User:AreJay/Culture



Dubai has a diverse and multicultural society. The city's cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogenous pearling community was changed with the arrival of other ethnic groups and nationals &mdash; first by the Iranians in the early 1900s, and later by Indians and Pakistanis in the 1960s. Despite the diverity of the population, no major episodes of ethnic tensions have been reported in the city. Major holidays in Dubai include Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and National Day (December 2), which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Annual entertainment events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) attract over 4 million visitors from across the region and generate revenues in excess of US$ one billion. Large shopping malls in the city, such as Deira City Centre, BurJuman, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall as well as traditional souks in the city attract shoppers from the region.

The diversity of cuisine in Dubai is a reflection of the cosmopolitan nature of the society. Arab food is very popular in the city and is available everywhere in the city, from the small shawarma diners in Deira and Al Karama to the upscale restaraunts in Dubai's many hotels. Fast food, South Asian, Chinese cuisines are also very popular and are widely available. The sale and consumption of pork, though not illegal, is regulated and is sold only to non-Muslims, in designated areas Similarly, the sale of alcoholic beverages is but regulated. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is also available in bars and restaurants within four or five star hotels Shisha boutiques are also popular in Dubai.

Hollywood and Bollywood movies are popular in Dubai. The city also hosted the International Film Festival in 2007. Dubai also has an active music scene, with musicians Amr Diab, Diana Haddad, Tarkan, Aerosmith, Santana, Elton John and Phil Collins having performed in the city.

Football and cricket are the most popular sports in Dubai. Four teams &mdash; Al Wasl, Al-Shabab, Al Nasr and Hatta &mdash; represent Dubai in UAE League football. Current champions Al-Wasl have the second-most number of championships in the UAE Leage, after Al Ain. Cricket is followed by Dubai's large South Asian community and in 2005, the International Cricket Council (ICC) moved its headquarters from London to Dubai. The city has also hosted several India-Pakistan matches and two new grass gounds are being developed in Dubai Sports City. Dubai also hosts the annual Dubai Tennis Championships and the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament, both of which attract sports stars from around the world. Dubai also hosts the Dubai World Cup, a thoroughbred horse race, at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse annually.