Why I Love Dubai and The United Arab Emirates

When I first set foot in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa was only a few floors complete. There was no Dubai Marina, no artificial islands. Apart from Burj Al Arab, the old town, and Sheikh Zayed Road, there was nothing much around. The city grew in my eyes, and during this time I was going through moments of fascination, boredom, and aversion, to total love for this place.

Because Dubai is like a poker game. You can monitor it closely, expect anything and it will still surprise you eventually.

But not with some random stuff.

It will finally pull an ace out of his sleeve — be it in the form of flying taxis, projects related to the colonization of Mars, or fascinating architectural gems breaking new Guinness records.

This specific city has risen from the sand in the last 30–40 years. Two decades ago, there was only a small settlement here — forgotten by the world, built on the shores of the bay, on the edge of a vast desert. At a time when other countries were sending rockets to the moon, the people of Dubai were living a peaceful life under the shade of date palms. Probably not much would have changed, had it not been for the contact of the then Sheikh of Dubai with foreigners. They were the ones who told him about skyscrapers in New York or the subway in London.

- One day you will see that there will be beautiful gardens and tall buildings here. — it is said that the Sheikh used to say to his friend, a salesman in a shop where — through binoculars with sliding pictures, he admired urban agglomerations he had never known before.

The vision of Dubai as a city that everyone talks about has become the Sheikh’s dream; The British over a pint, farmers in India, workers in China, bankers in Switzerland.

With a bit of discovered oil and careful investments, Rashid’s dreams came true. Today Dubai is what most cities in the world are not. In several decades, it swallowed the desert and became a cosmopolitan metropolis of the 21st century. It is a place where East meets West, past meets modernity, and technology meets tradition. It is a well-functioning financial center, a symbol of luxurious life, and a dream destination for tourists who will find everything here: from unimaginable luxuries, through adventures and shopping, to culinary and cultural tours.

I heard once that “Dubai is a state of mind. You may hate it or love it, but it’s a perfect example of what a city should be like in the 21st century. Technologically advanced, caring for society, far beyond our imagination and always one step ahead. “ This state of mind mentioned by my interlocutor can be partially found in the attitude “everything is possible”. It was initiated by Sheikh Rashid and continued by his successors. It is enough to look at the photos from the 90s to believe that in this city, but also Abu Dhabi — the only limit is human imagination. Because it’s hard not to admire these inspiring cities for their ambitious futuristic visions and constantly looking into the future with your head held high.

It is worth remembering that despite these constant changes, deliberations, and bold decisions, the Emirates do not forget about their inhabitants. In February 2016, Sheikh Mohammed, the president of the UAE, established the Ministry of Happiness and the Ministry of Tolerance to ensure the satisfaction and well-being of society, as well as the centuries-old tradition of tolerance, which is the symbol of the country. It did not take long for the results to appear, because in 2019 the UAE was recognized as one of the happiest and safest countries in the world.

All Emirates, even those with slower development, have something special about them. More modest than neighboring Dubai, Sharjah is the cultural capital of the region, Ras Al Khaimah is a base for rocky mountains, and Fujairah is famous for its vast beaches and diving trips. Umm Al Quwain and Ajman are the smallest emirates in the country, but they too are teeming with life. Although the other Emirates are significantly different from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they still fascinate with a cheerful atmosphere and, despite being strongly rooted in the Islamic tradition, openness to people from all over the world. Each step in any corner of the country is a unique journey in time (yes, also to the future) and an opportunity to look at the harmoniously functioning cultural dynamism. This diversity brings, among others, something that will appeal to gourmets, namely the cuisine of the world, as well as shopping that, thanks to a wide range of products, becomes real fun. Add to that the sunny weather, which, apart from the summer months, is ideal for all kinds of activities, and a dream vacation is just around the corner.

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About me: My name is Joanna Skladanek. I was born in Poland but for the last 15 years, I’ve worked as a flight attendant and was based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I studied Tourism, as well as Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. I am a photographer, writer, and content creator (mainly) on Instagram. On Medium I will write about everything that interests me: traveling, photography, cultures, wellness, self-improvement, self-development, and a tiny bit of fictional short stories.

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