Dubai...$80 billion later

- This is the first country for a while where I've been able to get a proper salad...(you'd be shocked the things that have been called "salads" in other countries.)
- A very international country. 41 different languages spoken just in Dubai alone! And only 6% of the population in this city are citizens of United Arab Emirates, the resta re immigrants here for business, travel, etc.
- To open a business here as a foreigner you need a local sponsor; someone from this country to say that they support the business you are bringing into the country. In turn, the sponsor owns 51% of the company...on paper that is. In theory this has been put in place by the government to protect the interests of the citizens, but what actually ends up happening is big business come in and pay a local anywhere from $10-50K per year, depending on the size of the business to endorse them on paper.
-Interestingly, as international as this city is you see very little conflict culturally on the streets...perhaps that is because almost everyone here is a "foreigner". The population of Indians is the highest, Pakistanis bringing in a close second and Filipinos coming in with a strong third. Here I see Indians EVERYWHERE !! Although Indians owned most of the businesses in Uganda and South Africa has the highest population of Indians outside of India, I saw very little of them aside from their strong influence on the cuisine. This it would seem because they owned the businesses rather than having the face-to-face with the customers. Lincoln said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "...any man can endure adversity, but if you want to know a man's character give him power."
- There have been places that I've traveled that I would love to go back to for a vacation, but this is the first city I've been to where I can realistically see myself living and working in.
- I thought Dubai would be like a larger version of Vegas and was preparing myself for that especially after flying here from Africa, but what I found was quite the contrary.
- Dubai maybe in debt to the tune of $80 billion conjuring up images of decadence and over indulgence, and yes that is here. In fact you don't have to search very far for it, but you do need to search. What I had pictured was hotel after hotel sparkling sending your system into sensory overload. They are here...just more spread out and the sparkles are on the inside:)
-Btw, a good portion of that debt that Dubai has asked for an extension on repaying (sending everyone clutching their purses) is because Dubai's government invested in hotel shares in the U.S....namely MGM, Bellagio and the like. (Ironic don't you think.) Since the crisis Dubai has canceled "The World" project (where man made island would have been constructed to mimic a map of the world). Construction cranes perch atop every other building waiting patiently for people to feel secure enough to indulge once again...and they will:)