Dubai - The Inside Scoop
Copyright © 2009 l RetirementRX.com l All Rights Reserved
Introduction
You’ve seen all kinds of news and TV exposure to the man-made excesses in Dubai. So what is Dubai really like?
Dubai is a city built on the sands of a desert at the edge of the Gulf. The land is therefore flat and the climate hot and often muggy. The climate is a lot like a hotter version of Houston, TX without the bugs.
The city was planned with heavy Western influence by the former ruler of Dubai (and the country, the United Arab
You’ve seen all kinds of news and TV exposure to the man-made excesses in Dubai. So what is Dubai really like?
Dubai is a city built on the sands of a desert at the edge of the Gulf. The land is therefore flat and the climate hot and often muggy. The climate is a lot like a hotter version of Houston, TX without the bugs.
The city was planned with heavy Western influence by the former ruler of Dubai (and the country, the United Arab
See the world…not the medical bills. International health insurance is just a click away.
Emirates), His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who passed away three years ago at age 62. He has been succeeded by one of his sons. Most of the city has been built within the last 15 years with a lot of European city planning help . The leadership and the whole city tenor is very friendly to the U.S.
Getting there
The best way to get to Dubai is to fly Emirates Airlines, which has direct flights from Houston and Los Angeles. You can also connect to Emirates Airlines through London and Frankfurt. The flights take more than 17 hours from the U.S. but the Emirates planes are all new and lavishly equipped. Emirates coach is like Delta business class.
Arriving
The airport is humungous and very lavish, with dazzling lights and indoor three-story artificial palm trees. The customs area has nearly 100 lanes for processing visitors. You’ll be struck by the size and diversity of the crowds. All of the officials and most of the people you’ll have to deal with speak English.
Dubai, the city
“Under construction” will likely be your first impression of Dubai. There are construction cranes as far as you can see, temporary Jersey barriers, and heavy equipment in every nook and cranny. Most of the buildings are shiny new skyscrapers averaging 25 stories. For miles these sparkling buildings line both sides of E11, the twelve lane main highway.
The city is organized in clusters rather than in the more prevalent city grid. Very large, modern highways connect the clusters. Dubai is therefore not a walking city. Finding a sidewalk or a crossing is like finding hen’s teeth even within the clusters. As a result of this design, Dubai is pretty much choked by cars and trucks. The highways are like parking lots during most of the day.
You’ll want to see the tallest building, which is about 15 minutes from the airport when the traffic is light. On the way you’ll pass the mall that has the ski slope on the left side of the highway and the Burj hotel with a Vegas-style middle eastern bazaar attached. You’ll want to see all of these up close.
In the closest thing to the city center there is another huge shopping mall. If you have seen the likes of Mall of America here in Minnesota, you won’t need to go to this mall. The only thing about it that is unusual is the fact that a quarter of the shoppers will be wearing traditional Arab dress in a setting that is clearly Western.
You’ll probably want to see Palm Island, that they created by pouring sand in the Gulf. To see the outline of the world you’ll likely have to get into a boat or a helicopter. Look for it as you land at the airport if you happen to land during the day.
If you like shopping for bargains, you need to go to the Dragon Mart. It is a 40 minute drive outside the center of Dubai, but it is a real experience. It is a huge shopping complex that is filled with hundreds of merchants offering inexpensive imported Asian goods, mostly from China. It is clean, well lit, and modern. As a few examples you’ll get silk scarves for $2, cool battery-run toys you’ve never seen for $3, electronics, jewelry, tools, and inexpensive knock-off goods of all types. It is worth the trip.
The best way to get to Dubai is to fly Emirates Airlines, which has direct flights from Houston and Los Angeles. You can also connect to Emirates Airlines through London and Frankfurt. The flights take more than 17 hours from the U.S. but the Emirates planes are all new and lavishly equipped. Emirates coach is like Delta business class.
Arriving
The airport is humungous and very lavish, with dazzling lights and indoor three-story artificial palm trees. The customs area has nearly 100 lanes for processing visitors. You’ll be struck by the size and diversity of the crowds. All of the officials and most of the people you’ll have to deal with speak English.
Dubai, the city
“Under construction” will likely be your first impression of Dubai. There are construction cranes as far as you can see, temporary Jersey barriers, and heavy equipment in every nook and cranny. Most of the buildings are shiny new skyscrapers averaging 25 stories. For miles these sparkling buildings line both sides of E11, the twelve lane main highway.
The city is organized in clusters rather than in the more prevalent city grid. Very large, modern highways connect the clusters. Dubai is therefore not a walking city. Finding a sidewalk or a crossing is like finding hen’s teeth even within the clusters. As a result of this design, Dubai is pretty much choked by cars and trucks. The highways are like parking lots during most of the day.
You’ll want to see the tallest building, which is about 15 minutes from the airport when the traffic is light. On the way you’ll pass the mall that has the ski slope on the left side of the highway and the Burj hotel with a Vegas-style middle eastern bazaar attached. You’ll want to see all of these up close.
In the closest thing to the city center there is another huge shopping mall. If you have seen the likes of Mall of America here in Minnesota, you won’t need to go to this mall. The only thing about it that is unusual is the fact that a quarter of the shoppers will be wearing traditional Arab dress in a setting that is clearly Western.
You’ll probably want to see Palm Island, that they created by pouring sand in the Gulf. To see the outline of the world you’ll likely have to get into a boat or a helicopter. Look for it as you land at the airport if you happen to land during the day.
If you like shopping for bargains, you need to go to the Dragon Mart. It is a 40 minute drive outside the center of Dubai, but it is a real experience. It is a huge shopping complex that is filled with hundreds of merchants offering inexpensive imported Asian goods, mostly from China. It is clean, well lit, and modern. As a few examples you’ll get silk scarves for $2, cool battery-run toys you’ve never seen for $3, electronics, jewelry, tools, and inexpensive knock-off goods of all types. It is worth the trip.