You are currently in the Archives section. Please be aware that some information and links in the archived page may be outdated.

Click here to return to the Archives' main page to see the list of archived articles.

A R C H I V E S

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL REPORT

AN ARABIA WE NEED TO KNOW
by Geoffrey Arend

     This newspaper you are holding was not conceived as an advertorial, a thinly veiled bunch of stories meant to rake in ad bucks to our newspaper.
     We also are not paid hacks or apologists.
     No one came to us and said:
     “How about a special issue that makes us look good?”
     No, what you read here started as an idea we cooked up all by ourselves.
     This issue of ACN is devoted to our readers about a place called Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
     Included here is what we learned first hand from a recent, week-long trip to Dubai.
     Even before 911 we planned to visit the U.A.E.
     Right now Emirates Airlines Sky Cargo is the premier product and the biggest freight hauler in all the Middle East.
     In 1996 we were in Dubai as part of TIACA ’s big show. It’s tough to admit now, but aside from a ride on a camel and a couple of dinners in the Holiday Inn, we didn’t see much of the place.
     But after 911 we knew that any further stalling of our trip would be irresponsible and also stupid.
     It’s not every day that a great story comes up and bites you on the fanny.
     Many images are indelible from that horrible day in world history—911.
     But one particular photograph of the terrorists that appeared again and again in newspapers, and on television, stuck in our mind.
     The people in that picture looked quite similar, like they might even be related to each other. “Young, Middle Eastern Muslims,” the headline read, “Out to destroy America,” the copy continued. But then every day we heard Americans talking and thought: The Middle East is full of young and old Muslims who are just regular folks but may look something like those terrorists.
     As conversation continued we decided that many people here in the U.S.A. have a rather narrow impression of the entire Arab world.
     When we told friends and colleagues that we planned a trip to Dubai, one of seven United Arab Emirates, a Muslim country located between Saudi Arabia to the west; a body of water and Iran to the east, and Kuwait to the north, many people frowned upon the idea.
     “Too dangerous,” was a constant comment.
     But “Where’s Dubai?” was almost everyone’s second reaction.
     We kept thinking:
     “Why do otherwise well-meaning people automatically advise somebody to stay away from a place even though they are not quite sure where it is?
     We couldn’t help recall that 30 years ago when drafted into the U.S. Army and ordered to Vietnam, reaction was: “Good—go stand up for America,” and: “Where is that place?” New twist on an old mistake, we thought.
     We conjured up an image of those September terrorists and thought of millions of law abiding, dark haired men and women of medium height who dress and talk differently than say your ordinary pedestrian in Kansas City, minding their own business in the Muslim world. Daily, they go about their lives, posing no threat to anyone.
     We also recalled our experience in the horror of war, which in the end nobody ever really wins.
     Then interviews and messages in advertising, and word of mouth from Dubai, during the years since we visited there, came into focus, including the post 911 November 2001 order for $15 billion worth of new aircraft from Emirates Airlines.
     It became clear to us, that the only way to know anything about Dubai that might be of value to you, building your transportation business, would be to get the story first hand.
     For 27 years, Air Cargo News has had as its mission the uncovering of the real story, be it cargo theft at airports, preservation of important aviation and cargo history, or telling it like it is about trade shows, companies and the people of the industry we serve.
     So armed with camera and laptop, we took off aboard a jet plane bound for the other side of the world.
     What we found in Dubai, surpassed anything in a press kit, or on CNN, or available in some virtual tour on the Internet.
     Dubai is a place of opportunity and freedom beyond imagination.
     Forget threats. Dubai is a bit like Crystal City, Virginia and Washington D.C.—only warmer.
     You are as likely to get bitten by business opportunity as anything else in Dubai today.
     The greatest building boom in the world is going on in Dubai.
     Today, the Emirate is growing up all at once with construction of roads and other infrastructure, tall buildings, neighborhoods and even the world’s largest man-made island that will rise off the coast of Dubai.
     Called Palm Island, the construction in fact will be two islands shaped like a date palm that will be encircled by a protective crescent shaped barrier reef.
     Maybe, Dubai is hard to spot on your map, but when Palm Island is finished it will extend 5.5 kilometers into the sea, adding 120 kilometers of coastline, 40 more hotels, 1,200 residential villas, shopping malls and entire neighborhoods to greater Dubai.
     Before long, just like the Great Wall of China, Palm Island will be visible from outer space.
     Although our stories here are pointed toward air cargo and transportation capabilities, Americans should know that Dubai offers incredible opportunity in every aspect of business and commerce in a tax-free, pro-business atmosphere.
     Dubai is also friendly and safe.
     We spent nights in local residents’ homes, enjoying the food and hospitality of the area.
     Right away, you notice that it is not uncommon to see women walking alone or together, unescorted at any hour of the day or night.
     From the spice and gold souks, to the Heritage Village restoration of antique homes, to the all night action at the waterfront, the streets of Dubai around the clock are among the safest in the world.
     Speaking of women, all of us have seen the image of Middle Eastern females dressed in ‘mysterious,’ dark burqas, masked and subservient to men.
     But guess what?
     In Dubai, women are empowered to be leaders. Whether in business or at home, Dubai women are a major reason that the Emirate is experiencing phenomenal growth.
     The black flowing garments are worn to work with pride as business garments of tradition by powerhouse women in charge of everything from Dubai Customs Service to the Duty Free Zone.
     Take a look at Dubai.
     Maybe the pain of the past months, and just plain anger, makes that perspective tough to take right now.
     But just like we did, take a closer look at a part of the world we Americans need to know more about.
     We think in Dubai, you’ll like what you see.

These photographs represent an ultra modern Dubai. It is a lucky thing because this former oasis is new emerging as a major world gateway. Dubai lifestyle is open, exhilarating and safe. Dubai photos and all stories in this issue were created by Geoffrey Arend, Air Cargo News Editor/Publisher, pictured in the first picture below.

Pictured in his office (above), aviation visionary and current Director of Civial Aviation, H. H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum also serves as Chairman of Emirates Airlines, overseeing the carrier's global strategy

.