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Writer's picturePedro Nunes

As-salaam 'alykum. Welcome to the UAE!

Updated: Jul 28, 2023

I was excited to go to the Emirates. My dad has visited this country many times and he talks about its leader a lot. His name is Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and my dad says he's a great man, a leader and a visionary.


"Dad, what does it say there?"



"The word impossible is not in the leaders' dictionaries. No matter how big the challenges, strong faith, determination and resolve will overcome them." - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum


I thought we were going to the desert and turns out, despite the desert being a reality here, it's a only a small part of what the Emirates actually is. Besides, we're going to the actual desert another day!


We went up the Burj Khalifa and saw the whole country from above. The buildings looked so small, and people looked like ants.




They also have these beautiful markets called souks, and beautiful unique Arab architecture. My dad says this country offers a unique perspective where you can at the same time see the 'old' and the 'new'.



And they taught me how to play the Arabic Oud!


Their food is also different and very good! My dad says that when we go to the desert we'll try even more new things. I'm excited!




The country was born from Bedouins, and up until relatively recently even the Sheikh had no electricity! And now they're one of the richest nations in the world, and thanks to their vision and leadership they're focused on the future and already have 3% of the Emirate of Dubai being powered by solar energy! They changed the physical and social landscape of the country and welcome people from all other world.



Things work differently here, and people dress differently. There are 7 Emirates, and in the Emirate of Dubai, there is 1 leader. Traditional roles are respected, and 5 times per day you can hear a sounding voice calling on people to pray, and they have these buildings called mosques that point at the sky and people gather there.



They built a mountain in the desert for people to ski even when it's hot, and they're building a bigger one, twice the size.


"Here when it's winter it doesn't snow so they made that to ski? Wow"


And more importantly, there's opportunity. And it is a very welcoming nation. About 89% of the population of the Emirates is from other countries!



Good night, Dubai!










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