This picture above is one of the military on board our ship for protection. Deck 5 is closed to all passengers and water guns are ready if there is an attack by pirates. A couple other ships were attacked near us while we were in Fujairah. Military ships are near by if there is a problem. I feel very safe and I am not worried.

Dubai is one of seven Emirates. Each Emirate has a tribe that selects a prince as their leader to run the Emirate and together the seven princes make decisions for the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the largest of the Emirates and has the most oil. Only three Emirates have oil. Saudi Arabia borders the UAE and has the most oil. The UAE has gone from camels and living in tents to seeding clouds to make it rain in the last 50 years.

There are 950 skyscrappers in Dubai. It is said that one third of the cranes in the world are in Dubai. Dubai plans to finish the tallest building in the world by 2020.

Burj Al Arab has 56 floors and is 1,053 feet tall.  It is designed to look like a sail ship.  Every room is a suite with a butler.  The least expensive room is $1,300 per night in the off season and doubles in price during high season. The island that the Burj sits on is reclaimed land.  The Middle East and Asia are reclaiming land at a rapid pace, building new homes for their expanding populations.  I had High Tea on the top floor with a beautiful view of the city. The beach area was also built with reclaimed land and the UAE imports sand from Nigeria because their sand is too fine.

The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building that is 2,716 feet tall. The race to build the tallest building in Asia and the Middle East is really amazing to me.

Jumeirah Mosque is one of many mosques in this city.

Madinat Souq is part of old Dubai and is a shopping area along Dubai Creek with scattered restaurants.

I took a Dhow cruise, a traditional Arab sailing vessel, around Dubai Creek which is a natural seawater inlet.  It cut through the center of the city.  You see new Dubai on one side and the historical district on the other. I always enjoy this type of boat tour.

The Al Bastakiya is a small section of the city that has been declared a heritage area.  This area offers a glimpse back in time with historical homes built by wealthy Persian merchants. Prince Charles encouraged the Prince of Dubai not to tear all the old down when he was rebuilding this city in the 70s. A man lives in his bedouin tent with his camels in the historic area.

I really enjoyed the Dubai Museum. There were many booths documenting life as it was before 1970. Fifteen percent of Dubia’s population are native citzens called locals  and they are all millionaires driving high end cars from the oil money.   The other 85% are migrant workers who must have a job, health insurance and housing to come to the city.

SALALAH, Oman lies between the Dhofar Mountaains on one side and the blue waters of the Arabian Sea on the other. There is a great stretch of palm-fringed beaches. Oil money pays for homes for citizens, education, roads and health care. The most unique thing I saw were camels running in packs everywhere.

Girls and boys go to seperate schools at the age of 10 and then return together in the universities.  There are separate doors for the girls to enter the buildings and girls sit in the back of the classroom. Our guide was proud that women could drive and were equal when applying for jobs.  Marriages are still arranged and men can have up to four wive but most men only have one wife. This was a very strict Muslim country and I never saw a women during our tour.

 

Job lived in this area and I visited his grave. There was a beautiful olive tree near by.