Dubai is a place.
Dubai ( [ duːˈbaɪ ] ; دبي , Gulf pronunciation : [ dʊˈbɑj ] ) is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) . Dubai emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East . Dubai 's oil revenue helped accelerate the early development of the city , but its reserves are limited and production levels are low : today , less than 5 % of the emirate 's revenue comes from oil . , Dubai was the 22nd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the Middle East .