Dubai
Dubai Creek, which separates Deira from Bur Dubai, played a vital role in the economic development of the city
Tourism is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign cash into the
emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, but also on its possession of other ancient and modern
attractions. As of 2013[36], Dubai was the 7th most visited city of the world and the fastest growing, increasing by a
10.7% rate. Dubai is expected to accommodate over 15 million tourists by 2015. The emirate is also the most
populous of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It is distinct from other members of the UAE in that a
large part of the emirate's revenues are from tourism. Hotel guests in Dubai are levied 10% of their room rate as a
municipality charge, and a further 10% service charge. Also from March 31, 2014, the government imposed a bed
tax officially known as the Tourism Dirham, a fixed fee charged on a per room per night basis. While the fee varies
from hotel to hotel, it is generally around AED 15 (US$4.25).
In 2012, a 16.4% increase in inflation affected the city's restaurant and hotel sector. In early August 2013, plans for
Dubai's first underwater hotel, The Water Discus Hotel were publicly revealed. Developed by Polish company Deep
Ocean Technology, the Water Discus will be the world's largest hotel of its kind and will be in addition to two
underwater suites in existence at Dubai's The Palm: Atlantis accommodation venue.
Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East". Dubai alone has more than 70 shopping centre,
including the world's largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall. The city draws large numbers of shopping tourists from
countries within the region and from as far as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Sub-continent. The traffic
movement is controlled by the RTA wing of Municipality called Baladiya. Pre-paid cards are used to pay Public
Transport fares.
Dubai is also known for the traditional souk districts located on either side of the stream. Traditionally, dhows from
East Asia, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargo and the goods would be bargained over in the
souks adjacent to the docks. Dubai Creek played a vital role in the sustainment of life of the community in Dubai
originally and was the setting point which caused the economic boom in Dubai. As of September 2013, Dubai creek
has been proposed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many boutiques and jewellery stores ar