Life in the United Arab Emirates is the whole package. It is competitive, challenging and interesting for those pursuing a career and employees are required to stay on top of their game. This is the place where residents work hard and have on hand every facility imaginable to play hard. Everyone is free to go out and about enjoying all that life has to offer at any time of the day or night in complete safety.
Personal freedoms are on par with those enjoyed by citizens of western democracies provided the country’s laws and norms are respected. Ours is a vibrant multicultural society where dozens of different languages can be heard and just about every cuisine on earth can be discovered. The #UAE plays host to over 200 different nationalities and is a magnet for tourists from all corners of the world attracted by pristine fine sand beaches and clear aquamarine waters, super-luxurious hotels as well as a wealth of sporting, shopping and entertainment facilities.
Here is where the daily round is made hassle-free. Telecommunication companies, banks, car hire firms, taxis and all other essential services can be communicated with online or can be found a stone’s throw away from most hotels and residences. Supermarket staff will carry your shopping to your car or when you are in the mood to put up your feet at home, you can order online or just dial a number. Petrol station employees will ‘fill her up’ and more often than not, you will drive away with a clean windscreen.
Envious critics claim we are spoilt. Why shouldn’t we be? I do not deny it. Who in the world would not want their daily chores minimised permitting extra time to socialise, to devote to sports and hobbies, to be entertained or just to have fun!
When I was a boy we had to concentrate on survival first and foremost. We had to gather dates to feed our camels, tend to our goats, catch fish to eat, dig wells for water and when we had free time the only pursuits available were swimming, diving, camel racing and falconry, which were not only exciting but served to toughen us up for the harsh conditions we faced. We were forced to become men at an early age. We were happy because we did not know anything else but I am glad my children grew up in a different environment where all they were required to do was to enjoy their childhood years. And just when I think things cannot get better, they do.
The #UAE today is a land of diversity and plenty. Our rulers never stop striving for excellence and the end product is something to boast about. We make no apology for always aiming to be the best. This year, the #World_Economic_Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index named the #UAE as the most tourist-friendly country in the #Middle_East and North Africa. Last year, the Emirates was ranked by the “Expat Insider” third on its list of “top ten countries for residence” and was recognised in the UN International Organization for Peace, Care and Relief 2014 report as the global first in terms of “peaceful coexistence among nationalities.”
Nowadays, residents and visitors are spoilt for choice in terms of sporting and leisure opportunities, too numerous to mention. Let us just say, if you can dream it, we have got it from ski slopes and skating rinks to paragliding, skydiving, polo, dune driving and horseracing. #Dubai is the venue for numerous events on the global annual calendar, such as the annual World Cup, the biggest in the world; the #Dubai Open tennis championship, the #Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series plus international speedboat races and professional golfing championships.
There is no excuse for anyone here not to stay fit. I reluctantly took up tennis when one of my hotel’s coaches repeatedly presented me with a racquet and a pair of shorts and now hardly a day goes by when I do not take to the courts no matter the temperature. I became so enamoured of the energising adrenalin rush and the health benefits tennis provides that I was driven to host the annual Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge for professional world-class female players.
The Emirates has also emerged as a major centre for mega exhibitions. Some of the best known fixtures are: GITEX unveiling the technology of tomorrow; the Arabian Travel Market showcasing new hotels, tourist attractions and airline developments; the Sharjah World Book Fair, a must for literary enthusiasts, authors and publishers, the glitzy #Dubai Motor Show, and #Arab_Health where healthcare professionals can network and view state of the art medical technologies.
Much-awaited biannual events include the #Dubai Air Show, that has evolved from modest beginnings into one of the World’s largest and most important reflecting #Dubai’s status as the region’s fastest growing aviation hub, and IDEX #Abu_Dhabi where international companies present innovative advances in the field of security and defence.
Enhancing the #UAE’s unrivalled reputation for glamour is the annual #Dubai Film Festival which has been featured in “Conde Nast Travellers” list of the world’s best. Established in 2004 to raise the international profile of Arab cinema and to celebrate Arab filmmaking talent it evolved into an international forum, where celebrity spotters can see gracing the red carpet some of the best known actors, directors and producers.
In recent years, Hollywood has increasingly seen #Dubai as a unique movie-making location. “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”, “Syriana”, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” and “Fast and Furious 7” shot in my hometown while “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is currently under production.
You do not have to be on the go 24/7 to enjoy what the United Arab Emirates has to offer. Take a leisurely stroll around #Dubai’s Marina district. Stop at a cafe for a cappuccino and watch the boats sail by. Picnic on the beach or in one of #Abu_Dhabi’s many public parks. Get in touch with nature at Sir Bani Yas Island where wildlife roams free or wait for the opening of #Dubai Safari Park scheduled to be a world standard for wildlife habitat when it opens at the end of this year. Ultimately just open your eyes to the beauty all around and you will be sure to have a nice day, every day.