The high standard of living has come at a price to the environment. By 2008, the Worldwide Fund for Nature’s Living Planet report ranked the United Arab Emirates (of which both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are member states) at the top of the list of carbon emissions, with an ecological footprint of 9.5 global hectares per person – exceeding the United States (number two, at 9.4 hectares) and Britain (5.3 hectares), and more than triple the global average of 2.7 hectares. The report claimed that if everyone consumed at the same rate as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it would take four and a half times the Earth’s resources to provide for them.

It wasn’t always so. On the eve of the discovery of oil in the late 1950s, both city states had populations numbering in the tens of thousands, with no electricity or paved roads. In 1971, when the seven sheikhdoms of the Persian Gulf formed the federation known as the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai were only beginning to reap the benefits of their oil wealth. By the start of the 21st century, both cities had high-rise skylines to rival Shanghai and Hong Kong. It is hard to think of another part of the world that has experienced such rapid change in modern times.

For Jo Tatchell, who lived in Abu Dhabi as a child in the 70s, and returned after graduating from university for a brief stint in the 90s, the pace of change is unsettling. A Diamond in the Desert is a welcome addition to the short list of books on Abu Dhabi. An independent journalist and author of an acclaimed book on Iraq (Nabeel’s Song: A Family Story of Survival in Iraq), Tatchell returned to Abu Dhabi to see what had become of the place and to resolve a dark story in her family’s past.

A Diamond in the Desert moves between past and present, as Tatchell tracks down old family friends and long-term expatriate residents in Abu Dhabi for their stories. She grows exasperated with a forward-looking society that shows so little concern for conserving its past, captured in her largely unsuccessful efforts to locate the UAE national press archive of “old” (ie dating back to independence in 1971) newspapers. She clearly has mixed feelings about the development of the Abu Dhabi archipelago. She remembered Saadiyat Island as a beach retreat for family picnics in the 70s, and tries to imagine the same spot transformed into a world-class cultural centre with branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim designed by signature architects.

It was, in fact, Saadiyat Island that was to be the centre of the family secret, after Tatchell’s brother witnessed a fatal boating accident there in 1994. He tried to help the injured, but discovered that one of the victims, a UAE citizen, had been nearly decapitated by an outboard motor propeller. Fearful lest he be blamed for the death of a local, and horrified by what he had witnessed, he left Abu Dhabi within the month, never to return. He did not mention the event until Tatchell’s return visit to write this book.

By the time AP journalist Jim Krane reached Dubai in January 2005, he was already faced with a boom town that had commandeered 10% of the world’s cranes to build its ambitions. Never having known the sleepy little port of the 60s, he comes to his subject unburdened with nostalgia. He is clearly fascinated by the story of how such a global city emerged from such unlikely foundations.

Written as a narrative history, Dubai: The Story of the World’s Fastest City begins with the emirate’s tribal and imperial history in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Even in the old days Dubai catered to conspicuous consumption, its early economy based on pearl diving. The crash of 1929 and the Japanese invention of cultured pearls meant that Dubai lost its primary export, and was forced back on its role as a regional port serving Iran, India and eastern Arabia.

The origins of modern Dubai lie in three radical expansions of its port facilities. In the late 50s, the ruler dredged Dubai creek to make the port accessible to deeper draft shipping. When the work was completed in 1961, Dubai was the most accessible and important port on the Trucial Coast. A decade later, Sheikh Rashid applied his country’s limited oil revenues to dredge a massive deep-water port, completed in 1971 and inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth in 1972. And in 1983, Dubai opened the world’s largest man-made harbour and one of the largest dry-dock facilities . . . one year before the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war entered a new stage in which they targeted oil tankers. The port facilities have been over-subscribed ever since. Dubai was open for trade.

Since the 90s, Dubai has really taken off: the creation of a media city, a technology city and an international finance centre governed by the laws of the City of London have all served to attract the global leaders in finance, IT and the press. The construction industry, building the sky-scrapers to house these new service industries, has boomed. Krane relates the stories behind the iconic super-luxury hotel, the Burj al-Arab, the construction of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai (burj is the Arabic word for “tower”), the Palm project – a residential and tourism complex of man-made islands for the super rich – and many other excesses that have kept Dubai in the world’s eye.

Both books approach their subjects through the lens of visionary leaders. The late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan is credited with both holding the young United Arab Emirates together after the British withdrawal in 1971, and with overseeing the development of his own state during his 38-year reign (1966-2004). The current standard-bearer of the Al Nahyan vision is his son, the crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, who Tatchell says “wants to go down in history as the man who took his people into a new age of enlightenment”. Dubai is treated as the brainchild of Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum (who ruled from 1958 to 1990) and his capable son, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler. Yet the books also tell of the loyal lieutenants, the elites of the emirates, who realised the leaders’ vision. And both Tatchell and Krane dwell at some length on the emirates’ poor record on the treatment of the migrant labourers who build, clean and service these exuberant cities.

After so many years of boom, the bust of 2008 has cast a heavy shadow over Abu Dhabi and Dubai – Dubai in particular. Suddenly, the thriving property market was revealed to be a pyramid scheme and collapsed. Huge infrastructural projects were abandoned. Businesses went broke, workers were laid off. Retailers were hard hit, and the enormous new malls teeter on the brink of failure. Dubai turned to Abu Dhabi for a bail-out. It is still too early to determine how deep the recession will prove in the Emirates, and if Abu Dhabi intends to use its new leverage over Dubai to bring its upstart neighbour into line, or to enjoy a larger cut of the profits when Dubai recovers.

Neither Krane nor Tatchell speculates on what the future holds for the most globalised corner of the Arab world. It is enough that they tell the fascinating story of how Abu Dhabi and Dubai reached the current crossroad. Engagingly written and sympathetic to their subjects, both A Diamond in the Desert and Dubai will be welcome additions to the cabin baggage of the many western visitors to the Emirates.

Source: Book Review From Guardian.co.uk

Be it deserts, beaches or mountains, Dubai has it all. With its dazzling gold markets, Dubai is also nicknamed as the city of gold. Dubai has retained its traditional values and it still has been successful in emerging as a cosmopolitan city. It is hard to believe that the lustrous landscape of Dubai is actually situated in the Arabian Desert. There are no (natural) water bodies here, except for the Dubai creek. A port named Jebel Ali is the largest port in the world which is man made. The national language of Dubai is Arabic, but English is spoken by most of the people working in the service industry. There are certain objects like knives, alcohol, drugs, etc that should not be carried by a tourist while he is touring Dubai. The national currency of United Arab Emirates is Dirham. Credit cards are accepted even in the local shops. In Dubai you can get a driving license by exchanging it with your existing driving license (of your home country). There are few countries like Italy, United States, Singapore, etc whose residents can exchange their licenses to get a driving license in Dubai. Dubai has numerous clubs and restaurants where people can relax with their family and these places are thronged by the tourists.

Dubai these days is not accounted as a desert city anymore. It has carved a niche for itself in the world tourism industry. Dubai attracts a lot of wealthy travelers, and therefore it is bursting with hotels and shopping malls. Get in contact with a car rental company and then they will pick you up in a posh Bentley straight from the airport. If the company is given prior notice then you can have a chauffeur at your service throughout your entire stay in the city. Once you are in the regal sanctuary of your hotel, then it is time to check out the places meant for shopping. The best part about shopping in Dubai is the fact that it is completely tax free. No wonder tourists want to grab gold products with such vigor. Exclusive markets for gold can be found in Dubai.

If you head towards the district of bur Dubai then do not forget to step in the Burjuman centre and get some designer items from fashion

Dubai Shopping

The Burj al Arab which means the tower of Arab in Arabic is the basically a hotel in the city of Dubai. According to the statistics, it is the second tallest building on earth which is utilized as a hotel. The Burj Al Arab is situated on an artificial island in the Jumeirah beach. The Burj al Arab is in the shape of a sail in a boat and it also displays the modernity of Dubai. The height of this astounding building is about three hundred meters. The hotel has two hundred and two suites which are built in such a manner that it can appeal to the senses of visitors who come to stay here from various parts of the world. Every floor has got a reception so that the requirements of customers are adequately taken care of. Each suite has a chic entertainment system where all the satellite channels are available with the click of a button. A printer and fax machine is also present at every suite.

Burl Al Arab

The minimum amount that you have to shell out for a one night stay in the hotel is one thousand dollars and the prices can go up to a maximum range of thirty thousand dollars. The interiors of the suites have an amazing combination from both the eastern and western architecture. Al muntaha is one of the restaurants in Burj Al Arab and one can get an excellent view of Dubai from here. Al mahara which is another restaurant in this hotel is voted as one of the best restaurants in the world. There is a humungous aquarium inside this restaurant, which is definitely a treat for the eyes. The Burj Al Arab hotel has also attracted a lot of criticism as it showcases the wealth of the city unapologetically with a high degree of flamboyance.

Everybody may not be familiar with the concept of serviced apartments, however serviced apartments are getting a more and more popular status in Dubai and are frequented by every type of traveler. Serviced apartments can be considered as a private version of hotels and a homely atmosphere is a definite plus. Once in a week the apartment is cleaned and towels/bedspreads are changed whenever requested. Serviced apartments are different in terms of their size. For example, according to your requirement you can rent the number of bedrooms considered necessary by you. Studio apartments are also available for rent. If you fancy a wonderful villa for your holiday, then you can fulfill your desire by renting a serviced villa, which is replete with personal garden and swimming pool. The charges for serviced apartments depends on many factors like its location, number of bedrooms, etc. a studio apartment can rented for a measly sum of one hundred dollars per night! And that is a deal, you would definitely want to seal on your next visit to Dubai.

Most of the serviced apartments have additional facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and special section for children to play. So now you do not have to miss your daily exercise regime and even your kids can have a gala time at the playroom. A little amount of research on the service providers for serviced apartments would reveal that some of them even offer internet access with a computer. There are no restrictions on the number of days that one must reside in these apartments. According to your schedule you can stay for even a single day in a serviced apartment. Customer services are impeccable in the serviced apartments and they are available at your beck and call twenty four hours a day. All the well known service providers for serviced apartments have their presence in the internet in the form of their company’s website. It is advisable to make an advance booking for the apartments as during peak season it can turn out to be an uphill task to find a place for yourself, if prior bookings are not done. Just log in to any of their website, choose the place and make the payment online. And voila! Your arrangements for accommodation are done in an affordable price.

The economy of Dubai is thriving due to the scope it provides for conducting various forms of business. The government puts in a lot of effort so that there is no dearth of business opportunities in the country. To start a business in Dubai one needs to acquire a sponsor, if the venue for business is not deemed as a free zone. Even to conjure up a business in the free zone requires humongous amount of capital. A sponsor chosen by you must be a citizen of United Arab Emirates.

It would be viable to choose a sponsor who can boast of influential contacts, as this factor would help the business in many ways. A certain amount of fees needs to be compensated to the sponsor and in some cases some profit percentage is handed over to the sponsor. With a sponsor by your side, the step is to obtain a trade license. Since Arabic is the language used by most of the government officials, it would be wise if you can manage to get a local person to accompany you so that language does not become a barrier. As far as employees of your organization are concerned, a certain portion of the employee must be a United Arab Emirates citizen.

Real estate is a booming industry in Dubai. And many people choose real estate as their mode of business. In the travel industry, the emirates airlines and a couple of other travel agents are ruling the roost, so there is a lot of scope to dig deeper into the field of travel and tourism. In the year of 1992, the economic department was established by the government of Dubai so that the trading industry can develop in emirates. All the business registrations need to be done in the economic department itself. Once all the documents are submitted and approved by the required authorities, then licenses are handed over to the company. The process followed by the department is quite speedy and work is completed in a timely manner. Businesses which are done under free zone do not need to follow the company laws. The Jebel Ali free zone allows outsiders to set up business in Dubai, and they do not need to pay taxes on the profit earned by them. Free zone entity license is required for operating business in the free zone and they need to be renewed every year.

As the proof of any pudding is in the eating, the best way to try out the Trunki is to put it to a real world test. So this pudding had the following ingredients

1. Two Children , 4 and 1 ½

2. A number of long haul flights Manchester to Dubai , Dubai to Pakistan and back again

3. One Trunki

4. Two Parents

5. Airport madness

So how did it fare? As the Trunki is something a child can immediately identify with the first problem is keeping the kids away from the Trunki until the big day of travel. Trunki is not only something to keep your child occupied with, it can have it’s practical uses too – ours was used to pack a change of clothes and shoes as well as the usual toys for the journey. The locking system on the Trunki feels sturdy and even has a key, a plastic one (the kind you will find on children’s toys), so it’s easy to use and does the job of locking the Trunki.

Something that was to become a familiar sound was “Have you got my Trunki?”, there was no way we could have forgotten it at any point of the journey.

At the airport check-in modern technology outdid Trunki in the keep the kids quiet stakes and the Trunki came into it’s own acting as a seat, a toy, even something for the toddler to pull his sister along on.

A quick check-in however means one thing, more time to spend waiting for boarding and there is only so much time you can spend at Duty Free. So Trunki was a welcome distraction, it was good to use as a seat to take photos and as a nice ride through the Airport. On the aeroplane the Trunki can be stored in the overhead luggage compartments or under the seats and we used both storage spaces. However, having it in under the seat in front of you was a little restrictive due to it’s size.

Off the plane and out of the Airport the Trunki is a great way to teach responsibility to your child. Having something that is specifically theirs means toys, books and some clothes can be stored away in the Trunki saving a big mess in the Hotel. It is amazing how something so small can give a sense of ownership to a child, just try it and see.

With all the extras (yes there is more) that come with Trunki such as the Trunki passport and the ability to download goodies from the Trunki website , Trunki is more then just a gimmick – it really adds to a childs travel experience.

For more information on Trunki and how you can get your hands on one visit the official Trunki website

The highlight of all this was the fireworks display which cost millions and was said to be the bigger and than the Olympics opening. People were paying up to 1000 Dhs for a table in Dubai Marina just to see the fireworks go off a few miles off the coast at The Atlantis Dubai. For those of you who didn’t manage to see them of off enjoy the videos below which show you just what you missed.