I am in Arabian land; an interesting journey so far as I signed up for yet another venture, a maiden one in a newer land.
On my first day in Dubai, I took 5 hours just to get adjusted to the intensity of the sun. It is huge, and it shines and radiates all of its warmth (in other words, penetrating heat) to this land, its people, and the entire Middle East. I feel that I am getting compensated for all the “sunshine” I missed in San Francisco. The weather gets better post November and I have heard that it is a dream from December to April.
From May to August, the weather can be harsh. The heat is rough, though one doesn’t feel it because of all the air conditioning everywhere. However, it is a pain to walk from your apartment to the taxi stand or the metro…but if you have your own car, you are golden, as you are saved from this pestering heat.
On a slightly different note, the city of Dubai is oozing with riches. It is cosmopolitan, clean and modern, with a great in house and rest of the world connectivity. It is growing at 7 per cent a year and construction is synonymous to growth here. In every corner, there is a huge mall with anything and everything you would want, and it is affordable.
It seems to me that most regular people are wealthy. They live in swanky uptown places and drive expensive cars, with number plates that can range from digit 1 to 3. Petrol here is dirt cheap, a gallon could cost you a couple of dirhams. The very exclusive and luxurious neighborhood here is the “Palm Jumeira”. Many Russian tycoons, Bollywood stars, Indian politicians own a villa here. I live on the very popular Sheikh Zayed Road. So, I am quite “up” there but not on the top. I feel fortunate to have the view of Burj Khalifa from my apartment.
All the women here own at least one original Fendi, Prada or Burberry. And I believe, it is all because people here don’t pay tax. It is indeed an excellent gesture by the UAE government to let the expats keep all of their salary.
I have also interacted with the blue-collar section of the society here, but they are quite happy to work in these tough weather conditions, than go back to their home country. I am too surprised with all the greenery here. When I was first coming to DXB, I pictured an advanced desert, with modern technology, skyscrapers, and fast lanes. However, it was beyond my expectation to see all the flora, fauna and cleanliness.
Being an Indian, I am overwhelmed to see that we are one of the dominant communities here. The locals speak and most of the times understand Hindi, and apparently everyone loves Shah Rukh Khan. Hindi seems to be the de-facto language. 90% of the population of Dubai is expat. The locals are less than 5%. The Emirati people are very friendly, generous and kind. They are hospitable, and ensure that as an expat, you really enjoy the experience of their city, and country at large.
English, Hindi, Bengali and Arabic are the most spoken languages. I kind of feel good that I have a command over 3 of the 4 languages. I also find it quite funny to see New York or Chicago style skyscrapers everywhere, and then a couple of stores within it that may sell Indian spices, dresses, appliances, movies, etc.
Dubai indeed is a melting pot of most cultures of the world. Schools, colleges, super markets are per your taste, and nationality. I think of Dubai as fantasyland, and the power of the human spirit here amazes me. The transformation of a desert to a modern confluence of cultures is fascinating. With all the opportunity, glitter and glamour, this city is always on the go. However, once a week, on Friday mornings, it takes a siesta to rejuvenate. This city is really worth discovering and living in.
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