Dubai is the second largest emirate in the U.A.E. Its total area is around 1000 square miles. Dubai's strategic location on the international trading map has made it one of the world's leading trading and commercial centers.

Dubai's growth can be traced back to the early years of the century when the grandfather of H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum persuaded the British shipping line plying between Britain and India, to make Dubai their main port of call in the 1940s.

To further consolidate its position as a major port, H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum took an active interest in the development of Dubai, he established a Police Force, a customs service and developed trade connections with India.

Soon, in the 1960's, with the discovery of oil, money started to pour in and Dubai's prominence and prosperity increased. But aware of the risks of oil-dependency, Sheikh Rashid actively promoted new industrial ventures. The Aluminium and Cement factory are the result of this endeavour.

The Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone - the fifth largest in the world within a short span of ten years, has attracted over 900 international companies.

Dubai offers a succession of critical supporting business environments. Its geographical proximity to the talent and markets of the Middle East, Northern and Southern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and the CIS, combined with the most sophisticated logistic infrastructure between Europe and the Far East, make Dubai the location of choice for businesses serious about the region.

Dubai is politically stable and efficiently administrated. Its government pursues a free and balanced economic policy that has fostered an excellent international reputation, and encouraged both national and foreign capital to invest in almost every conceivable sphere of economic activity. The non-oil sector in Dubai currently contributes around 90% of total GDP, and is expected to grow to 94% by 2005, with manufacturing, tourism and services all growing strongly.

With the advent of Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Acadamic City, this dynamism is now being transferred to the development of the knowledge economy.