SEARCHING FOR THE SOUL OF DUBAI
After 3 quick days here, I do not think I found it. This is a huge, totally created city, a bit like Las Vegas, but different in that most are here to work, not play. The population is in the millions, but the native Emeriti part is well less than 10%. Everyone else is from somewhere else. Surely the biggest melting pot in the world, making it quite interesting to ask people where they are from. Pakistan, Italy, Singapore, India, Nepal, Uganda, you name it. All here for the work that exists. The Dubai museum does a good job explaining the history of the city, showing that Dubai, until just a few decades ago was a sleepy fishing village with its prime export being pearls.
It is clearly in the middle east, and muslim, but with so many “exceptions.” Western life goes on full tilt in the hotels and I am sure in the private homes of the expats. The streets are full of all people of all faiths and cultures mixing together as they walk the old town. In the more strictly Muslim cities I have been in, this is not so common. But, I think the impact of tourism is just so great here that it just has to be this way. Interestingly the key tourist group seemed to be Indian, which I have not seen before on my travels.
I love the souq’s of the middle east, so I immediately sought those out on day one trying to experience a bit of what Dubai would have been like before all of the development. These were pretty mild versions of a true souq. Only slightly aggressive hawkers, nothing like Syria or Tunisia. I walked much of the old town area, down narrow streets, along the Dubai creek waterfront, and in and out of the souq’s. Ending the day on the extremely modern metro, going back to the area of the high rises. Dubai, so many contrasts.
And, forget it Seattle with all of your construction cranes. A pittance compared to Dubai. Shanghai cannot match this either. This is growth like I have never seen. Just everywhere, to the point that getting around is really hard, whether walking or by car. And, where there is no development, there is only sand. Lots of sand.
The Dubai fort, dating from 1799 and home of an excellent museum all underground below it.
The souq specializing in textiles.
Dubai creek scene
In the gold souq
Back in the new area, view of Burj Khalifa. Note crane load in upper left of photo.
Construction cranes everywhere. Are all of the completed buildings occupied? I do not know.