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Tell me morę: Arab dress

Igal: Double black cord that holds the gutra in place

Whacky

buildings

Empty Ouarter

O The Empty Ouarter (Rub ‘al Khali) at the south end of the Arabian Peninsula is the largest sand desert in the world at about 250,000 sq miles (650,000 sq km).

Gutra: Head covering that is usually white in the summer and red and white checked in the winter

Bisht: Outer cloak of soft wool, usually black, brown, or gray

As Dubai became one of the worlcTs most luxurious holiday resorts in the mid-2000s, its buildings got taller and morę extraordinary.

The spire of Burj Khalifa tower can be seen from 60 miles(95 km) away.

Developments include man-made islands built to look like a palm tree and a world map when seen from the air.

At one time, 25 percent of all the world’s cranes were said to be working in Dubai.

The world’s economic crisis called a halt to the Dubai building boom in 2009, leaving many projects unftnished.

OSummer temperatures can reach 131°F (55°C) during the day and fali below freezing at night.

O The desert is entirely uninhabited, and much of it has never been explored.

Dishdasha: Long-sleeved (usually white) garment that covers the entire body

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Desert Storm

Holy smoke!

■ Frankincense is the aromatic resin of a desert shrub that grows only in the desert of Southern Oman.

Arab traders carried it across the desert along the Incense Trail—a journey of 2,000 miles (3,200 km).

In August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded the tiny oil-rich State of Kuwait. In February 1991, the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, was forced to withdraw his troops when a U.S.-led force of 34 nations launched the military offensive called Operation Desert Storm.

It was used in religious ceremonies—and to mask unpleasant smells.

According to the Bibie, frankincense was one of the gifts that the three wise men brought to the baby Jesus.

Traditional Arab sports

Camel racing

Horse racing

Falconry

Dhow (sailboat) racing

Gulf States i, 208|209

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