Dubai: A pleasant surprise!

Dubai: A pleasant surprise!

Thursday, October 29, 2020

 

Throughout my life I have worked in many tourist destinations and have been fortunate enough to visit just as many.

I have been in transit several times at Dubai airport and always told myself, "Next time I'll make a one-day stopover!"

In my subconscious, Dubai was a destination without history, recently built with oil money, where only modern buildings and state-of-the-art shopping malls existed. Furthermore, being a free trade zone for millionaires, it was expensive and inaccessible to the average person, which served as an excuse for systematically postponing such a visit.

Life takes many turns and, in the midst of the pandemic, Jervis won the representation of Dubai Tourism in Portugal. The lockdown prevented me from making the usual reconnaissance trip at the beginning of the contract, and therefore, I documented myself as best I could to be able to provide all services with the necessary professionalism. Although curiosity had grown, until last week, the basic idea built up over time hadn't changed significantly.

On October 23rd, I finally left for Dubai on a familiarization trip with 10 Portuguese tour operators.

The trip was only five days, but, as they say, "my jaw literally dropped."

Dubai is a destination with an amazing history, bringing together four products in a unique combination in the world:

       

● Historic Center;                                                      ● Downtown;

 

       

● Beach;                                                                     ● Desert.

From a landscape perspective, it's as if we've brought together Marrakech, New York, Marbella, and the Sahara in the same geographical space, but in a perfect combination. From a cultural point of view, it's a unique case of human reinvention, albeit within a very conservative Islamic religious context. And from a political point of view, it's the perfect example of how an absolute monarchy deserves the applause of local residents and international recognition.

In my contacts with Emiratis and resident foreigners, I observed that people live happily and with a good quality of life. There's a whole generation of European, American, and Asian Millennials who have found opportunities in Dubai that their own countries don't offer. And these aren't just economic opportunities. The climate, the exotic culture, and the dynamic professional landscape of a thriving economy are some of the attractions of this multicultural society, which nevertheless preserves unaltered ancestral values ​​and traditions.

My biggest challenge now will be explaining to the Portuguese that Dubai is much more than they could have imagined. Let's see if I can manage it!

Final note: The pandemic situation in Dubai is completely under control. Mask-wearing and social distancing protocols must be followed, with mandatory testing upon entry into the country, but the feeling of safety is widespread. Numerous families from all corners of the world have chosen to live in Dubai until the pandemic passes.

 

Rosário Louro