My Trip to Dubai

           Dubai is one of the seven city-states that comprise the United Arab Emirates. It is located on the northern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, fronting the Persian Gulf. Dubai is a prime location in the oil-wealthy Middle East, with Europe and America to the west and China, India and the Pacific Rim to the east.

At Hong Kong Int"l Airport

My July 2010 trip to Dubai was unexpected in that I never really imagined myself ever travelling to the Middle East until I got a call from one of my boss about a month before Ramadan, asking me if I'd travel to Dubai in July-August to have a vacation/tour and assist his office with some health care planning efforts. I agreed and, in early July, off I went to the sands of Arabia. Before that call, I’ve always wanted to go since I read that Dubai is one city that’s been developing at a rapid rate! I want to go on an adventure on the sand dunes, check out their indoor skiing and high rise building. He arranged everything and almost instantly, I was on the plane. Everything came so fast. I knew one day in the future I will fly in an air plane but didn’t know it would come so fast. I stayed at Al Sondos Hotel by Le Meridien and Hyatt Regency Hotel in Deira.

Hyatt Regency Hotel

Al Sondos Hotel by Le Meridien

Although, the sand there is quickly being replaced with skyscrapers, highways, shopping maul and golf courses. As a recent article in The Guardian reports said that Dubai is the fastest-growing city in the world. The amount of development currently underway there is, in fact, nothing short of mind-boggling. Literally hundreds to thousands of high-rise buildings are currently under construction, including the recently furnished Burj Dubai or Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. It is said that about sixteen percent (16%) of the world's supply of high-rise construction cranes is currently found in Dubai. Such a claim is hard to verify, but the skyline of Dubai is nevertheless dotted with cranes and construction tools. 

Deira City Center

Dubai Railway System

Office and Hotels buildings as well as residential towers are being built at a feverish pace, with much of the development and construction occurring in specific location with names like Motor City, Healthcare City, Internet City, Knowledge Village, International City or Festival City. I personally experience Motor and International City, a haven for expatriates and their families. Then there's the stuff being built right off the coast: the three man-made palm-shaped islands currently under construction or the artificial archipelago being developed in the form of the world. It all really has to be seen first-hand in order to be believed.

Internet City

Sheik Zayed Road

Motor City

 I also visited Burj Dubai, Burj Al Arab, the 7-star hotel and the Jumeira Hotels and Beaches. The absence of corporate taxes in Dubai is expected to attract bulk of businesses over the coming years, while its sunny climate is expected to attract tens of thousands of wealthy individuals and families from all different of the world eyeing for a sunny vacation condos.

Burj Dubai

Why the frenetic construction boom? Dubai real estate is obviously a hot commodity and housing prices are already so high that a sizable chunk of the city's workforce resides in Sharjah, the neighbouring emirate to the north, where housing costs are somewhat cheaper. My Aunt is residing there together with other Filipino workers. Mosques in Sharjah are stunning and beautiful especially at night. I also visited Al Ain and Ras Al Khaima districts. 

Gold Souk

Sharjah Grand Mosque

Ras Al Khaima

Nevertheless, there is something vaguely unsettling about the surreal scale of construction currently underway in Dubai. Is this incredible frenzy of construction really justified? Can all this office, residential, hotel and retail space now under construction really be absorbed?

Wild Wadi

Jumeira Hotel

Jumeria Beach

Burj Al Arab

Generally speaking, Dubai is a safe, clean and prosperous city. Most people speak English and virtually all the signs are bilingual (Arabic and English) so getting around is not a problem. It’s a bit fortunate that I get to see as much of Dubai as I would have liked; my bos provided me with transportation. The city is also a very cosmopolitan place. 

Tourists

About 80% of Dubai's population are expatriates from all over the globe; this creates a fascinating mix of peoples, cultures and cuisines. Indian, Thai, Pakistani, Filipino, Chinese and European restaurants are everywhere, as are stables of American culture such as Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks, Chili's, McDonalds or Burger King. I’ve met a lot of friends and Kababayan there.  I especially developed a taste for Arabian and Indian food while I was there; in fact, I think I ate more hummous and tabbouli during my four weeks in Dubai than I've eaten in my entire life. Also, I did most of the “must dos” in Dubai, such as take an Abra (water taxi) ride along the Dubai Creek, visit the glimmering Gold Souk in Dubai’s old city of Deira, and see the massive Ski Dubai indoor ski slope at the gleaming new Mall of the Emirates.  

Dubai Mall

All in all, it was an interesting experience and I would definitely return to Dubai. If you’ve ever wanted to visit the Middle East, this is the place to start.

Mall of the Emirates