The biggest airport in the
world is opened at Dubai just last week for Emirates airline. The first airline
having three A380, the world’s biggest aircraft, with shower in the first class
cabin’s bathroom and the seats turned into a beds. Dubai's aviation industry
achieved its biggest milestone to date on Sunday, when the emirate's new airport
welcomed the arrival of its first commercial flight.
Located in Jebel Ali and part of Dubai World Central, an "aviation city" that
the government launched as a free economic zone, Al Maktoum International
Airport is expected to become the world's largest airport upon completion.
Currently operating just one main runway, Al Maktoum will ultimately operate
five runways with an annual capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million
tons of cargo. Dubai has turned into a Mega cosmopolitan city and the Emirates
airlines into one of the world’s greatest and finest airline.
It was back in January of 1996, on my way to Austin Texas from Karachi had a 20
hrs. stop over at Dubai. My travel agent booked the seat through Emirates air
line with a stopover at Dubai onwards to Gatwick London. From there I had the
connection through continental airlines. In those days Emirates only flew up to
London, a relatively new airline but with good reputation. Pakistan
International Airlines provided technical and expert support to build up this
airline. Now it has reached par excellence, leaving PIA far behind. (This is of
course another story of corruption and embezzlement). Now Emirates has 135
destinations all over the world. IN North America it flies from New York JFK
airport twice daily, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, and
Toronto. I might have missed or skipped some more cities. In Pakistan it goes to
all the big cities.
United Arab Emirates, Generally known as Dubai is a financial, economic hub, an
oasis for job seekers to earn worthwhile and now turned into media hub for most
of south Asian countries. Some of the Pakistani channels Geo, PTV and ARY are
broadcasting from Dubai. Last year during my stay, I had a good chance of
roaming around the city. It has a taste and look of Manhattan, Chicago, Los
Vegas, Singapore and of course Dubai. The dancing fountains in front of Burj
Khalifa look like the same as in front of Bellagio in Vegas. With all its
modernization and liberalism it carries an Islamic face too. Ladies roaming in
Abbayas, Hijabs and all the famous Malls have nice places or Mussalahs for
offering prayers with places for ablution ( wadu) for ladies and gents. I really
miss these payer places in North America and even in Pakistan. It was amazing to
see fresh flower arrangements in Ladies of Ibn Batuta Mall. At least we have
something to boast about.
My brother who once lived there specified the term Memon (a Gujrati business
community who tries to get business in every possible way) for UAE Sheikhs of
the Arab world. They just mean business and to attract tourists, they are
adopting new trends and ventures. For the first time when I witnessed in my
hotel, the couples holding hands arriving to 49er’s club after mid night ,with
ladies in miniskirts or evening gowns, it showed me quite a bit of liberalism of
Dubai. Yet openly vulgarity is not allowed at least.
However there are all the tricks and treats to attract tourists with some
Islamic restrictions. In Barjul Arab or Barji Khalifa there are diamond crushed
spas, costing thousands of dollars and to what extent the luxuries could go. It
is generally said that Dubai is modern, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are Islamic
minded. There are beautiful mosques in Sharjah. During my stay a few years back,
wondered about the boundaries of those emirates after every 10, 15 minutes’
drive one enters into a new estate. It is commendable that these seven emirates
are joined together under one ruler. May they are saved from an evil eye!
Just 1-1/2 hour flight from Karachi and 3 hours from Islamabad the whole world
changes at Dubai. Strict, safe Law and order situation, great infra-structure,
towering buildings, cleanliness, no experience of power shut downs or load
shedding, Petrol cheaper than drinking water, luxuries unlimited, it’s the
closest haven for expatriates of south Asia.
The famous cricket grounds are set up now in UAE. After the attack on Siri
Lankan team no international cricket team is willing to visit Pakistan.
Therefore UAE is the closest and the safest hub for cricket lovers. Earlier
Shrajah cricket matches used to be a great entertainment and fun to watch. The
famous sixer of Javed Miandad against Indian team is still unforgettable. Now
there are more grounds in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A world class tennis tournament
now takes place every year. Most of the film makers of Bollywood, Hollywood and
even the crumbling Lollywood shot their films in Dubai’s locations. I learned
through different sources that some of the underworld leaders or Dons are in
exile in Dubai. Our Pakistani Dons or politicians all have sprawling,
properties, villas, buildings, hotels or even palaces. Some of the investors
suffered huge losses during the property debacle a few years back.
Half of my village folks from Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa are working in UAE; The Older
generation is retired now and back home. Their new generation is a bit more
skilled, educated and has replaced them. Most of them have provided hard core
labor, sweat and toil to build up Dubai or UAE. On my Visits some of them told
me their stories quite a bit outspokenly. “You would not believe what kind of
lives we live here. It’s a very tough life, hard work and labor in this harsh
and extremely hot environment. We live here alone, eight to ten persons in a
room. After our duties we do all the chores of cooking, laundry, doing dishes
etc. (This is considered an unmanly act in Pakhtoon culture.) The wives and kids
back home are living in great luxury. They just want more and more money to
spend and show off. On 20th of the month the calls would start coming for demand
of money. These people were provided with some land to build up temporary homes
for themselves, with electricity and running water. They have a village like set
up there and call it deras. They are fluent in local Arabic with Pashto, Urdu
and some in English. Some of them are drivers and run jeeps in desert Safari.
While a few own their own Limos and services.
Their hard work and earned money has dramatically changed and transformed not
only their lives but of the entire families.
There are a few drastic cases of drug addiction or other bad behaviors in their
families back home without fathers, husbands and elders. In general the whole
scenario is changed with Dubai Chalo phenomenon. They have got or build nice
houses with all modern amenities in village and most of them have got properties
and houses in different cities. Their kids are getting good education in good
schools, colleges and professional universities. It was long time back when the
refrigerator in my village was called thalaja (in Arabic). Most of them are
wearing clothes from Dubai brand fabrics, nice perfumes, jewelry. The homes full
with electronic gadgets, home appliances, trendy china ware, bed ware, blankets
etc etc….
Our village now has got the nick name “Chota Dubai” small Dubai. One can find
their only older menfolk, while the young ones are in Dubai, the dreamland of
entire family.
UAE’s late ruler Shaikh Zaid bin Sultan AL Nahian had a lot of interest in
Pakistan. Rahim yar Khan was almost his second home. One of his wives used to
live there and the local people would wait for his visit to be blessed with lots
of bounties. It was his hunting paradise and he build up a modern airport to
reach there. He build a big hospital at Lahore and was a great contributor to
Pakistan. There is a huge sprawling Abu Dhabi house in Defense housing authority
society of Karachi.
With all the turmoil and bloodshed going on in Muslim world UAE is one of the
safest haven which we could really be proud of………