“Dubai is sometimes called the “City of Gold” because of its stunning growth from a sleepy Gulf port to a world-famous business crossroads in the space of a single generation. Its nickname has a literal meaning for traders in the precious metal. The city is building itself up as a center for the gold trade, between sources in Africa and consumers in the rising economies of China and India”. – Kamran Jebreili via Associated Press

Photo: A gold press operator collects 10 gram gold blanks to press them with the logo of the Emirates Gold company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Gold prices remained relatively steady in 2012, close to $1,700 an ounce. (Photo by Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo)

A general view of the Burj Khalifa on February 23, 2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 829.84 m (2723 ft) tall the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Jumeirah's Global Brand Ambassador Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, completes a remarkable year with another amazing bunker shot on the helipad at the Burj Al Arab hotel on December 12, 2011 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images for Jumeirah)

In preparation for the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer of Switzerland, couldn't resist the temptation to have a friendly “hit” on the world's most unique tennis court, the Helipad of the Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel. Standing 321 metres high on a man made island, the majestic Burj Al Arab is without doubt the most recognizable hotel in the world. The hotel's helipad, which is situated 211 metres high covers a surface area of 415 square metres. The pictures were taken on February 22, 2005, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Getty Images for Dubai Duty Free)

The second of six C-17 Globemaster III airlifters for the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence is being assembled at the Boeing assembly facility on May 10, 2011 in Long Beach, California. The UAE will take delivery of three more C-17s this year and two in 2012 as it modernizes its airlift capabilities. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

A camel foams at the mouth as he is whipped by a robot jockey during a race at Nad al-Sheba on December 6, 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is the first season that robotic jockeys have been used to race camels in Dubai. Controversially children from India were used to ride the camels in past seasons. These robot jockeys costing 15000GBP and up, were designed in Geneva and include shock absorbers and GPS tracking systems. The camel's owners control them from their speeding four wheel drives at the side of the track. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)