For one, hospitals and clinics in Dubai – numbering about twenty – are fully equipped with the latest in medical technology and are highly accessible, being situated in strategic locations. The 2009 census places the population of Dubai at around 1,241,000. This translates to 1:62,050 hospital/clinic-patient ratio.

The Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) of Dubai runs the Emirate’s public health care. Dubai residents, as well as those of the neighboring emirates, enjoy practically costless medical services. But it must be mentioned here that there is no mandatory employer or state contribution insurance schemes that are in place in Dubai.

That’s right. All employers are not obligated to provide health care insurance to its workers. The DOHMS may issue a health card to a foreign worker who applies for one. The health card qualifies a foreign patient for acceptance by a public hospital, but only in an emergency case. Foreign workers may also obtain their own health insurance, and they will need to make their own arrangements for this.

Many private health care providers are also on hand to lend support to Dubai’s health care programs. Most of the foreign health care professionals working in Dubai are from the USA, Europe, and India. Their credentials are carefully scrutinized by the government before they are allowed to practice their profession in Dubai.

Part of the responsibilities of a health care professional in Dubai is the rendering of after-clinic private medical calls. This is one of the good practices that make the health care system in Dubai truly effective. Every person in Dubai, regardless of nationality and residency, is given the full medical attention he or she needs. Of course, such after-clinic private medical services involve higher fees than those rendered during regular clinic hours.

The focus of the health care system of Dubai is on improving its people’s overall well-being. Everyone is guaranteed with the appropriate care specific to his or her case. Dubai’s health care system guarantees the provision of a wide range of medical services, including these four popular ones:

1. Educating its people on the importance of having good health and proper nutrition;

2. Ensuring medical fitness for everyone;

3. Providing family and marriage counseling and other similar community services;

4. Administering vaccinations and immunizations.

Health care professionals in Dubai also provide psychiatric treatments, rehabilitation, and yoga therapy.

Dubai has undertaken what is considered its most extensive medical project thus far, with the creation of the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). This project is the world’s first health care free zone, and consists of virtually the big players in the medical community.

The DHCC houses the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR), the University of Teaching Hospital (UH), and the Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai (BUIDRE), among others.

In Dubai wedding ceremonies, for example, people dance to express their joy for the occasion. In a typical festivity, dancers form in a circle or a line and encourage everyone to join them.

Drums are a common accompaniment, and so are tambourines (called Tiran or Duffuf). Other musical instruments traditionally used are the Nay (a long end-blown flute), the Rababah (a fiddle played with a horsehair bow), and the Tambura (a long-necked plucked lute). Each of these musical instruments is played for one of the different folk dances.

There are at least three folk dances in Dubai: Ayyalah, Liwa, and Haban.

The Ayyalah:

This folk dance, which is popular throughout the UAE, depicts a battle, the overcoming of the enemy, and the celebration of triumph. It is performed with at least 25 men, but may be as many as 200. The men form in two lines and face each other, with arms linked, as if ready to do battle.

Those watching a performance of this folk dance will be fascinated once the men begin to brandish their swords (camel sticks, actually), recite poems (as if challenging the other side), and swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth to the beat of drums. The concerted music is led by a big drum called Al-Ras, which is supported by 3 smaller drums called Takhamir.

The Liwa:

Like the Ayyalah, the theme of this folk dance is war. It traces its origin to East Africa, when traders from that region introduced it to the Middle East. As such, the dance is inspired by the African style of music. Some of the instruments used in its performance are the Mizmar (a pipe flute) and three drums – Jabwah, Shindo, and Jasser.

A typical performance of the Liwa opens with a 6-minute playing of the Mizmar in slow tempo; beats from the three drums immediately follow, and the 10 singers/dancers enter. The pace increases as the performance progresses, until it peaks to a whirling activity. The entire performance takes about twenty minutes.

The Liwa is traditionally performed in special occasions, such as at wedding ceremonies and in the celebration of the successful conclusion of the pearl-diving season.

The Haban:

This is another major folk dance in Dubai. Alternative names to the Haban are Khayali or Khamiri, any of which refers to the instrument that predominates the performance of this dance. The folk dance is especially performed at weddings.

The Haban is performed with 3 groups. The first group is made up of about 8 men, the second group is composed also of about 8 women, and the third group is comprised of about 10 musicians. The player of the Haban (the instrument) is usually the conductor of the ensemble.

Certain rhythm instruments and drums of varied sizes accompany the performance. The two groups of female and male dancers move back and forth on a steady 2-step rhythm as the group of musicians does its number in between the two groups.

Two other less known, but nevertheless equally significant, folk dances in Dubai are the Harbiya and the Mated. The former is very similar to the Ayyalah, which is performed with two rows of men facing each other; the latter is rather different from the other folk dances in Dubai, in that it’s performed for a specific religious occasion – the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

The distinction of having the largest commercial aviation hub in the world belongs to Dubai. And the subject of this special honor is the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is known to be about ten times the combined size of the Dubai Cargo Village and the Dubai International Airport (the erstwhile biggest aviation hub in the Middle East). It is located in the port town of Jebel Ali.

The Al Maktoum International Airport is named after Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s former ruler. It stands impressively at the heart of the Dubai World Central; hence, its IATA-assigned code is DWC. In fact, DWC airport is the main feature of that commercial, logistics and residential complex.

Annual cargo and passenger capacities are placed at 12 million tons and over 120 million, respectively. These figures easily dwarf those of the previous “bests” – Memphis International Airport (cargo) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (passenger).

Just how large is DWC airport? To give you an idea, it is designed to allow four aircraft to land simultaneously, round the clock. It has 5 parallel runways, each of which is 4.5 km, or 2.8 mi, in length. The runways are each separated by a distance of 800 m, or 2,600 ft. The first runway to have been completed already cost 1 billion dirham (AED 1bn).

Actually, the original plan was for DWC airport to have six runways, three on one side and the other three on the opposite side. For some reason, that plan was revised.

The DWC airport control tower, which boasts the latest in avionics and navigational technology, is 91 m high, making it the tallest in all of the Middle East. Its cost is AED 143mn. Other available data mention the costs of the fuel farms and the aprons/taxiways at AED 108mn and AED 908mn, respectively.

The 12-million-ton cargo volume mentioned earlier will be handled at the airport’s 16 cargo terminals. The passengers, on the other hand, will be served in its 3 passenger terminals, one of which is dedicated to the Emirates Airline.

Perhaps the best feature of DWC airport is its capability of handling all types of new-generation aircraft, the Airbus A380 Superjumbo included. In fact, it is forecast to be the world’s most Superjumbo-friendly airport because its hard-stand aero bridge gates are specifically designed to accommodate the massive aircraft.

Other features and facilities of DWC airport include Executive and Royal jet centers, multiple concourses, shopping malls, hotels, a trade and exhibition facility, and even a golf course. It has more than 100,000 parking spaces for the convenience of the airport’s own employees, tourists, and the residents of Dubai.

The plan is for DWC airport to be connected to the Dubai International Airport (IATA code DXB) by means of a high-speed express rail system. Once this is completed, it will take much of the load off DXB.

It is estimated that the total cost to complete the entire DWC airport complex will reach 82 billion US dollars (USD 82bn). DWC airport is expected to be fully operational by the year 2017.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven states, called Emirates. One of these states, and perhaps the most progressive, is Dubai. Some records actually indicate that Dubai has been in existence for about one-and-a-half centuries before the UAE was formed.

There are very few accounts of the culture that prevailed in the southeastern part of the Arabian peninsula prior to the time of Islam. The evidences and accounts gathered so far have sufficed in the meantime to make some headway in tracing back the history of Dubai.

The discovery, for instance, of some material traces of an ancient mangrove swamp (estimated at 70 centuries) during the laying of the sewer lines near the Dubai Internet City on Sheikh Zayed Road led to the conclusion that the area had been blanketed by sand some fifty centuries ago as the coastline receded inland. This has now become a part of Dubai’s present coastline.

Some records indicate that many of the old places in that southeastern part of the Arabian peninsula served as trading centers between the East and the West. Before the time of Islam, the region was dominated by the Azd (a pre-Islamic Arabian tribe). The Azd worshipped Bajar, a minor deity.

During that period, two powers lorded it over the region. These are the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) and the Sassanid (Persian) empires. The latter controlled a big part of the region.

When much of the region was converted to Islam, the Umayyad Caliphate took control of the region from the Sassanids. The Dubai Museum undertook excavations in the region of Jumeirah and discovered a number of material evidences believed to be from the period of the Umayyads.

Here are some of the earliest records that made mention of Dubai:

• The “Book of Geography” by the historian Abu Abdullah Al-Bakri;

• Gaspero Balbi, an Italian explorer in the 16th century, was said to have visited the area in 1580, referring to it as “Dibei,” and cited it for its pearling industry;

• It was only after 1799 when documented records of Dubai came into existence.

Other historical records indicate that Dubai was established by the Al Abu Falasa lineage of Banu Yas clan in the early 19th century. Until 1833, Dubai was a dependent of Abu Dhabi (now one of the 7 states and the capital of UAE). The sheikh of Dubai, along with the other sheikhs of the region, signed the “General Maritime Treaty” with the government of Britain on January 8, 1820. Thirteen years later, the Al Maktoum dynasty (also a lineage of the Banu Yas clan) left Abu Dhabi and took control of Dubai from the Al Abu Falasa clan.

Through the “Exclusive Agreement of 1892,” the United Kingdom placed Dubai under its protection, agreeing to defend it against possible invasion by the Ottoman Empire.

Today, Dubai is a vibrant city teeming with mega construction projects. It has become a favorite tourist destination and a strong trading center in the world. But despite this transformation to modernity, Dubai has retained its rich Islamic culture.

One of current Dubai world records that must be mentioned here is the Dubai Mall, now the largest shopping mall in the world based on total area (1,124,000 sq. m. or 12.1 million sq. ft.).

Now and within the next ten years, several more Dubai world records are expected to be established. Here are eight:

1. Burj Dubai – “Tallest Freestanding Structure in the World”

Construction of this building began on September 21, 2004 and officially opened few months ago. The Burj Dubai is 818 meters (2,684 feet) tall, which will surpass the 610 meters (2,001 feet) height of China’s Guangzhou TV and Sightseeing Tower. This project has a total budget of approximately 4.1 billion US dollars (USD 4.1 billion).

2. Dubai Marina – “Largest Man-made Waterfront and Largest Man-made Marina in the World”

This project has two phases. Phase 1 covers 10.12 hectares, while phase 2 is expected to have more than 200 high-rise buildings. Once both phases are completed, the Dubai Marina will send the Marina del Rey (located in California, USA) down to second place.

3. Atlantis (Hydropolis) Underwater Hotel and Resort – “First Luxury Underwater Hotel in the World”

This project is situated 20 meters (66 feet) below the Persian Gulf’s surface. It has an area of 642.5 acres. The Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort has a total budget of USD 482.5 million.

4. Dubailand – “Biggest Amusement Park in the World”

On October 23, 2003, Dubai announced the construction of what is believed will become the world’s biggest entertainment complex – Dubailand. This project will cover about 278 square kilometers (107 square miles) of land. Within the complex will rise 45 vast projects and some 200 secondary ones.

5. Dubai World Central International Airport (DWC) – “Largest Passenger and Cargo Hub in the World”

This project, when completed, will surpass two similar facilities in two different categories – annual cargo capacity and annual passenger capacity. In the first category, DWC will push Memphis International Airport down to second place, with its 12 million-ton per year cargo capacity; in the second, it is expected to surpass the 90 million per year passenger capacity of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with its 150 million per year figure. This project is estimated to be fully operational by the year 2017.

6. The Tower in Motion – “First Rotating Skyscraper in the World”

This project will have a total of 80 floors. The first 20 floors will serve as the building’s retail section; the 21st to the 35th floors will have a luxurious hotel; the next 35 floors will have the usual units of accommodation; and the 10 uppermost floors will have suburban residence-style apartments, designed with yard and garden space.

As per the project’s design, each floor will have the capability to rotate independently right or left. This will be made possible by a “voice recognition” technology, which may be programmed in any language. This means that the building’s occupants will be able enjoy constantly-changing views. 

7. The 6th Crossing – “Longest and Tallest Arch Bridge in the World”

This project is also called the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing. It is expected to be completed in 2012. It will have a length of 1.6 kilometers (about 1 mile), a width of 64 meters (210 feet), and an altitude of 15 meters (49 feet) above the water level. Each of the traffic directions will have 6 lanes. On an hourly basis, the bridge is expected to be able to carry 20,000 vehicles. At the center of the bridge will be a track, which is intended for the Green Line of Dubai Metro. The 6th Crossing has a total budget of USD 681 million.

8. Dubai Metro – “Longest Fully Automated Rail System in the World”

The original plan for this “driverless” project shows it will have at least two lines. The first, called the Red Line, is partially in operation; the second (called the Green Line), which will have a distance of 20 kilometers (12.43 miles), is under construction. When both lines become fully operational, it will cover a total distance of 72 kilometers (44.7 miles), enough to bring the Vancouver Skytrain down to second place.

Outside of these mega construction projects, there are other Dubai world records now in place. For example, there is the Dubai World Cup, which is billed the “Richest Horse Race in the World.” The horse race has a prize fund of USD 10 million. Dubai also boasts of the Golden Star, which is labeled the “Longest and Most Expensive Yacht in the World.” The yacht measures 160 meters (525 feet) in length, and is valued at more than USD 300 million.

The Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is an integration of the best in clinical services, research, and medical education. Basically, two very important zones make up the DHCC – the Medical Community and the Wellness Community. The former is already operational, while the latter is still in the planning stages.

The Medical Community:

This zone, which has an area of 380,902.5 square meters (4.1 million square feet), has seen rapid growth since its establishment. The 80 or so clinics located here are staffed by more than a thousand healthcare professionals, all of whom are licensed by the Centre for Healthcare Planning of the DHCC. This licensing prerequisite ensures that all the services being provided at DHCC satisfy the standards set by the different international accreditation bodies (example, the Joint Commission International).

The Medical Community houses the following medical entities:

• Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre (HMSDC) Institute for Postgraduate Education and Medical Research;

• University Teaching Hospital (UH);

• Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR);

• Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai (BUIDRE).

• Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library.

The Wellness Community:

This zone, which has an area more than four times that of the Medical Community’s (1.77 million square meters or 19 million square feet), is intended to serve as the region’s center for integrative and preventive medicine. As the name it carries suggests, this zone also aims to be the region’s primary center for the advancement of wellness.

The Wellness Community will have the following features:

• A health and long-term care facility;

• Outpatient clinics;

• A facility for sports medicine;

• A cosmetic services center;

• A center for the promotion of active lifestyle;

• A five-star hotel and spa resorts;

• A residential district with food and retail outlets.

As a whole, the DHCC offers a complete range of medical and other complementary services, which include those in the following 19 fields:

1. Cardiology

2. Immunology

3. Chiropractic

4. Family medicine

5. Anesthesia

6. Dentistry

7. Pediatrics

8. Obstetrics

9. Urology

10. Dermatology

11. Orthopedic

12. Neurology

13. Internal medicine

14. Physical therapy

15. Radiology

16. Plastic surgery

17. Endocrinology

18. Gastroenterology

19. General surgery

Consider these big names that are getting on board the DHCC: Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, the Mayo Clinic, Astra Zeneca, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, and the German Heart Center, among others.

The entire Dubai Healthcare City is expected to be fully operational in 2011 at the latest. It is strategically located at the heart of Dubai City, in the historic district of Bur Dubai. It is near the Dubai Creek and is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the Dubai International Airport. The best way to reach DHCC from Abu Dhabi is via the E 11 highway.

Watch the Burj Dubai opening ceremony video.

You can see fireworks from multiple locations. Anywhere along the Jumeirah beach starting from the Palm Entrance will have a view to watch the fireworks. Make sure to go early as there will be a big crowd.

What else is on in the Dubai New Years Eve 2010?
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Almost all hotels in Dubai have organized dinner dance to celebrate the event. Some hotels have organized events to cater certain nationals.

Lama Tours has organized a special New Year’s Eve celebration on Lama floating restaurant (Dhow cruise). They also have special events with full of actions (Jazz music, dance etc) in the middle of the desert. Visit http://www.lama.ae/NewYear/NewYear2010.html for more details. If you are interested contact us for a special 10% discount for any of the events organized by Lama Tours.

If you have a limited budget then Ramada Dubai has special New Year’s Eve dinner dance for a reasonable price.

The highlight of this years event is the display of fighter jets. You will be able to see the newest fighter jets at the Dubai air show 2009.

The airshow will be held for five days. I think this is one of the events that you should visit.

All three options are expensive. But if you can afford to pay then this will be a once in a lifetime experience. Just imagine flying over “The Palm Island”, “The World”, Burj Al Arab and skyscrapers like Burj Dubai.

There are few ways to book these aerial sightseeing tours in Dubai. Here are the places that you can get discounts.

Book your Dubai Seaplane tours with Viator

Visit our Dubai Tours page for special discounts from Lama Tours for Hot air ballooning and Helicopter tours.