Passing from one Emirate to another can happen un-noticed. There is no grand signage to indicate you are crossing some border, which is interesting because the rules of etiquette and laws from one Emirate to another can be quite different. Each Emirate expresses Muslim traditions at different levels. Dubai is comparatively liberal with it’s rules. It is fine to wear typical beach wear at the beach, you can buy pork in the supermarket (even though it is sold separately in another part of the shop), and there is obvious religious tolerances here. The bookshops are full of books on non Muslim religions. Sharjar is more conservative. Police will let you know if you are inappropriately dressed at the beach or if you are there on the wrong day. The week is divided up as to who can go to the beach. They have women only days, men only days and family days. Karen works in Sharjar and always dresses conservatively.
The population makeup of Dubai is interesting. It is largely made up of itinerant workers from around the world. A quick head count shows Emiraties, or nationals, only make up 17%, other Arab nationalities 9%, 42.3% Indian, 13.3% Pakistani, 7.5% Bangladeshi, 2.5% Filipino, and the rest from Sri Lankar, Europe, America, Australia, and more.
The itinerants are the workers who do the building and servicing of Dubai. It is not common to come across an Emirati in your every-day business dealings.
We go out for drinks. The bar we go to is no ordinary bar. It is the highest bar in the world, 122 floors up in the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The night views from here are of course stunning. You look down on some of the most extravagant part of town and every where you look us just class. I feel uncomfortable here because it is not my thing but the experience is amazing.
angusmccoll 