Now sorry for the rush but here are just a few quick ‘take-aways’ from the last 10 days in Dubai.
First all the preparations are in place for a National Day on December 2nd which will dwarf ANYTHING that had previously been seen in the UAE. It is their 40th Anniversary of Independence (or more correctly formation). The flags and evidence of what is to come is abundantly visible throughout the Emirate in every petrol station, shopping mall and retail outlet in Dubai. No escape. It will be a night/day to remember. 40 years old. Well done to Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammad. And of course their fathers, Sheikh’s Rashid and Zayed (who was the founding father of the UAE)
But whatever this day transforms into, it will be over-shadowed by an even greater Anniversary. Yes there is something with even a GREATER financial budget than the resources of the UAE. And again I am unfortunately going to miss it. Yes McGettigans pub at the Bonnington Hotel in Jumeirah Lake Towers, is ONE YEAR this week. And to celebrate ???? Well THREE days of celebration. Well done to the Irish. And to Dennis, Jim and the entire (lovely) family. BUT ONLY the IRISH know how to have a REAL party ………………. and to think that McGettigans is just a pub within an hotel – which itself if more than two years old. What next ?? An anniversary party for the kitchen in the hotel !!!
Another celebration being heralded in Dubai is the extraordinary success of the Dubai Metro. It is now, apparently (my arithmetic does not support this), taking in (ie revenue) AED 7 million per DAY. Whatever the figure it is a wonderful mode of transport – and YES I HAVE used it !!!
And this week one of the projects I ‘originated and proposed’ to the Dubai Government, has been passed for implementation. Yes, sorry to all the future visitors to Dubai, because in future you will/may have to have an alcohol licence to consume alcohol in the Emirate – even if you are only visiting for a day and fancy a glass of wine with your evening meal. Yep Euro 10 for a week and Euro 15 for a fortnight – and you can drink ‘till you fall’ and know that you will not be arrested. I should have taken a percentage of ‘revenues’ rather than the modest fee coming my way !!!! BUT remember the next time you are putting your hand in your pocket in Dubai to pay for the ‘right to drink’ ……………………….. the idea came from an Irishman !!!!!
And finally I had a lucky break last Monday. There I was wandering through the Al Qsar Hotel (saying ‘Salamalicum’ to all my friends when there before me appeared the ‘vision’. Yep this stunningly gorgeous female. Everything perfect. Yes EVERYTHING. And then a quick look to her left and there was this scruffy far less good looking guy. Not that this is surprising in Dubai. But this guy looked too young to have ‘the money’. Well how wrong I was. It was only when I met another friend of mine in the cafe and said to me ‘did you see him’ (and my reply ‘NO I saw HER !!!) ?? Thankfully the name Rory McIlroy did mean something to me. But I still don’t know her name !!! But whatever she did for him, he certainly looks good in China this week in his latest tournament.
