EXCEPT FOR FREQUENT AIRLINE CONNECTIONS IN ABU DHABI, it has been nine years since we visited the Emirates. And while we aren’t keen to revisit countries — there are just too many left to see — we were curious to see how Dubai and Abu Dhabi have changed in nearly a decade.
Dubai is in the real desert, not the dry, desolate Turkmen kind but the one with sandstorms and dunes. When we were last here the Dhubai skyline was a mass of construction cranes that have now transformed into futuristic Jetson-like buildings, like acorns that grow into giant oaks, including Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
One thing hasn’t changed — Arabs, even those suspected of being Arabs — are a rare sight. Judging by the people walking the streets you might think you were in Mumbai, Karachi or even Manila. Three-quarters of the population are foreigners and 75% of those are male.
After seven weeks of strange Central Asian food we were looking forward to eating something familiar. But I paid the price, a day lost either to a stomach virus or food poisoning. I didn’t actually moan outloud but there was a lot of growling and rumbling going on inside.
