In just over 25 years, Dubai has gone from being a backward area to becoming one of the most dynamic and visually stunning cities in the world. It has grown at breakneck speed: 40 years ago, there was not even a skyscraper. Today, there are gigantic palm-shaped islands that can be seen from space, the world's first 7-star hotel and the tallest building on the planet, the Burj Khalifa at Dubai Travel . Dubai is one of the seven states of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is ruled by a royal dynasty with the ambition to drive the spectacular growth of Dubai. The discovery of oil reserves in the 1960s transformed what was a simple fishing village into a powerful financial and transport center. As oil reserves declined, the city turned its attention to tourism. One of Dubai's biggest attractions is shopping. Explore the sparkling streets of the Gold Souk for jewelery bargains or sneak a day into shopping paradise at the Dubai Mall , one of the world's largest shoppi...