The Strangest Things You'll Only See in Dubai



It’s the third richest country in the world and it only seems to be getting more and more extravagant. Dubai is home to some strange, wonderful and truly unbelievable sights…

Unexpected Passenger


Cheetahs, lions and tigers are not actually uncommon pets in the UAE. These exotic animals are seen as symbols of wealth and social status. Wealthy owners often upload images of their extravagant pets to their social media accounts.

 


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Cross Culture


This strange sighting is the perfect example of two culture colliding. Religious women in the UAE are required to cover themselves head-to-toe. Most western visitors do take precautions to not cause offence by showing too much skin. It appears this young lady didn’t quite get the memo.

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Cheetah Cuddles


As we’ve said, this used to be a pretty acceptable sight in the UAE but times have changed. In 2017 laws were introduced that prohibited people from buying exotic animals as pets. People now face a charge of $136,000 for owning an exotic animal, some owners may even face jail time.

 


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High Ball


If you’re looking to catch a quick game of tennis, you might have to confront your fear of heights before heading to the court. This tennis court stands on the roof of a towering skyscraper, 100 ft above the ocean. The density of the region has resulted in some interesting architectural choices.

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Camel or Car?


While many UAE residents have chosen to display their obscene wealth by purchasing a sports car worth millions of dollars, others still prefer a more ancient method of transportation. Camels are still in common use and can often be found in a car park amongst the Ferarris and Lambos.

 
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Ride It Out


This is actually what a traffic jam looks like in some highways of Dubai. The oil tycoons and businessmen of the region are sports car obsessed.

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High Flying


With an increasing population and staggering urban density, Dubai has had t take some drastic measures to accommodate millions of locals and tourists. The city is home to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa tower stands tall at 828m.

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Status Symbols


The Gulf country has experienced an explosion in wealth in recent decades. Residents of Dubai are prone to making outrageous and pricy purchases. Luxury cars are a popular option amongst the mega-rich, as you can see.

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Sparkle and Shine


Most obscenely wealthy businessmen find some pretty unique ways to make use of their millions, and in some cases, billions of dollars. This Mercedes has been covered in thousands of Swarovski crystals.

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Cooling Off


Temperatures in the coastal country can soar into the mid-90’s at certain times of year. And while many local men still choose to wear traditional full-length white robes known as ‘taubs’, many still take to the surrounding waters for a paddle-board when the weather calls for a cool down.

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Old Fashioned


You might expect someone who drives a Ferarri to have the very best and latest iPhone but rather strangely, that’s not the case. The locals prefer more reliable and sturdy phones like these old-school Nokias.

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Helping Hand


While the region is home to staggering wealth, there are still those unfortunate few that find themselves either jobless of homeless. Given the country’s increasing wealth, governmental organizations are capable of offering a helping hand. This vending machine offers free food and drink to those in need.

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Gold Wheels


Here is another keen example of just how ostentatious the locals can be. The car is plated in gold. Forget a solid paint job, 24 karat gold is all the rage.

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Not Your Usual ATM/post_page_title]
Yes, that’s right. This is a cash machine that accepts gold bars. Simply place your gold bar in the slot and receive a stack of cash. The region is home to more than a few of these ridiculous ATMs.

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[post_page_title]Bathroom Beauty


It might be difficult to fathom, but this is actually a public restroom. Forget toilets that don’t flush and running out of loo paper, this public bathroom would look more at home in a five star hotel.

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Stable Goals


Owning horses of rare pedigree breeds is another extravagant hobby for the super-rich of the UAE. Forget a quaint wooden stable, this businessman houses his horses in a marble-floored room complete with mahogany stable doors.

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Big Cat


Yet again, here is an example of just how obsessed the mega-wealthy locals are with owning big cats and expensive gadgets. This Sheikh took to the water in his private yacht with his pet lion to take in the city skyline.

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Fancy a Ski?


There’s no such thing as a cold winter in Dubai. The Middle Eastern country is home to sweltering temperatures almost all-year-round. But that doesn’t mean that the locals can’t enjoy a little snow every now and then. This indoor ski resort, offers wealthy adrenaline-junkies a chance to hit the slopes.

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Two of a Kind


We’re not entirely sure if this man is taking his camel for a desert walk or not. Either way, it’s a pretty ridiculous sight. At least he has a plan B if he runs out of gas.

 
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Silver Wheels


If you’re not in to the glint of gold, you could always opt to plate your Mercedes in silver instead. It’s easy to see why Dubai is the third richest country in the world.

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Stacked Up


It might not be quite as splashy as owning a tiger or a cheetah, but this local seems to be pretty happy with his crew of exotic pets.

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Taxi!


While most people don’t take too much notice of the kind of car their taxi is using, that’s not the case in the UAE. Believe it or not, this yellow sports car is actually a taxi. Now that’s what we call traveling in style.

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Tech Battles


At first glance, this camel race doesn’t look that out of the ordinary but you soon might realize that those are not human jockeys, they’re robots. Robotic camel racing has become increasingly popular in the region. The robots are designed by competing companies. Place your bets!

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Higher and Higher


Even though Dubai is home to one of the world’s most elaborate skylines, the UAE is only getting bigger, better and taller. If you ever have the chance to pay visit to the area, you won’t be able to swing a cat without spotting tens of cranes and construction sites.

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Watercars!


Welcome to the future! People from the UAE are tech-obsessed. The engineers of the region are always experimenting with new tech that makes the lives of the rich and famous just a bit more exciting. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum owns six of these ‘watercars’ that can be used on land or in water. 
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Golden Eats


As if owning a gold-plated car wasn’t enough! The local elite love gold so much they are even willing to eat it. This gold dessert will set you back a whopping $1000. We hope it tastes as good as it looks.

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Cover Up


While Dubai is a progressive country that is becoming increasingly accepting of Western norms, there are still parts of the country governed by antiquated laws. This beach requires women to cover up and no single men to enter the area.

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Leave Your Fish at Home


While seeing a ‘no dogs’ sign is completely ordinary, we have never come into contact with a ‘no fish’ sign. Apparently, people often head from the local fish shop to the metro which inspired lawmakers to step in and ensure they kept the smell at bay.

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Riding in Style


It might be life-threatening emergency, but no Saudi prince could be seen in a regular ambulance. These limousine ambulances cater to the super rich who are determined to always ride in style.

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