My wife's impression of Dubai

With a daughter undergoing training in Dubai, provided with a serviced apartment and a company car, SP could not resist asking a sister to accompany her to pay her a visit.

Her sister's husband asked, 'What did you do in Dubai in one whole week? I went there for golf and it took me just half a day to see it all!'

Well, they went to visit (almost mandatory) Burj Khalifa, the world's largest, if not still the tallest, tower in the world. They went on a desert safari and a camel ride, besides shopping in the mega malls.

With huge revenues from oil, their PM when interviewed on television, said 'Arab Spring' would not happen in United Arab Emirates because they looked after the people well. SP could not get over a country being tax-free, duty-free, even free carparks, and almost crime-free because the goldsmith shops are without security guards. The other notable absence was dogs in a predominantly Muslim country. The expressways are super wide, with 6 lanes on each side, and brightly lid at night all the way. Being a rich and duty-free country, all kinds of luxury cars could be found. Even in the car park of the serviced apartments could be found Ferraris and Porches. Taxis using topline BMWs and Mercs are common. So it was small wonder our daughter is provided with a Mazda 6! Petrol costs less than Rm1 per litre and tolls are collected electronically using smart tags presumably.

With more than 40% of the population consisting of Indians, it was unsurprising for her to describe, 'Every other person you see is an Indian!' The local Emaratis comprise less than that! When a security guard was asked, 'I'm Nepalese. All the guards here (in the company) are Nepalese.' With better remuneration packages, maids are better educated and trained and Filipinos and Indonesians are common. Service from grocers include free delivery even for just a packet of milk!
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