Dubai is a place.
Dubai ( [ duːˈbaɪ ] ; دبي , Gulf pronunciation : [ dʊˈbɑj ] ) is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) . It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai , one of the seven emirates that make up the country . Dubai emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East . The emirate 's Western-style model of business drives its economy with the main revenues now coming from tourism , aviation , real estate , and financial services . , Dubai was the 22nd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the Middle East .