Dubai, March 24 & 25, 2011

I really never thought that I would ever be in Dubai ! ! ! But here I was for 2 days. 

It was so refreshing after leaving the squalor of India, to arrive here to this beautiful, clean, modern, exciting city.  Everything here is the “ greatest, the longest, the highest the newest” etc. etc.  Twenty-five years ago this was just a desert and now it is this big modern city.  I took a tour on each day and then the last evening I went to the Dubai Mall on a shopping expedition.  I haven’t gone crazy buying stuff so far, so I splurged and bought 2 lovely dresses which I’ll be able to wear for formal nights.   One is blue grey, three quarter length and beaded – straight cut and flared skirt.  The other is silk, long and taupe in colour with a soft draped over skirt which makes it look quite elegant.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf.  It is the most populous and second largest after Abu Dhabi.  The oil income only makes up 6% of Dubai’s wealth and they say that the oil will run out in about 6 years.  For this reason, the rulers decided to  diversify from a trade based economy to one that is service and tourism-oriented.  Construction on a large scale has turned Dubai into one of the fastest growing cities in the world.  The new buildings in the town centre are all very tall and of every imaginable shape and colour.  The tallest tower in the world is now located here.  Unfortunately,  I wasn’t able to get a picture showing this except from the bus window:

The building boom has come to a slow halt within the past few years, because of the economic conditions in the world.  In fact, Dubai was in dire straights financially and had to be  rescued by Abu Dhabi.  At one point,

Its population is comprised mainly of expatriates, who come mainly from Asia.  They do most of the work.  The United Emirate Nationals (Emiratis) constitute the minority.  They are the rich people.  They do not pay taxes and health care and education etc. are free.  The expatriates are not allowed to become citizens, no matter how long they are in the country, nor are their children born here considered citizens.  They are however. permitted to own property. 

As is the rule everywhere, the rich live in luxury and the workers are less comfortable.  From listening to the tour guide, I thought the workers would be well looked after, but this is not the case.  I had a conversation with the young lady who gave me a manicure.  She is from the Philippines.  I asked her how she liked living here and her reply wasn’t too positive.  When I inquired about her living conditions, she told me that she and 6 other people live in one room – 3 are males.  They only have room for their bed.  The rent is so high that this is the only way they can make ends meet.  So – the rich get richer by taking advantage of the less fortunate.  This young woman works in a shop in the Dubai Mall from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.  Not a very exciting life ! ! !