A few weeks ago, I wrote about my first day in the land of shopping and dreams that is Dubai. This time, I will write how my second and third, rather intensive days were spent.
Our first appointment was a visit to the Emirates Holidays headquarters in downtown Jumeirah and I had been eagerly awaiting this opportunity to speak to some of the top executives who have transformed this city into a tourist paradise.
We met Frederic Bardan in his large office in the famous Emirates Tower building and he immediately got talking about Emirates Holidays and their safari arm, Arabian Adventures. It was fascinating to learn how luxury and culture are mixed to provide a perfect cocktail in the rather forbidding atmosphere of the desert. Emirates have four resorts in the pipeline – the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, Emirates Marina Serviced Apartments and Spa and Emirates Park Towers Hotel and Spa. The Al Maha Resort and Spa is up and running and one has to see it to appreciate what a place like this offer. With a possible three opening this year, the discerning tourist is truly in for a treat.
After bidding farewell to Mr Bardan, it was off to the fabled Al Maha Resort and Spa, the first time a Maltese group of journalists had ever been to this luxurious palace-like resort. After about a half hour drive through the desert, we arrived at the resort and it was what one can only term as beyond your wildest dreams. The magnificent finishing, the sense of serenity provided by running water in the entrance hall and the luxury oozing out of every corner makes one feel one is in a dream world.
We were then taken on a short tour of the resort, which was constructed in just 18 months – a collaboration between Emirates architects Schuster Pechtold and Partners and Arabtec, the main contractors. Apparently, the original concept was conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum himself and the place lacks nothing, it is a true oasis in the desert. We were then treated to a sumptuous lunch and after that there was time to relax by the pool or in one of the many massage chairs that dot the public rooms in the resort as we waited for the much anticipated desert safari.
At around 4.30pm, our cheerful driver arrived in a forbidding GM 4X4 and it was off to “dune bashing”, which was more of a stomach bashing! This consists of performing all sorts of vehicle acrobatics in the midst of the desert and believe me, it’s quite a harrowing experience but great fun. There was time to watch a stupendous sunset in the desert after being whisked away to another lavish barbecue right in the middle of nowhere, actually in one of the “tents” operated by Arabian Adventures where there was also belly dancing and hookah smoking to add to the entertainment. After all this, it was back to the hotel at around 11pm for a well-earned rest after what must have been one of the most unusual days in my life.
Tuesday morning dawned hot and sticky as usual and our first stop was at the Emirates Training College where we had the opportunity to meet one of the high ranking officials of Emirates Airlines, that is Clifford Chetcuti, our own Maltese training captain. Affable, confident and supremely professional, Mr Chetcuti took us around the college and even showed us the various flight simulators (not computer games, but real ones) for which he is responsible and on which all pilots are trained. It was a proud moment for us to see how this Maltese pilot has risen to the very top of his profession and is currently in charge of the training of all Emirates pilots. He feels very much at home in Dubai, having lived there for over 12 years and together with his brother Paul, there is that feeling of camaraderie and companionship. This is where dreams really do come true if one adapts to the different culture and lifestyle in Dubai.
We next visited the gigantic Emirates Engineering Centre at Dubai International Airpiort where massive hangars and storage facilities are the order of the day. To get an idea of the space I’m talking about, we had to cross the place in a small buggy and even that took us almost an hour! And just for your information, Emirates are planning an even bigger centre to be built at Jebel Ali Airport very soon, which will be the largest airport in the world, or so I’m told.
Our final stop for the day, after a sumptuous lunch at the hotel, was doing what everyone comes to Dubai for and that is shopping. ‘Do-buy’ could have hardly been a more appropriate synonym for this Emirate. First we were taken to the Madinat Jumeirah Shopping Centre, rather upmarket but also full of bargains and set in an absolutely stunning location, the design takes you back to the old palaces of a bygone era. Then it was off to the legendary Emirates Mall for shopping and with over 300 outlets to choose from, one could not go amiss and the group ended up loaded with all sorts of goodies including digital cameras, clothes, household goods – you name it!
As the morning dawned, it was off to the airport to begin our long journey home, however time does not drag when flying in an Emirates first class cabin and the incredible quality of service. I can only say that the trip to Dubai was a magnificent experience, an opportunity to sample living at the very highest level imaginable and I obviously recommend it to anyone who has the chance to spend a few days in the land of dreams that is Dubai.