Dubai is the name of the city and of the Emirate. It is smaller in area than Abu Dhabi, but larger in population, having 8 million people, 18% of whom are citizents, and 82% expats from other countties, especially India. The expats do all of the heavy work. The Arabs work, but prefer office type jobs, government, banking, etc. Dubai is a free trade zone, in the sense that anyone from any country can come and start a business, but must take on a local Dubai citizen as a partner. As our guide, an Indian, explained it, the local person makes the following deal. "I will let you use my name, and therefore allow your business to get started. But don't ask me to do any work. Just send me my cheque at the end of each month."
Dubai citizens get free everything; education, health care, housing, electricity, telephone, the equivalent of $20,000 when they marry to get them started, and no taxes of any kind. Expats also have no income tax, but pay user fees to the government for most services like car licenses, health insurance, work permit, apartment leases, etc. The average annual income in Dubai is about $30,000 which is much less than Abu Dhabi, but they have more people. Their wealth, of course, comes from oil, but that is due to run out,. They claim to have diversified the economy so all will be ok after the oil runs out. We'll see.
There is obvious competition between the two leading Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Each appears to be trying to outdo the other for the best, most modern city, with the bigger and better buildings. It reminds one of the old days when rival Kings tried to outdo each other with bigger and better palaces and cathedrals. I guess human nature and vanity never changes.
Abu Dhabi (last blog) wins for having by far the best Mosque. There is nothing here in Dubai that even comes near to the Grand Mosque that we saw on the 27th. Here is the best that Dubai can do.
On the other hand, Dubai wins hands down for best buildings. They have many more skyscrapers than Abu Dhabi, and more importantly, they have two that are world famous.
The Burj Kalifa, was until just recently, the worlds tallest structure, beating out the CN Tower. It is a gorgeous slender space needle of a building with an observation deck on the 124th floor. We went up there today, and it was great. The elevator is the world's fastest, and is so smooth you harldly know you are moving. Also, your ears hardly feel it. Peggy could feel it!! I don't know how they do that, but it works. The view is magnificent, although, as you can see from the pictures it was a bit smoggy, so you could not see clearly to the horizon. And best of all, there is a major Canadian connection. Canadian engineers were involved in the design of the building, and models of the building were wind tested in the wind tunnel at the National Research Council.
I didn't fall.
The Burj Al Arab Hotel, is considered by many to be the world's most luxurious hotel. Remember the shots of Tiger Woods driving golf balls of a building into the water for Nike? This is the place. It is a five star hotel, going on 7 stars. There are no rooms, only suites, and every suite comes with a private butler. The hotel is designed to look like a sail on the traditional native boats. This striking outline of the building has become the unofficial logo for Dubai; you see it everywhere. Today, Peggy treated me to lunch at the hotel in the fine dining restaurant on the 26th floor. It was the most expensive lunch I have ever eaten, but the experience was worth it. Besides, I did not have to pay. It was so good, we took pictures of the plating, and will bore our foodie friends with them.
Dubai is a shopper's paradise. There are many malls here, and all the big North American and European names have stores in them. Here is a lonely shopper in the high end mall surrounded by all the best shops in the world. And, as you can see, she has them all to herself. That's because we were the first ones there. She is in absolute heaven.
Forget about the West Edmonton Mall. You ain't seen nothing. The malls here have a skating rink, a ski hill, an aquarium and a waterfall. Pretty impressive.
We felt right at home here!!!
OK, enough for now. Back to Fujairah tomorrow.
P&G.
Dubai citizens get free everything; education, health care, housing, electricity, telephone, the equivalent of $20,000 when they marry to get them started, and no taxes of any kind. Expats also have no income tax, but pay user fees to the government for most services like car licenses, health insurance, work permit, apartment leases, etc. The average annual income in Dubai is about $30,000 which is much less than Abu Dhabi, but they have more people. Their wealth, of course, comes from oil, but that is due to run out,. They claim to have diversified the economy so all will be ok after the oil runs out. We'll see.
There is obvious competition between the two leading Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Each appears to be trying to outdo the other for the best, most modern city, with the bigger and better buildings. It reminds one of the old days when rival Kings tried to outdo each other with bigger and better palaces and cathedrals. I guess human nature and vanity never changes.
Abu Dhabi (last blog) wins for having by far the best Mosque. There is nothing here in Dubai that even comes near to the Grand Mosque that we saw on the 27th. Here is the best that Dubai can do.
On the other hand, Dubai wins hands down for best buildings. They have many more skyscrapers than Abu Dhabi, and more importantly, they have two that are world famous.
The Burj Kalifa, was until just recently, the worlds tallest structure, beating out the CN Tower. It is a gorgeous slender space needle of a building with an observation deck on the 124th floor. We went up there today, and it was great. The elevator is the world's fastest, and is so smooth you harldly know you are moving. Also, your ears hardly feel it. Peggy could feel it!! I don't know how they do that, but it works. The view is magnificent, although, as you can see from the pictures it was a bit smoggy, so you could not see clearly to the horizon. And best of all, there is a major Canadian connection. Canadian engineers were involved in the design of the building, and models of the building were wind tested in the wind tunnel at the National Research Council.
I didn't fall.
The Burj Al Arab Hotel, is considered by many to be the world's most luxurious hotel. Remember the shots of Tiger Woods driving golf balls of a building into the water for Nike? This is the place. It is a five star hotel, going on 7 stars. There are no rooms, only suites, and every suite comes with a private butler. The hotel is designed to look like a sail on the traditional native boats. This striking outline of the building has become the unofficial logo for Dubai; you see it everywhere. Today, Peggy treated me to lunch at the hotel in the fine dining restaurant on the 26th floor. It was the most expensive lunch I have ever eaten, but the experience was worth it. Besides, I did not have to pay. It was so good, we took pictures of the plating, and will bore our foodie friends with them.
Dubai is a shopper's paradise. There are many malls here, and all the big North American and European names have stores in them. Here is a lonely shopper in the high end mall surrounded by all the best shops in the world. And, as you can see, she has them all to herself. That's because we were the first ones there. She is in absolute heaven.
Forget about the West Edmonton Mall. You ain't seen nothing. The malls here have a skating rink, a ski hill, an aquarium and a waterfall. Pretty impressive.
We felt right at home here!!!
OK, enough for now. Back to Fujairah tomorrow.
P&G.
was that a Tim's??
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, it was a Tim's. We have spotted at least six in Dubai, but none anywhere else.
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