such as pearls and gold.

At the architectural level, one of the most striking features of the site is the presence of wind-towers, a traditional technical feature designed to cope with the harsh climatic conditions of the region that can be found in most historic settlements in Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, with specificities and differences depending on the region and the epoch in which they were built.

A closer look at prominent Persian architectural sites on the central Iranian plateau, particularly in the city of Yazd, reveals that they are influenced by Islamic art and architecture.

While this architectural element may be seen in isolated, maintained buildings in other cities like as Manama (Bahrain), Kuwait City, and Doha (Qatar), it is only in Dubai that this traditional element continues to characterize whole urban sectors such as the Shindagha and Bastakia neighborhoods.