Hue City (CG 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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Jebel li I Dubai, U.A.E. Dubai is the most populous and second largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi. Dubai is distinct from other members of the UAE in that revenues from oil account for only GM, of its gross domestic product. A majority ofthe em1rate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali Free Zone CJAFZJ and increasingly from tourism. With enormous construction and development in various industries, Dubai has attracted world attention through innovative real estate projects, sports events, conferences and Guinness records. However, this increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub have also highlighted potential human rights quagmires conceming its largely immigrant workforce. Dubai is unusual in that its population is comprised mainly of expatriates, with UAE nationals CEmiratisj constituting the minority. The majority of these expatriates come from South Asia and South East Asia. A quarter of the population reportedly trace their origins to neighbouring Iran. Dubai is also home to some l00,000 British and other westem expatriates. The UAE govemment does not allow any form of naturalization or permanent residence to expatriates. However, foreigners are permitted to purchase and own property without a localpartner sponsor. A . YVL43' Nearly all of the commercial establishments are run by expatriates with a silent local partner who merely 'irents the business license for a negotiated armual fee without taking partgin any capital investment. The numerous free trade zones allow for full expatriate ownership. ' A f There is an increasing number of ufreeholdn villas and apartments on artificial islands such as the Falm Islands and in many parts of Dubai for example The Greens, Dubai Marina, International City, etc. Ownership is either permanent or on a 99 year lease depending on which area - freehold areas were .announced in the press in July 2006. Ownership or lease of a completed residence allows the owner to apply for Cbut not guaranteej a residency visa on a 3 year renewable basis. The Federal Govemment does not state whether foreigners may or may not own property and has left individual emirates to formulate their own property laws. Today, Dubai is an important tourist destination and port Uebel Ali, constructed in the l9TOs, has the largest man-made harbour in the worldj, but also increasingly developing as a hub for service industries such as IT and finance with the new Dubai Intemational Financial Centre CDIFCD. Transport links are bolstered by its rapidly- expanding Emirates Airline, founded by the govemment in 1985 and Still State-OWned- based at Dubai. 9 76

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Aqaba, Jordan Aqaba's history dates back to the 4th millennium BC. The name of Aqaba was given to the port city in the l4th century when it was ruled by the Mamluk Sultan based in Egypt. Previously, it was known as Ayla, a name which archaeologists and historians have often interpreted as the twin version of Eilat. During the lst century BC, the Nabataeans, who raised livestock and pirated merchant ships in the Red Sea, inhabited Ayla. Around 106 AD, the Romans used the town as one of their main trading stations en route to the sea. Ayla came under Islamic rule in 630 AD, when the spread of Islam from Hejaz reached the peoples of the Red Sea. During this time, the port was known as the Door to Palestine? Just prior to Islam the Ghassanid Phylarchs fa tribe from western Arabiaj controlled Ayla. on behalf of Byzantium, and its bishop at Ayla attended the Council of Nicaea in 325.+iEXcavations initiated in l994 by a team Hom North Carolina State University, located the Nabataean-Roman town of Ayla 2 km from Tell Al-Khalifeh, in the Circular area ,of modern Aqaba. I The walled city of Ayla was constructed during the early days ofthe Islamic era, a rareiexample of early Islamic urbanization policy. Its layout is marked by axial streets leading to 4 gates and intersecting in the middle, where a tetrapylon Q4 interconnecting archesj was set up, thus recalling the plan of Roman legionary camps. Unearthed in the mid-1980s by an American-Jordanian archaeological team are the remains of Islamic Ayla, located along the main waterfront road, near. the hotel district. , Aqaba. is wellknown for its beach resorts and luxury hotels, which service those who come forfun in the sand as g well as watersports like windsurfing and Scuba diving. It also offers activities which take advantage of its desert location. Its many coffee shops offer mansaf and knafeh, and baqlawa desserts. Another very popular venue is the Turkish Bath fHamamj, in which locals and visitors alike come to 'relax after a hot day. Cn August 20, 2005, an early-moming rocket attack nearly struck a U.S. Navy ship docked there causing damage to nearby facilities in the city, the attack also hit the nearby Israeli town of Eilat. Al-Qaeda or an affiliate claimed responsibility. 78