Downtown Dubai

A two and a half hour flight from Sana'a, and you land in a different world. Dubai's Terminal 3, devoted to Emirates flights only, is wonderfully impressive -- the four stories high roof held up by enormous columns, lots of space and light, a calming blue and white theme to the colors, and more than 20 baggage belts. This was built with an eye to the future.

Yesterday was a good day for some touring around, so I took the Big Bus tour, a hop-on, hop-off arrangements with recorded guide description of what we were seeing. Without realizing it, I got on the "beaches tour" and therefore got an idea of the city layout.

One thing you notice right away is the irrigation. Everything green plant or bit of grass is watered. The tour guide said that Dubai consumes an incredible amount of water daily, and most of it comes from desalination plants. The grass usually looks like the short bladed grass that we see on golf courses in warm climates. The green color is wonderfully soothing to the eye.

Among the sights to be seen along the beach is the self-declared "world's only seven-star hotel" -- the Burj Al-Arab. The shape of the building is like that of an Arab ship's sail, and it is said that some Middle East royalty keep a suite here at all times, just in case they decide to come by on short notice. Of course, it stands on its own man-made island. I understand you have to make a reservation about three days in advance just to visit for a coffee or lunch. If you wonder why I am not staying here, the smallest suite is about 1,820 sq ft and the per night cost begins at $2,000. The larger suites go up to 8400 sq ft and cost $28,000 per night. Not within my allowance.

This Burj Al-Arab hotel has a helicopter landing pad on the flat dish-like protrusion up near the top (just above the lamp in the photo) and we saw a helicopter landing while we drove by. The beach where it is located is called Chicago Beach, apparently because an American company from Illinois used to have a facility here.

The most amazing experience however was the Palm Jumeirah -- a man-made island that is five kilometers (three miles) wide and tall and is filled with houses, condos, hotels and a major resort called Atlantis (see photo below) at the top of the palm tree.

Knowing the entire thing is built on sand that was brought in and put there, well, it is just mind bending. You look around at homes with cars in the driveways, basketball hoops on the front of the garage, and these six or eight lane wide avenues, and you wonder where all the people come from who want to pay for houses here?

It looks a lot like a gated community in Florida, and there are guards sitting at little desks at many of entry roads to the communities.

One of the over the top features was when they imported 24 bottle-nosed dolphins from the South Pacific and placed them in a theme park called Dolphin Bay where guests can swim with them.

It is all kind of amazing. I kept wondering where all the money comes from? Where do all the customers come from? Who can be buying all this property and land? Yes, I know that there is money in the Middle East and in South Asia where prosperity is growing quickly. But, this much?