Dubai
Dubai is a city-state in the United Arab Emirates. Located southeast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the country. It has the largest population in the UAE (2,104,895) and the second-largest land territory by area (4,114 km2) after Abu Dhabi. The city of Dubai is located on the northern coastline and is often misperceived as a country and, in some cases, the UAE as a whole has been described as 'Dubai
Dubai has grown steadily to become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East . Although Dubai's economy was built on the oil industry, the main revenues now come from tourism, real estate, and financial services Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, such as the world's tallest Burj Khalifa, and projects including man-made islands, hotels, and some of the largest shopping malls in the region and the world.
Dubai has grown steadily to become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East . Although Dubai's economy was built on the oil industry, the main revenues now come from tourism, real estate, and financial services Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, such as the world's tallest Burj Khalifa, and projects including man-made islands, hotels, and some of the largest shopping malls in the region and the world.
Culture-less Shock in Dubai (Story and pictures by Iain Mallory)
The emirate of Dubai is a relatively new state, a city which sprung directly from the surrounding desert in little more than a single generation. It has become synonymous with ‘over the top’ luxury. Making most of its dollars from tourism, the economy is built on providing visitors with the biggest, the best, the highest and the most luxurious Souks and Restaurants
The completion of the Burj Khalifa which is the tallest existing man-made structure in the world provides the perfect example. The space age glass needle reaches high into the clear sky, it seems to embody everything that the emirate stands for and adequately symbolises the state.
Commerce is another large part of the Dubai plan and attracting global corporations is equally as important as attracting tourists. Although there have been issues with the economy many large conglomerates have offices and even headquarters here.
Every major hotel group also seems to have a presence here, each attempting to out do the others with grander, more extravagant designs. Reaching for the heavens has long been an ambition of architects but in Dubai grandiose is the other dimension. There does not appear to be any limit on the outlandish and building designers are given free reign to be as creative as they wish.
The completion of the Burj Khalifa which is the tallest existing man-made structure in the world provides the perfect example. The space age glass needle reaches high into the clear sky, it seems to embody everything that the emirate stands for and adequately symbolises the state.
Commerce is another large part of the Dubai plan and attracting global corporations is equally as important as attracting tourists. Although there have been issues with the economy many large conglomerates have offices and even headquarters here.
Every major hotel group also seems to have a presence here, each attempting to out do the others with grander, more extravagant designs. Reaching for the heavens has long been an ambition of architects but in Dubai grandiose is the other dimension. There does not appear to be any limit on the outlandish and building designers are given free reign to be as creative as they wish.
Amazing high rise buildings
In every detail of the city there is the intention to impress, from the large shopping malls, numerous high-rise buildings, spotless esplanade and the famous dancing fountains. The choreographed display of erupting water which lasts several minutes is impressive enough during the daytime, all lit up at night it must appear quite amazing.
However strolling around Downtown Dubai I could not help but feel it is artificial, too sterile and lacking in soul or character. It all appears very pretty but lacks it own culture, it is a ‘borrowed’ culture, a very westernised culture.
Burj Khalifa
Dubai could be almost any modern city in North America, Australia or Europe.
There are several shopping malls and they have all the modern stores that can be expected in every retail centre in most of the world’s great cities. There are Bloomingdales, Debenhams and even Tim Horton’s the only visible giveaway you are in a United Arab Emirates member state is that hijab and burqa are in greater evidence. A wide variety of international restaurants and chic coffee shops offer plenty of choice but a similar range could be found in Vancouver or Melbourne.
However strolling around Downtown Dubai I could not help but feel it is artificial, too sterile and lacking in soul or character. It all appears very pretty but lacks it own culture, it is a ‘borrowed’ culture, a very westernised culture.
Burj Khalifa
Dubai could be almost any modern city in North America, Australia or Europe.
There are several shopping malls and they have all the modern stores that can be expected in every retail centre in most of the world’s great cities. There are Bloomingdales, Debenhams and even Tim Horton’s the only visible giveaway you are in a United Arab Emirates member state is that hijab and burqa are in greater evidence. A wide variety of international restaurants and chic coffee shops offer plenty of choice but a similar range could be found in Vancouver or Melbourne.
Designer Souk
Every visitor is a celebrity here, spending money is the pay-off, celebrities are usually big spenders. This is what Dubai is about, the city which invented the shopping festival, providing a reason to travel to the emirate to spend some hard earned cash.
Following a sign to a local souk, which is my normally my favourite form of retail therapy I was quite dismayed to find the sanitised version on offer here. It is indoor and little more than another shopping mall, whilst fairly quiet the individual ‘stalls’ are like designer outlets. Art galleries, decorative rugs, jewellery and high end traditional robes are available products though bartering doesn’t seem on the agenda. I usually enjoy spending several hours browsing in a souk, taking dozens of photographs however the only excuse for lingering in the Dubai version was the free WiFi.
Every visitor is a celebrity here, spending money is the pay-off, celebrities are usually big spenders. This is what Dubai is about, the city which invented the shopping festival, providing a reason to travel to the emirate to spend some hard earned cash.
Following a sign to a local souk, which is my normally my favourite form of retail therapy I was quite dismayed to find the sanitised version on offer here. It is indoor and little more than another shopping mall, whilst fairly quiet the individual ‘stalls’ are like designer outlets. Art galleries, decorative rugs, jewellery and high end traditional robes are available products though bartering doesn’t seem on the agenda. I usually enjoy spending several hours browsing in a souk, taking dozens of photographs however the only excuse for lingering in the Dubai version was the free WiFi.
Lots of photo opportunities
The emirate is perceived by many as being materialistic, even obscenely so however it’s unlikely few will be offended by the VIP treatment or resent the luxurious surroundings. Dubai may not offer the authentic culture we expect from other Arab states, it’s culture may seem false but possibly luxury retail is a culture all of its own. It may not be to everybody’s taste, it may appear a little soulless but many other travellers will enjoy being treated like royalty in space age surroundings.
I only had a day to spend in Dubai, so maybe my opinions are slightly unfair and a further visit spending a more time exploring the emirate is required to provide a more balanced view. Perhaps you can help provide that balance, have you visited Dubai, what were your perceptions, do you feel it has culture and most importantly did you enjoy it?
If you would like to read more stories from Iain Mallory go to www.malloryontravel.com
Compare prices across lots of sites for flights and accommodation
I only had a day to spend in Dubai, so maybe my opinions are slightly unfair and a further visit spending a more time exploring the emirate is required to provide a more balanced view. Perhaps you can help provide that balance, have you visited Dubai, what were your perceptions, do you feel it has culture and most importantly did you enjoy it?
If you would like to read more stories from Iain Mallory go to www.malloryontravel.com
Compare prices across lots of sites for flights and accommodation
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