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As baby boomers, we value our history and with all our travels, we enjoy visiting and studying the lives of the ancients – seeking an understanding of man for within each generation, man strives to create, invent, and express his freedom of thought and creativity.
The origination of man’s creative spirit began in the East – but the gauntlet was passed onto the West – as we have seen throughout our European sojourns. However, we are seeing the Phoenix rise from a humble beginning as a pearl-diving centre, to one of the fastest growing cities in the world! What makes Dubai so remarkable is that such accomplishments have taken only thirty years! This is a city constantly on the move that even the updated GPS systems cannot keep up with all the road changes!
Home to over 2 million people from more than 200 nationalities – nearly 80% foreign nationals – Dubai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. The success of Dubai is not based on oil reserves, but on human talent – ingenuity and initiative. It has been wisely investing in a future very different from its oil rich neighbors, by focusing on creating a trading hub and expansion of services.
My first visit was in August, one of the hottest months all year! I remember exiting the airport and saw these huge fans, alongside a long queue of Mercedes Benz taxis, ready to transport you to your destination. I saw what looked like clouds that were rising, only to be informed that was the moisture from the waterways being drawn up into the atmosphere because of the heat! Yes …it is humid and very hot, but only during the summer months. However, no fear for absolutely everything from your taxi to shopping mall arcades, the temperature must be set on freezing for I always had to carry a shawl to give me warmth when shopping!
You can spend a week but I shall mention those destinations which I was able to visit given just two days!
- Burj Al Arab: The world’s first 7-star hotel – you may wonder what is in “7”? Actually there is not a 7-star designation – only 5! The key is service; with private in-room check in, private receptions on every floor along with personal butlers, not to mention the chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce to drive you around! If you wish to visit, you need to make reservations in one of their restaurants which are of course pricey, but I enjoy taking an Afternoon Tea in the Sahn Eddar!
- Burj Khalifa: The world’s tallest tower! Views breathtaking and an easy elevator ride to the top. You can get a sense of all the continued and massive construction that is underway throughout the city.
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah – experience the spirit of the traditional Arabian souk! Even in the hot August sun, I think we were the only boat navigating the waterways, and viewing the beautiful winding canals, shops, places to stay and eateries! Just be sure to bring your bottled water – though the boat master always has very cold water available for you!
- Dubai Mall: The world’s biggest shopping mall. As you can imagine The Dubai Mall has an extremely high number of stores. Among these, you can find the most luxurious brands. Other than that, the mall is huge enough to house not only stores but also department stores inside. The Bloomingdales, the Debenhams and the French Galeries Lafayette department stores are all part of the Dubai Mall. You can also take a look at the biggest Gucci store in the world and also the 3 storey Marks & Spencer is pretty popular among visitors. Dubai Mall also has its own Gold Souk, which includes around 40 different jewelery stores and watch shops. Also don’t miss viewing the world’s largest aquarium!
- Mall of the Emeritus: Do not miss! This is the one with the indoor ski resort! Yes, we came in from 120 – 140F temperatures to see kids all in heavy clothing, coats actually skiing down snow mountain ranges! They boast a 22,500 square meter space of skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing! Hang around and enjoy the difference in temperature – Ski Dubai a bit under 40F!
- Burjuman Mall – I have to mention this mall as Saks Fifth Avenue is located here and this is its first and only store outside the U.S.
Palm Islands: This is an awe inspiring engineering feet. Dubai Palm is the largest artificial islands on earth. Only one of the three islands - the Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Jebel Ali and the Palm Deira -- that make up the Palms is open to visitors.
Claiming the title of the largest manmade archipelago in the world, the Palm Islands can be seen from space. Each of them is shaped like a palm tree, but there are no actual palm trees there.
The project took just four years to complete and each island required nearly 12 million pounds of rock and more than 53 million pounds of sand from the ocean floor to construct.
Jumeirah, the only island open to the public, houses the Burj Al-Arab seven-star luxury hotel. The Palm Jumeirah also includes residential properties. The first residents, who include David Beckham, moved onto plots on Jumeirah during the summer of 2007.
A special honor I would like to extend to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It has been his inspiration in reaching for the stars and his determination in making Dubai the top city destination to visit in the 21st Century. It is my hope that Dubai will remain a beacon for all the world to witness, where cultures from all over the world can find acceptance and respect and perhaps be a light for peace.
Happy Travels!
August 14, 2023
