What is Dubai?
If there was a dot on the world map, Dubai would be it. A tiny state but richer than continents.
-Dubai has the world’s second 7 Star Hotel,
-World’s richest horserace (what Happened to Derby ?),
-The world’s tallest tower soon,
-the World’s largest mall,
-the world’s Third largest mall.
-Underwater Hotel,
-8th wonder of the world- The palm,
-Man made Islands in the shape of the world map.
-They made the biggest order to Rolls Royce at one time and the biggest order to Boeing in history by Emirates Airlines and not to mention the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Sheikh Rashid was a visionary who built the port and Free Zone and then the Dubai World Trade Center. Then all the above mentioned projects were carried on by his Third son Mohd. Bin Rashid.
UAE’s progress is b’coz of Sheikh Zayed who is probably the most generous ruler of all times and on this planet. Name one country that entitles every citizen to a plot of land after they are 18, which country provides free education for its citizens from school down to college ? Which country? He spends billions on housing schemes where he gives free villas to Arabs and free Medical services.
We love everything about this country except its summer. As expats we have everything here except rights to citizenship.
Things we don’t see in Dubai:
Beggers ( not so common except in Ramadan- ’coz everyone’s all religious and generous)
Street vendors, very few who hide in corners or Subways.
People sleeping on streets, in parks.
Like may countries we never get a cross connection here where you end up talking to an unknown person and the telephone company here is superb.
We never have power cuts here.
There’s no rain here. We see rain 4-5 times a year for max. 20 mins at a stretch only.
Every place is airconditioned here, from leaving home to the car to the office to the Grocery to the mall and even small cafeterias and to public transport buses too.
Handicapped people. Ovbiously if they are handicapped they won’t get a visa and come to Dubai to work, the only handicapped people we see are the Locals or expats who can afford to keep their families here.
We have no season for fruits here. Everything is available round the year, coz eveything is imported.
We don’t do 2-3 jobs to keep up, infact it’s illegal to work elsewhere than the company who’s visa you are on.
You must have a salary of AED 5000/- to keep a family here.
A female can walk at 3 am covered in Gold and never be robbed. This is a crime free city, yeah stuff happens but so minimal you won’t notice it.
There’s no drugs here.
Arabs claim to be the best drivers here but would so many die in car accidents if they were, Dubai has the highest number of deaths by car accidents per year. Arabs are extremely rough drivers never abide by the rules.
There’s no gay rights here and that’s good, yeah there are gays here but its illegal and I hope there is never a law for them.
Many people think that women here roam around in Neqab (dress up like ninjas) but Dubai is no where near than it’s as modern as Europe or any cosmopolitian city.
Life is great here, you don’t pay Tax as other countries. American Navy goes crazy on CD and electronics prices here.
Although this is a muslim country you never feel you are in one. As Christians we have freedom here and Churches of all demoninations are here. Unlike countries such as Saudia Arabia where a Muttawa (Muslim priest) would just snatch off your Cross. attention. The rulers and Sheikhs of Dubai could not have made a safer place in the Middle East.
There are no protests and strikes here, no political parties....... no elections.. what a country. The Current Sheik’s son will take over and I think this is the best system in the country.
The police can never bother you and there is no corruption and bribery.
Sheikh’s such as Mohd. Bin Rashid are a example of leadership, their progress proves it. He maintains his traditions by taking care of the bediouins and makes sure traditions such as camel races are still a part of the modern Dubai culture.
Dubai has places like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai E-government where many of the world’s multinational companies operate as headquarters for the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
-Arabs of Dubai are extremely nice people compared to the Arabs in Abu Dhabi who are snobbish but yet bearable. Arabs of Saudia Arabia are bastards, Omanis are poor people like Bahranis but not so friendly and broad minded like Dubai Arabs. Kuwaitis are not too nice as well, we saw them in the Iraq war when they came to Dubai- they thought no end to themselves.
- Dubai is a multicultural city where Indians are the most, they are like flies. They are in the lowest position to being CEO’s of multinational firms. Indians are basically nice but Keralites among them.........ooooh... nasty. irritating, dirty and extremely inquisitive. Their language is killing.
Get a visa before you get to Dubai.
Your hotel will sponsor you.
If your Nationality falls in the approved categories then you may come to the airport and get a visa from there.
Your relative may sponsor you.
When they say it gets hot in the desert, they mean HOT and HUMID. 24 hours a day. Take your bottled water and a hankerchief and a good hat. And don’t get stuck out in the desert! Extreme heat and humidity and blowing sand can also do bad things to your car battery.
Most of Dubai business times of operation are in accordance with the Muslim desert schedule. That means things are closed on Friday so their ’’weekend’’ is Friday and Saturday, and everything is open on Sunday because Sunday is a regular work day. There is often a few hours break every day in the afternoons as well, when everything is closed. Major shopping malls and grocery stores and hotels usually stay open.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a very Muslim country but there are many foreign expatriates in Dubai. The locals are quite used to foreigners and the city is well set up to accommodate them. There are shopping malls galore, 24 hour grocery stores and public swimming areas. It is very easy to get around in Dubai by taxi. It would also be an easy place to drive, but take extreme care because the locals (nationals) don’t have to abide by traffic rules.
They can speed over 100mph down meridians or down the middle of traffic. They will scream past you on either side without warning. If there is an accident, it WILL be your fault because if you weren’t in the country to begin with then the accident wouldn’t have happened. Take extreme care.