Loading Oil in Dubai
I used to describe Dubai in two contrasting ways. Dubai was the Singapore of the Middle East and also the New Orleans of the Middle East. This was before Hurricane Katrina.
The Singapore reference is fairy obvious. Dubai is the business and shopping hub of the Middle East. Dubai’s rapid five star development has received a lot of recent attention. Michael Jackson shops there now.
The New Orleans reference is less obvious. Friends have suggested Las Vegas of the Middle East. I disagree. It’s not a “What happens in Dubai stays in Dubai” kind of place. And it doesn’t have the decadence of Las Vegas. It’s much more discreet. For the Middle East, Dubai is a New Orleans kind of city. It’s a place to go to relax, unwind a bit and enjoy life. Dubai is a place where the rules are just little more relaxed than at home. It’s not that the rules don’t apply; it’s more that people are just a little more forgiving, just a little more tolerant. A place where it’s just a little bit easier to see people as just fellow human beings trying to get by. Dubai is the New Orleans of the Middle East and that’s a good thing.
With all the glitter of modern Dubai, a place not to be missed is the Dhow docks. Right in the heart of the city on the banks of Dubai Creek, the Dubai Dhow docks are a part of maritime transportation network that anchors this city to the Arabian Gulf.
Strolling along the Dhow docks was a favorite thing to do in Dubai. If you are visiting Dubai you shouldn’t miss it. Dhows come from all over the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea; Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Oman. You will see every imaginable type of cargo being loaded and unloaded. The crews lounge onboard or relax in small groups by the docks. Stop and enjoy shawarma and a fresh fruit cocktail. Relax and watch life on the creek. It’s a world away from Emirates Tower and the glitter of Sheikh Zayed Road.
I have posted some pictures taken on the Dhow docks in Dubai and Sharjah in Dubai Dhow Docks a PhotoSet on Flickr. Please check them out
Several Dubai Dhow Tour operators frequently use this comment space to solicit customers. While I have had several very pleasant tour cruises, I do not recall the operators and am not in a position to endorse any. I remove the offending comments when I see them but should I miss one for a few days, please consider any referral appearing here has my negative endorsement. I encourage readers to avoid any operator attempting to promote their business here.
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