Two Observations about Dubai

Two quick observations from two days in Dubai.

It was my first time back to Dubai in many years, but luckily I still know some great people here. And it was fascinating to take the temperature on how things have been changing. Sure, everywhere has its downsides, and Dubai is no exception. But in a world where openness and diversity seem to be in retreat, Dubai has clearly been steadily moving in a progressive direction. Perhaps until now I’ve been guilty of only noticing all the glitz and the silliness of Dubai, and overlooking the fact that maybe its heart is in the right place…

While I enjoy taking the temperature figuratively, I’m not quite so keen on the literal version when the answer is 45°C. You might think that July is a crazy time to visit Dubai, and you’d be absolutely correct. But at the same time there are fewer people here in the summer, so crowds are thinner, queues are shorter, and traffic is lighter. Having largely stuck to indoor activities, I feel better off coming now rather than contending with the masses in February. So I’ve been one happy traveler, and especially grateful to everyone who went out of their way to say hello in person.


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