It’s half a century since the United Arab Emirates was first founded. While it is still a young country, it has grown and developed so much that the UAE we know and love today is almost unrecognisable from the UAE of 1971, and it has achieved countless incredible milestones and accolades in its time. Here, we round up some of the most fascinating facts about the UAE that kids will love…
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A DATE IN DECEMBER: The UAE’s National Day is celebrated on December 2nd of each year and marks the anniversary of the unification of the seven emirates into a federation.
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RAK WAS THE LAST EMIRATE TO JOIN THE UNION: The federation that was to become known as the United Arab Emirates was formally established on 2 December 1971. But this originally consisted of six emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Quwain, Fujairah and Ajman – with Ras al-Khaimah joining up as the seventh emirate the following year.
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A MULTICULTURAL MELTING POT: The UAE is an amazing example of diversity – its population consists of more than 200 nationalities.
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EXPAT HAVEN: The vast majority of the UAE population is made up of expats, representing about 80% of the population.
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CAPITAL CITY: Abu Dhabi is not only the capital city of the UAE but it is also the largest emirate, accounting for 84% of the total land area of the federation.
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PEOPLE BY NUMBERS: Around 3 million people live in Dubai and another 3 million in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, while Sharjah houses just under 2 million, and the rest is split between the other four emirates.
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SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN THE DESERT: People may think of the UAE as being nothing but hot desert, but each of the emirates has its own individual landscape, culture and character, with much of the country covered in rugged mountains. In the winter months the high peaks of Jebel Jais in RAK have even been known to become snowcapped, with temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing.
Image Credit: Photo courtesy: Ras Al Khaimah Police
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MAGICAL MOUNTAINS: Talking of mountains, the UAE’s reportedly highest peak is Jebel Jais, which towers at 1,934m above sea level and is part of the dramatic Hajar mountain range that was formed over 70 million years ago in the eastern part of RAK in the UAE and Oman.
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HEAD FOR HEIGHTS: Outdoorsy and adventure-rich emirate Ras Al Khaimah is also home to the world’s longest zip line. It starts from the top of Jebel Jais and ends at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, spanning 2.8km. Would you be brave enough to try it?
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THIS MODERN METROPOLIS IS FULL OF FOSSILS: While the UAE is known as a modern destination, its land is bursting with stories from the ancient past. Sharjah’s Mleiha region for example is one of the few sites outside of Africa where you can find relics from across five distinct archaeological and human history timelines — Paleolithic or Old Stone Age, Neolithic or New Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age and late Pre-Islamic periods. Plus, you can even go real-life fossil hunting at Fossil Rock, which is covered in evidence of marine life from 65 million years ago!
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IT HAS 11 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: The perfect juxtaposition of old a new, visitors to the Jumeirah Archaeological Site in Dubai can be transported back in time to the ninth and 11th centuries, all against the glittering modern backdrop of Downtown Dubai. But there are also 10 other significant archaeological sites across the UAE – from the Bronze Age Hilli Archaeological Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Jebel Hafeet Tombs (pictured) and Hatta Heritage Village, the UAE is an archaeologist’s dream.
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IT’S HOME TO THE TALLEST TOWER IN THE WORLD: It’s no secret that Dubai hosts the world’s tallest building. The Burj Khalifa is 828 meters high and is the equivalent of three Parisian Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other.
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FLORAL INSPIRATION: Speaking of the Burj Khalifa, its distinctive shape is inspired by the Spider Lily, a regional desert flower that informed architect Adrian Smith’s vision of the iconic tower.
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RACKING UP RECORDS: Although it’s most famous for being tall, the Burj Khalifa actually holds 9 world records. In addition to the World Record for the Tallest Building, it is also: Tallest man-made structure; Tallest free-standing structure; Largest number of storeys; Highest occupied floor; Highest outdoor observation deck; World record for vertical concrete pumping; Tallest service elevator; Highest aluminium and glass façade.
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FANCY CLIMBING THESE STAIRS?: The Burj Khalifa’s stairwell has an incredible 2,909 steps leading all the way up to the 160th floor. Ladders are used to climb any higher than that.
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THE UAE HAS 4 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES: Identified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a place of particular cultural or historical significance, the UAE has four officially recognised UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as many others that are on the tentative list.
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THE WORLD’S OLDEST SETTLEMENT: The UAE’s most famous World Heritage Site is Al Ain Oasis (which means ‘The Spring’) in Abu Dhabi. This is one of the world’s oldest permanently inhabited settlements, dating back 4,000 years, and is also the biggest oasis in the region, featuring a unique and ancient way of irrigating the land. You can visit its lush and verdant grounds, which stays cool even in summer beneath a thick canopy of 147,000 date palms.
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FANTASTICAL FISH: The Dubai Aquarium Tank is the largest suspended aquarium in the world. It holds 10 million litres of water, hosts more than 33,000 aquatic animals from over 200 species, and even features the world’s largest single pane of acrylic glass.
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SUPERHERO STUNTS: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Crown Prince of Dubai, and is well known for completing many superhero-style tricks and stunts. To celebrate Dubai being awarded Expo 2020, he bravely climbed all the way to the top of the Burj Khalifa with the UAE flag. How amazing is that?
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IT HAS THE WORLD’S FIRST 7 STAR HOTEL. (OR DOES IT?): Dubai is famously home to the world’s first ever ‘seven star hotel’, the Burj Al Arab. But this is not actually an officially recognised accolade – Dubai’s own hotel rating system only goes as far as 5 stars, and the 7-star rating is thought to be an urban myth linked to a comment in an old article about it. Nonetheless, every room is a suite that comes with its own butler, which sounds like 7-star service in our book.
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SAIL AWAY: While we’re on the topic, the iconic Burj Al Arab’s distinctive shape is designed to resemble the sail of a ship.
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PAVED WITH GOLD: Real 24-carat gold leaf covers approximate 22,000 square feet of the Burj Al Arab’s interior – even the TVs.
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HELIPAD HISTORY: The famous helipad that juts out of the Burj Al Arab has been used for a whole host of famous stunts, perhaps most famously in 2005 when superstar tennis players Andre Agassi and Roger Federer played an epic game of tennis up there, making headlines all over the world.
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MAN-MADE ISLANDS: Dubai features four famous man-made islands: The Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Jebel Ali, Deira Island and The Worlds.
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THE WORLD’S LARGEST FALCON HOSPITAL: Opened in 1999, Abu Dhabi is home to the world’s largest Falcon Hospital, which treats more than 11,000 falcons a year.
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COOLEST POLICE CARS EVER: Dubai Police cars have to be the most awesome in the world, featuring a range of supercars such as Bugatti, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini, Camaro, Mercedes and many more.
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ODE TO THE ORYX: While many might think that it is the camel, the UAE’s national animal is actually the majestic Arabian Oryx, a type of desert antelope. The Arabian oryx is also a UAE currency symbol on the obverse of the 50 dirham note.
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RAIN MAKERS: The UAE might be in the desert, but it has learnt to increase rainfall through the process of cloud seeding, in which substances are released into the atmosphere to encourage cloud formation and rain.
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THE MIDDLE EASTERN PISA?: The Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is the world’s most inclined building. It has 35 floors and boasts an 18 degree lean, which is 14 degrees more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
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HOLD YOUR HORSES: The UAE is home to the richest horserace in the world, The Dubai World Cup, with a purse of $12 million.
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RECORD BREAKERS: The UAE loves to push the limits of possibility, and it has officially broken a whopping more than 400 world records to date, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
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BURJ DUBAI?: During construction the Burj Khalifa was always referred to as the Burj Dubai. Not until the inauguration in January 2010 was its true name revealed.
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SUSTAINABLE STEPS: Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is said to be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city.
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NOBLE WINGS: The falcon is the UAE’s national symbol. Falconry is at the heart of Emirati culture and is a popular pastime.
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NATURAL BEAUTY: Bani Yas, a natural island located off the coast of the UAE’s Western Region, was originally home to Arabia’s largest wildlife reserve and boasts the archeological find of the oldest pre-Islamic Christian site in the UAE.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF PEARLS: Prior to the 1930s, pearling was Abu Dhabi’s most important industry and primary source of income.
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A SPEEDY JOURNEY: In 1968, there were only 13 cars registered in Dubai. In 2020 it had risen to 1.83 million, illustrating the huge transformation that the emirate has gone through in a relative short period of time.
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YOU CAN SEE LOVE LAKES FROM SPACE: Dubai’s popular Love Lakes, heart-shaped, man-made lakes situated near Al Qudra, can be seen from space.
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THE TALLEST HOTELS: Gevora is the world's tallest four star hotel at 356 metres while JW Marriott Marquis is the world's tallest five star hotel at 355 metres.
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THE WORLD’S OLDEST PEARL: In 2019, the oldest known pearl in the world was discovered on Marawah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. It is estimated to be around 8,000 years old.
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DESERT SKIING: Ski Dubai is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East and has 22,500 square meters covered with real snow for skiing.
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SUPERCHARGED SHOPPING: Next door to the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall is equally superlative, holding the record for the largest mall in the world at 1,124,000 square metres of total area, the equivalent of 50 football pitches.
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NATURAL RESOURCES: The UAE's natural resources are natural gas and oil. The UAE ranked sixth in the world for reserves of natural gas and crude oil in 2019.
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MAJESTIC MOSQUES: Abu Dhabi is home to the country’s largest mosque. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has 82 domes, and inside it you can also admire the world's largest carpet and the world's largest chandelier in the main prayer hall.
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BIG THRILLS: Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World theme park is home to the world's fastest rollercoaster! One rollercoaster ride there takes you from 0 to 240 kmh in only 4.9 seconds!
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CITY OF GOLD: The Gold Souk is the largest gold market in the world. It is located in the Deira business district of Dubai.
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SUPER SHARJAH: In 1998, Sharjah was named the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World” by UNESCO.
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GLORIOUS GHAFS: The national tree of the UAE is the Al Ghaf Tree, also known as the Prosopis cineraria. This plant species is indigenous to the UAE and is illegal to cut down.
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MAKE A DATE: The national fruit of the UAE is the dates. It grows in abundance in the region and is known to be used in various Emirati dishes.
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REACHING FOR THE SKY: In 1991, there was one skyscraper in the city. Dubai World Trade Centre was the only skyscraper in Dubai 30 years ago. Almost three decades later, there are 148 jaw-dropping skyscrapers and 917 high-rise buildings in Dubai.
Image Credit: Antonin Kélian Kallouche/Gulf News
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