Unforgettable Dubai

By Melati Mohd Ariff DUBAI (United Arab Emirates), Jan 18 (Bernama) -- From high above, the vast expanse of desert dominated the view. Emirates Airlines' flight EK345 was nearing its destination. The six-hour flight from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang ended at 2.43 pm when the plane stopped at its gate at Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport. Immigration clearance was simple and fast. This writer handed over her passport to an officer in the traditional white 'kandoura/dishdasha' robe, who requested the writer to look into a camera before returning the passport to the writer. The writer was given a one-month Dubai visa. Outside the airport, fresh cool air greeted visitors. It was winter in Dubai. The writer didn't have to wait for a taxi as there were many taxis (Toyota Camry) outside the airport. Pink taxis were reserved for women and families. DEVELOPING FAST Dubai is a metropolis, a global city, and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East," this is what Dubai is described at the websites. Dubai, a city state, is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The other six emirates are Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. Located in the heart of the Arab desert, Dubai has immense petroleum. With the discovery of petroleum in the 1960s, Dubai's economy grew significantly. Revenue from the sale of petroleum helped in the development of tourism, real estate and financial services in Dubai. Strategically located at the northern coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai's position as an important trading hub is complemented by Jebel Ali, the world's biggest man-made port. FIRST CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE Visitors who step into this city-state are impressed by its infrastructure and amenities. The roads are wide and highways have six lanes in each direction, excluding service roads that connect the roads to residential and commercial areas. The roads in Dubai are congested during peak hours, especially from Mondays to Thursdays. During public holidays, the roads are congested too because people from as far as Qatar and Saudi Arabia enter the city. The local trains are highly efficient and all the stations are air conditioned. Air conditioning is indispensable in Dubai because the temperature can reach 48 degrees Celsius in the summer, from June to August. Trees are planted on either side of the roads in the city. In certain locations, there are rows of date trees. Vehicles on the road also look impressive. Big MPVs like GMC and Nissan can be seen alongside luxury cars like Ferrari, Porsche, Ford Mustang, Maserati and Jaguar appear ubiquitous on the road and shopping mall parking lots. A CITY OF FOREIGNERS Dubai is filled with foreigners. One may mistaken the place for India or the Philippines especially when walking on Naif Road or in Satwa. There are many Bangladeshis, Nepalese and Sri Lankans with most of the foreigners working at construction sites, shopping malls, restaurants, shops and hotels. IMPRESSIVE EDIFICES A drive along a major road, Sheikh Zayed Road, allows one to witness mega skyscrapers. One of the mega skyscrapers in the country is the Emirates Tower, a twin building. The taller part of the building is the Emirates Office Tower and the other part is the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel. The tower that houses the hotel is filled with luxury shopping outlets selling branded and expensive items, and it is the most expensive place to shop in Dubai. Dubai is synonymous with skyscrapers, with the Burj Khalifa, which has 160 storeys, taking the crown. There is an observation deck at the 124th floor. It only takes one minute to reach the 124th floor because the lifts in the buildings have great speed. This writer paid an entrance fee of AED 125 (RM97.50) to get into Burj Khalifa and to enjoy a 360-degree view of Dubai. SHOPPING Dubai is also known as a shopping haven. Some of the popular malls in Dubai are the Dubai Mall, Wafi Mall, Mall of the Emirates and the Ibn Battuta Mall. These malls offer luxury and branded items. The Dubai Mall is one of the biggest malls in the world. Opened in November 2008, the mall has 1,200 shops selling items from all over the world. The mall houses an indoor skating rink and an aquarium. The Dubai Mall also has 160 restaurants serving various types of food. The price of a cup of tea at a cafe can cost up to AED 13 (RM10), fruit juice can cost up to AED 22 (RM17) and a piece of carrot cake can cost AED 18 (RM13). The price of burgers is between AED 45 and AED 50 (RM35-RM39). The Ibn Battuta Mall offers a different experience for shoppers - the Chinese, Indian, Persian, Egyptian, Tunisian and the Andalusian shopping experience. This writer took a train from the Emirates Towers station to this mall. The price of the train ticket was six dirham (US$1.56). The train was crowded and the writer had to travel past 12 stations before reaching Ibn Battuta. What caught the attention of this writer in these malls was the call for prayers (Azan). There are prayer rooms in malls. Officials in Dubai are particular about cleanliness. Thus, bins to collect recyclable materials are placed near bus stops. Bags and wrappers used in restaurants have to be from bio-degradable materials. PLACES OF INTEREST At the Mall of the Emirates, located at the Sheikh Zayed Road, there is the Ski Centre where the temperature is 3 degrees Celsius. At the Ski Centre, visitors can also see penguins. Although the entrance fee is high, patting the penguins and taking pictures with them are unforgettable moments. Penguin trainers guide visitors at the Ski Centre. As for this writer, the penguin felt smooth like silk. People who are keen on a boat ride can visit the Marina Bay and the Dubai Creek. The Burj al-Arab hotel, in the shape of a traditional Arab boat, 'dhow', is the only seven star hotel in the world. Only people with reservations can enter the hotel premises. There are many interesting places in Dubai, including shops at 'souks' (markets) selling gold and spices, museums and theme parks. VARIOUS TYPES OF FOOD Dubai has a number of cuisines to offer. There is a wide range of Arab, Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisines available here. This writer stopped by a Chinese restaurant and noted that among the items in the menu were 'nasi goreng kampung (fried rice) and 'asam laksa'!. There are many fast food restaurants in this city and interestingly, they are crowded even in the wee hours. The writer enjoyed Nasi Mandi at the Raidan Mandi Restaurant at Jalan Al Etihad. This writer also visited the Aroos Damas Restaurant at Moraqabat St that is famous for Syrian cuisines, including the baba ganouj, fattoush, hommos and kebbeh. Even though Dubai is one of the most expensive cities in the Middle East, it left a lasting impression on this writer. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA