"Gateway to the Middle East" a Dubai Travel Page by BorneoGrrl

The first time I arrived in Dubai, I was amazed at how the city sort of sprung out from the desert, like a gigantic oasis surrounded by modern buildings and luxurious hotels plus the over-the-top shopping malls where you can do just about anything from shopping to skiing, for a price of course. I would've never guessed I was in the middle east by the view from my air conditioning chilled hotel room.

Not only that, there are a number of nationalities working in Dubai, predominantly Asians just about everywhere (I could've sworn I was back in South East Asia). The main thing that separates here from South East Asia is the cost of living. The currency may be about the same as the Malaysian Ringgit but it will cost more than twice to do something or go somewhere. Still, it's still a good place for me for a stopover before I land in Africa

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Waiting for flight at DXB

Dubai is flash but ....

..... the city was built by foreigners. Modern & sophisticated buildings housing western & wealthy lifestyles are plenty but in between we can't ignore the others who participate in their creation. Every time I arrive at Dubai Airport, I can find some of them waiting for their flights, some even making themselves comfortable and sleeping on the floor. With posh lounges and expensive transit hotels exclusively available to the privileged few, I sure can understand why this scene is a norm