When it comes to Dubai many things are misunderstood. Westerners expect a closed society, expats love it, and tourists think it’s expensive. Dubai can be visited on every budget, including an extravagant lifestyle.

Here are some facts you maybe didn’t know about Dubai, which will make you add this place to your bucket list:

1. Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and a unique tourist attraction. It is possible to climb on the viewing platform near the top of the building. To get there use the elevator, which goes 64 kilometers an hour, or 18 meters a second.

The building is 828 meters tall, it can be seen from 95 km away. From the viewing platform, you can see the sunrise 2 minutes earlier than people on the ground.

If you go on a Big Bus Tour of Dubai Burj Khalifa is one of the top locations you will visit.

2. Dubai Mall is the world’s largest shopping complex. You will be compelled to spend all your money here, but try to save some for the rest of the city. If you are traveling with kids make sure to visit Dubai Mall Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.

3. Residents do not pay income taxes in Dubai. This is the reason why so many rich people and other expats come here for business.

4. Dubai was just a merchant and fishing village with little over 1000 residents just a few centuries ago. The finding of oil caused the fast development of the city that has over 3 million citizens now.

Many buildings Dubai is famous for were built within the last 30 years. Of all the people living in Dubai, natives make only about 15%.

5. Burj al Arab is the world’s only 7-star hotel. It is a “next level” of luxury travel with a man-made beach, tallest atrium in the world, incredible suites, restaurants, and a waterpark.

6. Dubai is a perfect place for bird-watching, especially in spring and fall when over 320 bird species visit Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Here you can see eagles, broad-billed sandpipers, falcons, and greater herons.

7. To build famous Dubai’s Artificial Palm Islands they used 94 million cubic meters of sand. You could fill two and a half Empire State Buildings with that much sand. Have fun parasailing around the Jumeirah beach.

8. Police in Dubai drive supercars! Including Ferrari FF, Lamborghini Aventador, and an Aston Martin One-77. Their fastest police car is Bugatti Veyron, which costs $1.6 million.

9. Dubai has the longest automated transportation in the world. Dubai metro covers 74.6 km (46.4 mi).

10. With more than 50 million flowers and 250 million plants, the Miracle Garden is the largest flower garden in the world.

11. ATMs are dispensing gold bars. For real! There are also regular ATMs but the fact that you can pick up a gold bar on the ATM is just so fascinating it seems impossible.

12. They use robots for racing camels to prevent illegal child labor. Robot jockeys are used because of their small size, the same reason they were using kids for.

13. Even though it is such a fast and modern city, there is still an old town preserved and you can visit it with a guide or on your own. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood has local restaurants, markets, and museums.

14. Until 2015 Dubai didn’t have a regular address system and if you had to mail something you had space on the package where you write instructions and draw a map so a delivery person can find it.

15. Dubai pays it citizens in gold if they lose weight, and kids are paid double. For each kilogram (2.2 pounds) lost you get one gram of gold, or two grams if you are a child.

17. Kissing and holding hands in Dubai can put you in jail and end up in deportation for you and your significant other.

Although a modern Muslim country there are still some strict rules you have to follow as a visitor. Make sure to be aware of cultural differences before going there.

18. Buying fuel is cheaper than buying water in Dubai. On average one liter of gasoline costs only about $0.40, while one bottle of water is three times as much.

19. In Dubai, you can have a gold-infused latte or a piece of cake with gold leaves on it. As extravagant as it sounds it also costs a fortune to try it.

20. If you visit Ferrari World, you can ride on a world-fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa. Go on a guided tour that includes a visit to Abu Dhabi.

There are so many more interesting facts about this beautiful city. Write below in the comment which one has shocked you or if you know of another one that wasn’t listed above.