Smack bang in the middle of three continents and the origin of the major religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, the Middle East has been at the centre of world events since the dawn of civilisation and continues to play an important role today. Technically Western Asia, the Middle East stretches from North Africa (plus Ethiopia and Sudan) all the way to Pakistan and arguably encompasses Central Asia too. With its ever-changing national borders, political and religious disputes and hostilities and its somewhat negative image in the eyes of most 'westerners,' the land of hot climes, deserts and mosques is a region of the world that continues to fascinate. Dead centre of all of this is a brash newcomer that has sprung up out of nowhere.
The United Arab Emirates is unlike other nations. In fact, it's not like a nation at all as it is composed of seven emirates, each ruled independently by their own monarchy. Although Abu Dhabi is the capital, each family holds autonomy when it comes to how each emirate is governed. Until the 1970s, the UAE had been under the influence of the Portuguese, the Ottomans, the British and Iran, but the discovery of oil in the 60s quickly changed all that. Over the last four decades the money has kept rolling in as the desert has retreated. At the forefront of all this change is the city of Dubai - not the capital, but without a doubt the country's 'first' city.
Not 20 years ago, Dubai was a mere outpost where 'unlucky' expats were sent to help set-up a foothold in the region. Nowadays, the name is synonymous with high-rise buildings, 5-star hotels, shopping malls galore and the rich and famous flexing their significant financial-muscle. It feels like you can't go five minutes without stumbling into a trendy boutique or scrambling out of the way of an expensive German or Italian-branded car. Dubai has transformed into the home of the superlative; the biggest, the tallest, the longest, the most expensive. Making your way along Sheikh Zayed Road as a first-time visitor will leave you with a severely strained neck as you pass skyscraper after skyscraper, including the Burj Khalifa building (2,717 feet). Mixed with the more traditional constructions in the older part of town, a trip to Dubai is to be left feeling like you have been a part of an architect's wet-dream.
When it comes to prying dirhams, dollars and euros from its residents and tourists alike, Dubai seems to come up with a myriad of ways in which to do so. Dubai Mall (the world's largest) and the Mall of the Emirates are but two of the many shopping centres that dot the city, linked by a Metro line that seems purpose built to shuttle consumers from one shopping mecca to the next. The latter mall also comes complete with an indoor ski resort! Even shopping at the cheaper end of the scale doesn't deter the grandiose, with the Chinese Dragon Mart stretching over two floors for a combined length of over 2km and stocked with goods from the East.
This will be the 6th place I have called home since leaving the UK and whether or not there is more to the city than just the superficial remains to be seen. I intend to find out.
No comments:
Post a Comment