Dubai is one of the most modern megacities in the world
The Salt of the Earth
As the columnist of Lenta.ru writes, credit must be given to the local sheikhs, who for decades have purposefully invested huge revenues from the sale of natural resources in the development of regional infrastructure. Not every nobility is capable of existing in the paradigm of social responsibility towards their own subjects. The ruling houses of the UAE manage this brilliantly. The result is evident.
In place of wretched shacks, ultra-modern skyscrapers rise, entwined with intricate road interchanges. On the sand dunes, where previously not a blade of grass could be found, abundant shady gardens have been laid out. Near the coast, artificial islands rise from the sea waves with magnificent hotels and private villas, next to which stylish yachts are parked.
Of course, not all emirates are developed to the same degree. The undisputed leadership in the economic and political spheres belongs to Abu Dhabi – it was its ruler, the infinitely respected Sheikh Zayed, who at one time did everything possible to create an independent state and then turn it into the pearl of the Middle East. It is not surprising that today this emirate is home to some of the most significant attractions in the entire region.
These include, for example, Ferrari World park, where for $500 you can race real Formula 1 cars on the track. Or the largest water park in the emirates. Or the most leaning building in the world, built at an angle of 18 degrees. At the Emirates Palace hotel, which was originally conceived as a sheikh's palace, you can rent a room for a million dollars a night. Or at least have a cup of cappuccino for $15 at the local Le Cafe, which is decorated with real gold. True, you will have to reserve a seat in advance. Otherwise, you cannot enter the hotel grounds – unless you are staying there.
• During a visit to Abu Dhabi, it is definitely worth visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, located on the outskirts of the city. This majestic structure of white marble looks especially impressive at sunset. Next to the mosque is the grave of the legendary sheikh, over which prayers are read around the clock. The tomb cannot be photographed. In all other respects, there are practically no restrictions for tourists. The mosque is open for visits. Only appropriate clothing is required, which is provided on site. And guests are also asked to leave their shoes at the entrance.
The East of the 21st Century
Following Abu Dhabi comes Dubai – proportional to the amount of proven hydrocarbons, and accordingly, state revenues and expenditures. Then come all the other emirates, but with a large gap from the first two. At the same time, purely visually, it is Dubai that looks the most respectable in the eyes of a foreigner. Obviously, due to the fact that its territory is many times smaller than that of Abu Dhabi.
Dubai is one of the most modern megacities in the world. This is felt as soon as you cross the threshold of the international terminal of the local airport. Everywhere there is cleanliness, perfect European service, excellent roads, ubiquitous city taxis, and skyscraper towers in a light haze of sea vapors. If you forget for a moment where you are, you could easily think of New York, Tokyo, or Singapore.
The city is rapidly growing upward. At first, it seems that there are simply no small buildings here. But this, of course, is not the case. In Dubai, entire neighborhoods are occupied by comfortable mansions that the government builds specifically for local residents. True, only citizens of the country can get such a house. And for that, you need to be born in Dubai.
At the service of everyone else are comfortable apartments, offices, rented flats, and of course, hotels. By the way, unlike Abu Dhabi, where there is traditionally a shortage of hotel rooms, here there is an abundance. According to official data from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), the room inventory increased by 5 percent over the past year and reached 102,845 rooms.
Dubai is justifiably proud of its premium-class hotels. The best are located mainly on the coastline. These include Burj Al Arab, better known as the "Sail," as well as Jumeirah Beach, Madinat, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam, and certainly Atlantis, located at the very tip of the artificial palm island, one of two in Dubai, but so far the only one fully populated and developed. Of course, the emirate also has representatives of major international chains, such as Hilton, Kempinski, Mercure, or Rixos.
Regardless of the brand, the guest is guaranteed an appropriate level of comfort. And for VIP clients, there are also a host of additional bonuses – from luxury transfer to personal butler service. It is no wonder that many Arab sheikhs prefer to vacation with their families in Dubai.
• The Atlantis hotel has a huge aquarium with rich marine fauna. One of its walls, several human heights tall, is completely glass. On the opposite side of the aquarium are rooms, and some of them are located below the water level. Therefore, guests can easily feel like members of the expedition of the legendary Jacques Cousteau. Or simply forget about worldly worries for a while, sipping champagne and admiring the sharks swimming at arm's length.
One should not think that all hotels in Dubai are premium. Not long ago, local authorities developed and, with surprising consistency, are implementing a new strategy for the development of the hotel market, focusing on mid-price hotels – three- and four-star. In 2016, their number grew by almost a third. All this means targeted work with a different target audience and, consequently, a reformatting of the entire tourism industry.
Faith and Measure
The official religion of the UAE is Islam. However, the level of religious tolerance varies across emirates. In Abu Dhabi, the rules are quite strict. You cannot even smoke on the street, let alone anything else. For inappropriate appearance, you can easily end up in a police station. The situation is roughly the same in Sharjah and some other emirates. Against this backdrop, Dubai looks almost like an island of liberal freedoms. Here, they are much more tolerant of clothing. In hotels, smoking and drinking alcohol are by no means prohibited.
But it is still not worth going into the city while tipsy. If only out of elementary respect for the religious values of Dubai residents. However, there are quite a lot of people on the streets in shorts and T-shirts. And no one drags them to the station.
On the way to the top
All this, combined with a high level of safety and domestic comfort, makes Dubai a desirable destination for travelers from various countries in Europe, America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. According to Dubai Tourism, in 2016 the emirate was visited by a record number of tourists – 14.9 million people, and the average annual growth rate from 2012 to 2016 was 8 percent. This is about twice the global average. With this scenario, the target of 20 million tourists set by the authorities for 2020 looks more than realistic.
Dubai's obvious successes are largely due to the targeted expansion of the package of tourist offers. Last year, the largest resort and entertainment complex in the region, Dubai Parks & Resorts, opened here, as well as the indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure, currently the largest in the world. The Dubai Opera and the Etihad Museum opened their doors, significantly increasing the intensity of the emirate's cultural life. The large-scale gastronomic festival (for this reason it was decided to hold it on a regular basis) and the specialized festival "Summer Surprises," focused on family recreation, aroused great interest among the international community. Also, thanks to its developed infrastructure and convenient location, Dubai remains one of the most popular destinations for business tourism.