Dubai has seen some truly astonishing urban growth in the last 30 years. Although the city has long been an important port and trading hub, Dubai managed to become a modern metropolis and the most expensive city in the Middle East. Oil money and heavy investment in real estate have seen columns of skyscrapers erected throughout the city, and some of the most lavish construction projects conceivable are making their stake (or at least they will be when building work is finally finished) in this new economic and tourist hotspot. The dazzling city has had some outlandish rumours attached to it in recent years and, remarkably, some of them happen to be true.

10.The Police Drive Around in Sports Cars

Dubai really likes to make an impression, even when it comes to outfitting its local police force. The city's top of the range fleet of police cars includes McLarens, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Bentleys and Ferraris. Painted in the city's white and green colours, the cars make for a startling sight as they patrol some of Dubai's many highways in pursuit of speeding lawbreakers. However, the vehicles act mainly as a deterrent for would-be speedsters and they are typically found patrolling tourist areas where officers issue tickets for parking and other lesser motoring offences.

9.There are Gold Vending Machines

Nothing says 'disposable income' like buying gold from a vending machine. The 'Gold to Go' machines dispense gold items – bars, jewellery, customised coins – in exchange for market value prices (the machines have an Internet connection and their prices are updated every ten minutes). Some of the gold items come in attractive gift boxes and all are dispensed with a certificate and an anti-counterfeit hologram label. Although Dubai isn't the only place in the world to house Gold to Go machines, these gold-leafed novelties feel right at home in the over-the-top indulgence of the city.

8.Its Founding Father was Sceptical of the City's Long-term Plans

Economists are eyeing the prosperous situation in Dubai with scepticism. The city was rocked by the 2008 global recession and its real estate projects stagnated as investors and financial institutions held back from pouring in more money. Although construction projects have resumed in recent years and the city's excesses are nothing like their pre-crash levels, some say the supply and demand of the real estate market in particular is very risky. A famous quote attributed to Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum – who ruled Dubai for 32 years from 1958 until 1990 – was: "My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel". The famous line referred to Dubai's reliance on oil and the city's need to transform its infrastructure and economy. However, it proved to be a prescient warning when the bubble was at risk of bursting completely in 2008 and Dubai's financial outlook appeared to be very grim. Although Dubai is less reliant on oil trade and now primarily depends on commerce, tourism and other services, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for its economy and if it has learned anything from the 2008 crash.

7.It was Once Home to 25% of the World's Cranes

During the city's pre-2008 property boom, Dubai was dubbed the crane capital of the world. The skyline was peppered with huge towering cranes as construction projects ran riot throughout the city. The statistic – which amounted to around 30,000 of the world's 125,000 cranes – was a startling indication to just how much construction and expansion was being carried out in the city before the financial crash. With the economy back on the rise and with more projects underway, cranes and other construction machinery are making their mark in Dubai yet again, but it is doubtful they will reach the same ubiquitous levels as they did in the past.

6.The United Arab Emirates has Ridiculously Strict Drug Laws

The UAE has a zero tolerance policy on drugs. Serious drug trafficking charges are punishable by death and even residual traces of illegal narcotics can result in a lengthy spell in prison. In fact, the UAE even considers the presence of illegal drugs in a person's blood stream as a count of possession. Unfortunately, some tourists in Dubai have found out the hard way just how seriously the country takes drug-related offences. A Swiss tourist received a 4 year sentence when police allegedly found poppy seeds on his clothing and a Briton received the same sentence when less than 0.003g of cannabis was found in the tread of his shoe at Dubai airport. In 2013, three British tourists were pardoned from their 4 year drug sentence in a Dubai prison after 3 months. The men alleged that they had been tortured, tasered and beaten throughout their sentencing process in Dubai.

审校：喵喵 编辑：凯珊 来源：前十网