Dubai is bounded by the unrelenting desert on one side and the Persian Gulf on the other side. Water is naturally very scarce in this area, however, you would not think so when you visit. Water is everywhere. Fountains are an integral part of the landscape. Dubai is very rich and produces its own fresh water with huge desalinization plants.
Because of the surrounding desert sand is everywhere, and sand storms are frequent in the summer months the highways are constantly being swept so the roads are visible. There are huge sand dunes just out of the city where we had the opportunity to climb into a very powerful SUV and take a ride. Some people got sick, but fortunately we did not. It was a lot of fun.
Dubai is busily preparing for World Expo 2020 which it will be hosting. This is a six month exhibition from nations all around the world. The event is expected to attract more than 25 million visitors and will surely catapult Dubai further as a world class destination.
I found Dubai to be a very exciting and vibrant city as opposed to Doha, where I felt very uncomfortable and hardly saw anyone walking around. Dubai seems to be a much more liberal society. Although alcohol is illegal it is permitted in hotel nightclubs, restaurants and bars. We were even able to purchase wine in a local restaurant where we ate. The fact is that the rules are rarely enforced and only so when people start creating problems.
Dubai has emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East. Every corporation you can think of seems to have offices there. This accounts for the high level of occupancy in its office towers.
I am definitely looking forward to visiting Dubai again. I hope I will be able to do so.
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