The United Arab Emirates operates on Gulf Standard Time (GST), which is 4 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+4). All seven emirates follow the same timezone and do not observe daylight saving time.
Major cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah all follow GST. The UAE shares its timezone with Oman, Mauritius, and parts of Russia (Samara Time).
Dubai is home to the world's tallest building (Burj Khalifa at 828m) and the world's largest shopping mall by total area (Dubai Mall). The UAE was formed in 1971 from seven emirates, and its rapid transformation from a desert economy to a global business hub happened in just 50 years. The country has one of the world's highest GDP per capita.