Saturday, August 30, 2008

Dubai International Airport





Every time I pass through Dubai Airport, I get remembered of some of the horror experiences I have gone through at some of the other 'international' airports around the world (about 27 if remember right) and then sit back and relish the experience of Dubai!!


Dubai International Airport is probably one of the best airports in the world (the new Hong Kong Airport is another fav). I think its very efficient (though some friends of mine disagree) in terms of processing though the sheer size makes one walk around too much. It has the most comprehensive duty free area and great deals too. Last year I believe the airport handled 37 million passengers (which stood at 18 million at the end of 2003)

Even though the airport will soon be bursting at its seems, I still think the flow from end to end is still very good. The floor guides are also very good at their job.

This airport may soon be overtaken by the new airport being constructed at Jebel Ali on the outskirts of Dubai. The Al Maktoum International Airport will have 6 parallel runways and up to 4 aircraft will be able to land simultaneously.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Dubai's rising inflation....

Nothing highlights Dubai's inflations woes more than this simple parking rental ticket. Imagine my surprise at being charged AED 10/- just to park my car for a few minutes!! Look closer and you will note that the monthly rental is AED1200/-. Thats almost the same as the rent I paid for my small studio apartment only a few years ago!!

Official figures put the inflation figure at about 12% but the real figure could be as high as 18%. This of course depends on the cost components under the Consumer Price Index and the relative weightage to each component.

One thing is for sure. Cost of parking is certainly not part of the CPI.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Dubai Rising



Dubai Marina is probably one of the most luxurious residential areas of Dubai. This man made marina area is also considered the most desirable and sought after lifestyle area.


I love to walk along the beautiful waterfront areas dotted with coffee shops and shining white yatchs. Its a very relaxing experience after a busy day and a walk around the place is very soothing. A lot of the construction still continues in the area and the noise can sometimes by a bit of a problem.


A small single bedroom area will make you poorer by as much as $42,000/- per annum



Monday, August 11, 2008



"Oh that the desert were my dwelling place,
With only one fair spirit for my minster.
That I might forget the human race,
And hating no one, love her only."
- Lord Byron
These views of the desert are what you will see on the regular 'desert safari' in Dubai

Thursday, August 7, 2008

UAE at the Olympics

On the eve of the 2008 Olympics, its only apt that we discuss the hopes and aspirations of UAE at Beijing.
UAE is a relatively recent entrant into the Olympic arena having participated for the first time at the 1984 Summer Olympics at Los Angeles. But since than it's athletes have made their mark with the first gold medal claimed within 20 years at the Athens Olympics.
When Shaikh Ahmad Al Maktoum won the gold medal in the Men's Double Trap event, it was a turning point in the history of sports in the country.
As UAE's sporting warriors embark upon yet another journey at Beijing, the residents wait in hope of a scintillating performance (and at least another medal)
Here is a list of UAE's medal hopefuls:
Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid
Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid will be leading the team as the flag bearer at the opening ceremony. The captain of UAE's national ladies team in martial arts will compete for victory in the 67 kgs taekwondo category. A versatile exponent of martial arts, she won the silver medal in karate in the 2006 Asian Games
Shaikh Ahmed Al Maktoum
Shaikh Ahmed will be back at the Olympics to defend the gold medal he won 4 years back. “Any time I have gone out, I have felt it is my duty and responsibility to add something new to my life and bring glory and honour to my country,” said Shaikh Ahmad in Gulf News (www.gulfnews.com)
Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al-Maktoum
Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al-Maktoum will be participating in the Olympics for the third time after making his debut at the Sydney in 2000. He won the gold at the 2006 Asian shooting Championships in 2003 and silver at the Doha Asian Games in 2006
A bounty of 1 million dirhams awaits a gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics.... and pride and glory for all of UAE
This will probably the only post without photos!!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

He then took the remaining material and shaped it into a date palm





Legend has it that after God had created man from the earth, he took the remaining material and shaped it into a date palm and placed it in the Garden of Paradise.

The Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm that is cultivated all over the gulf for its fruit. These trees are believed to have originated in the Persian Gulf and have been cultivated ever since ancient times, from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt.

The date palm tree is extremely popular for its fruit and is known to have several hundred other uses including lumber, mattresses, rope and baskets.

The date palm trees are popular across the city of Dubai and also seen extensively across the desert areas on the outskirts.


The local emaratis are very passionate about their date heritage. One local, Mohammad Atiq Al Hamili recently purchased 810 baskets of dates for $273,000 at the recently concluded Fourth Liwa Dates Festival.

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