As a Canadian who has lived in Dubai for two years, I often grapple with the inevitable question: "So, what's it REALLY like?" Thanks to this article, I no longer have to struggle to condense my many observations and insights on this mind-boggling place into a flip, single-sentence answer. I just press "forward".
Christine McKenna
Hajji Shaikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum i am very appresated your efforts about construction of Dubai magastrutures sir please can u give me chance in dubai i m a civil engineer from Pakistan .thanks
I think your article, although a good read is an extremely clichéd outlook of Dubai. I do realise that what you’ve written is based on mostly impressions after one / few visits with the basis being hearsay and I’m sure some research, but I felt compelled to respond, especially considering I’m an expatriate born in UAE.
What you see as ‘a tiny desert kingdom gone mad’ is a phenomenon that most people don’t understand. While some see this as a gigantic sandcastle that will topple (similar to you comparing it to Babel etc.), others feel it will last, while still others just live in the moment and make hay while the sun is shining. I’m not claiming to understand this. But one thing for sure is this unprecedented growth rate for a country, has left everyone gaping! Who knows, maybe they’ll pull it off.
Another one of the clichés is you thinking that using landmarks is a throw-back to the Bedouin times. Very interesting analogy… good for reading, but in many countries, landmarks are used more than street names. Street names and numbers is more a part of Western way of life.
But you are right about one thing, Sheikh Mohammed has, is and always will defy norms and challenge what has been traditionally accepted as ‘the limit’. But then again you are wrong about thinking Sheikh Mo. has succeeded in making Dubai a ‘global transit hub’. It used to be that 7-8 years ago but has become since then… for tourism, a career or seminars / conferences …. ‘a bona fide global destination’.
I don't see any difference between Donald Trump and any other developer in Dubai... If you can dream it and believe it you can achieve it...
