Dive the Desert - United Arab Emirates
Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on 15 June 2005
The first thing that a lot of my friends have said to me, especially those from the USA, is that I am crazy, mad, lucky I am not on an American passport, and also to be careful! First of all I would like to remove those misconceptions, and write a little about living in Dubai (one of the seven Emirates) and also some information about the diving here.
Dubai is a modern city, on the blue waters and clean sands of the Arabian Gulf, and it neighbours Oman and surrounding Emirates.
It is an explosive economy that is growing 20% each year. The first time I came here was in 1997, where I came to a trade show at the World Trade Centre, and it is unbelievable how the place has doubled in size since I was last here. Dubai itself has a population of some 30M, of which only 2,5M are actually local Emirati people. The Emirates survive on the input of workforce of expatriates, from all countries and all levels of people. Unlike popular belief, Dubai’s main income is from the financial sector, construction and tourism, whereas other gulf countries, for example Kuwait, are far richer than the Emirates due to oil production. Dubai is a tax-free country, and 1/3 of the world’s money goes through Dubai every day. It is fantastic to work here tax-free and save your money off-shore.
Passenger movement at the Dubai International Airport was expected to go up from 21.7 million in 2004 to 25 million this year, and 60 million by 2010, posing challenges on the security and safety fronts of airlines as well as passengers. Dubai is building a new Terminal 3 in its airport to cater for growth and also house the purchase and traffic of the new A380 Super Jumbo.
Dubai’s plan is to attract foreign investment, and gives tax benefits to companies who wish to relocate here from other continents. A new area of Dubai is being built, called the Jumeirah Beach Residence. Jumeirah Beach Residence is the opportunity of a lifetime. It is the only property that offers you a permanent beach resort lifestyle. It is a unique urban community including shopping malls (The Walk shopping mall), restaurants, cineplexes, sports and health clubs, schools, medical facilities, 4 hotels and offices.
Down the road you can visit the worlds largest shopping complex, due to complete in September 2005, called the Mall of the Emirates with over 350 shops and more than 2.4 million square feet of prime retail and leisure space, a 400 room hotel and a 400 metre long indoor ski slope & the largest single-level Carrefour hypermarket in the Middle East. No need to taxi around when you will be able to stay at the first Kempinski Resort (at the Mall of the Emirates) which is located on Sheikh Zayed Road. It features over 400 suites including prestigious duplex ski chalets offering unique or extraordinary views over the indoor ski resort which is also one of the worlds longest indoor ski slopes and a snow play area where children can experience winter with real snow. A great break from desert boarding!
The 48,000m² hotel will take pride of place at the forefront of the Mall with views over the Arabian Gulf. It will also including Ayurveda wellness centre, swimming pool and tennis courts.
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