Cory's Dubai Trip

Posted by CJ.

Out of the two of us Mada is much better at Blog posts and I rely on her for keeping you all informed about our adventures. However, this past week I had my first business trip to the Middle East and found myself in Dubai in the U.A.E.

Since this is such a unique place I thought it was worth sharing a bit of my trip.

Well to start, the place is one big sand box; on the flight in, all you can see for miles and miles is flat sand. Then the plane turns and on the corner of the land is a huge city under construction.

Upon landing and traveling within the city I learned there is really two Dubai’s the “old Dubai” and “new Dubai”. It’s hard to tell the difference and the old one has just as many construction cranes as the other, the main difference is the Dubai Creek splits the two cities.

Speaking of cranes, Dubai is the home of the world’s most inactive tall cranes.

There are hundreds of construction sites that are between a hole in the ground and 80% complete where all work has stopped and the workers and backing companies have all left, when the economy collapsed and funding dried up.

Some day these buildings will need to be taken down and started over since they are now just rusting piles of steel.

One cool thing about Dubai is that everything they do has to be the biggest, best, most challenging, most unique, etc. This goes for malls (indoor snow skiing)...

condo buildings (see twisted building)...

land development (palm island)...

hotels (Atlantis copy and the big Sail)...

and office buildings (tooth pick tallest in the world).

Even the airport is adding a third terminal which will be used exclusively for A-380 which is the world’s largest commercial plane. It is the double decker plane with stand up showers, lounges, and private quarters on board.

Dubai will have a larger fleet of these plans than any other country in the world.

  

Looking at the people it is a unique story. The country is made up of locals (the Emiratis), however they are in the minority and it is very hard to become a citizen. They are ruled by the Sheikh who is the eldest male in the ruling family. The Sheikh makes all laws, owns all lands, and controls everything, however they keep the people happy as the state provides them a comfortable living and creates laws to keep them employed and at the top of the food chain.

For all the foreigners, you can visit without a visa, to stay longer, you have to have a work visa which is renewable every two years. But if you find yourself unemployed and don’t find something within 6 months, you get booted. Also if your break any laws, especially the religious ones you get banned from the country.

Overall they have created a country of minimal crime, wealth for the locals, and a place where Americans, Europeans, Asians, and Muslims can all come and do business in a safe way that is liberal enough from the Islamic tradition standpoint that outsiders feel good but still holds its traditions high.

It's amazing this dirt rock with no natural resources and no real value has created an amazing city based soley on trade and being a global hub for business and travel.

Here are some dinner photos from our nights out with the local employees.

And a Dubai Fanta for ya...