Dubai is a place.
Dubai ( [ duːˈbaɪ ] ; دبي , Gulf pronunciation : [ dʊˈbɑj ] ) is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) . The city of Dubai is located on the emirate 's northern coastline and heads the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area . The city has become iconic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings , in particular the world 's tallest building , the Burj Khalifa .