United Arab EmiratesMapApril 18–19, 2007 The UAE is not a place that you yearn to go back to. Half of its populated territory is one big, pointless construction site. The other half is just one big, pointless real estate lot. This is what the arrivals hall in Dubai looks like at two in the morning (one hour of queueing to go):  Once done, this crowd will go on to drive around dusty construction sites.  Once done, this crowd will go on to drive around dusty construction sites.  And wander around innumerable shopping centres.  And wander around innumerable shopping centres.  Or do grocery shopping.  Or go to restaurants which missed out on having an interior designer decorate them, because all of the designers have been requisitioned to do up real estate developments.  The only nice bit is the harbour in the old part of the city, where there’s at least a shred of authenticity to be found.  Sure, the boats here are enchanting, but the harbour ends before you can even finish drinking your juice aboard a yacht.  In a nutshell, it’s a great place for a day of negotiations, if you can be arsed flying all the way here.  |
