Dubai is a far cry from its original state as a desert city. Today it's a modern metropolis quickly becoming a magnet for tourism and development. The city mixes both the contemporary and the conventional for a unique atmosphere you will find nowhere else. Dubai is an Emirate ruled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammaed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and has a population of over 1.3 million people. It's officially an Islamic city but is well-known for its tolerance of other religions and cultural practice. English is spoken throughout the Emirate, though Arabic is the official language. People there also speak Urdu and Farsi. The currency in Dubai is the dirham, and overall the nation is quite wealthy. The average per capital income is more than $15,000 USD. And regardless of the modern amenities, Dubai is still located in the desert. The climate is very hot as well as humid. High temperatures of 45C (113F) in the summer. Thankfully, many places are well air-conditioned. Things to See in Dub