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Published: December 12th 2009
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Media City
Not a bad place to work! I first visited Dubai longer ago than I care to remember. Well actually I can't remember the year but I vaguely recollect that Emirates launched that year with a single second hand plane. According to wikipedia that was October 1985 so it must be true. Wherever possible we took the British Caledonian, Hong Kong flight which had a refuelling stop in Dubai. It was always cheaper and less crowded than BA and used modern DC-10's (all long since scrapped I'm sure). The airport at the time was single runway, single terminal, with only a handful of planes on the tarmac most of the time. One thing which sticks in my mind is stepping out of the aircraft cabin to walk down the steps for the first time and being hit in the face by the heat and humidity.
Back then, Dubai felt more like a large town than a city. The Creek was the clear division between the two halves and although the central areas were built up and relatively busy, it was only a 5 minute drive to "the edge of town". Which meant desert of course. Back then we hired a car and drove to work every day,
New Dubai
From my hotel room then out for dinner at whichever hotel had a buffet special that evening.
Today the highways look like LA and the traffic is a cross between California and Mumbai. I think hiring a car is out of the question! I'm only here for three days and staying well outside the city, so no time to explore anyway. Most hotels charge Manhattan prices (or at least they did until things started to fall apart a few weeks ago.....) but I'm staying at the Media One hotel which is sort of half open. They've done a soft launch, so only four floors are finished, the bar is still under wraps and the staff are learning the ropes. On the plus side, it's all new and shiny, the towels are fluffy and they are charging 50% less than the Radisson down the road. In short, a bargain, but it probably won't stay that way next Spring.
The hotel was within 5 minutes walk of MBC where I was working. The route is around the artificial lake at the centre of Media City although there seems to be some kind of conspiracy to block my route. Hundreds of workers are building a
massive stage in the park in readiness for the forthcoming Eid celebrations I suspect. Each day, more of the pathways and tracks are closed so by Day 3 I decide to march confidently through the front gate of the building site and of course no-one says a word. Even more confident on the return walk in the dark, I re-trace my steps and end up on the wrong side (the inside!) of a 10 foot high padlocked gate. The hotel's just across the street but cursing silently I have to go all the way back and start again. Fortunately the other gate is still open and I don't have to swim the lake to escape!
On the last morning with a few minutes to spare, I ask the taxi driver to take me back via the Al Maktoum Bridge. In the mid eighties this was the only bridge across the Creek - at the time I think it was two lanes each way - now increased to 5 or 6 each way. Finally I spot one building that I recognise: the old Dubai Radio & TV station alongside the bridge. Happy Days!
Seems like every year around this time I pass through Bahrain Airport, and yes, the same grubby plastic Santas are on display outside duty free. They certainly set the standard for the rest of the airport!
One observation, and this only struck me when I reached the inside of Dubai Terminal 1 - I hadn't heard a single call to prayer during those three days until it came over the speakers inside the terminal. Now in 25 years, that's a big change.
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Einass Magdi
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Haha, I like your article. Funny :P