On Top of the World

I'm off to Dubai tonight so this post feels appropriate.  I will be there less than twenty four hours, but my last visit  few weeks ago was a three-day trip - with a free evening.  I packed my Nikon D300 instead of the usual business-trip companion: the capable little G11.  I did that because I managed to include into my plan a stop at the tallest building in the world.  I booked my ticket online in advance just to be sure.

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Adding Colour

Within presentations and reports for work, I try to make the boring text and numbers a little more interesting.  In the main, I use photos of terminals, tank farms and refineries from a distance; but I also like using shots from a nearby town.  Last year I used an image of Sur in Oman when discussing the LNG terminal located there.  It gave the people who don't leave the office a feeling for where our equipment ends up around the world.

Unfortunately, the oil industry is not very photographer-friendly.  Almost all my meetings are in no-photography zones.  Sometimes the reason is genuine: avoiding the use of electronics in areas with gas and chemicals; most times however it's due to this horrible word: Security! I don't understand it... Aren't all the sites are visible on Google Earth anyway?

I took this shot yesterday after a meeting in Jebel Ali (Dubai).  There were no signs prohibiting photography and I was outside the main wall.  It's not fantastic, but I do like how it came out.  It will feature in my visit report for the UAE later this week.

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Dubai Sunset

I returned last night from a very frustrating trip to Dubai.  I've always known integrity is rare in the business world; now I add decisiveness.  People are so busy covering their backs.  Half - if not more - of their energy is invested in avoiding decisions. Result in our case: A year's work - of putting small pieces together for a business deal - fell apart yesterday because of one man.  He was born without a spine.

Anyway, this is a positive blog, and positive it shall remain.  My meeting was in Jebel Ali and I had to rent a car to go in.  I therefore had some free time in the afternoon, and for the first time in Dubai I had a car.  I've driven there before, but I was stuck often there with colleagues.  Non-photographers are not as patient when, say, we're waiting for the sun to be at exactly the right angle...

I drove around looking for the perfect spot for a Dubai skyline shot.  I wanted to include the world's tallest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa, in order to compare it with the rest of the buildings.  I'm sure there are some great locations to do this, but in my free hour, I managed to find this.  The trees and shrubs are a little distracting - but I liked the overall result.

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Postcard from Dubai

A short hop to Dubai for a day.  I didn't bring my camera this time, so it's another old photo I'm afraid.  You can tell from the columns on the left bank of the road.  These are now the supports for the metro track, which is almost complete including stations.  The photo above was taken in February 2008.

Dubai is still quiet - but the queue for the taxis at the airport was unbelievably long.

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My Dusty Journey

From 30,000 feet, a dust storm is rather beautiful.  That's what we should do in fact: we should build stations high up where the weather is both cooler and dust-free. Just look at that blue sky!

Even dust seems to produce beauty:  I love the view above - taken from our cruising altitude.  Dubai wasn't anywhere near as dusty as Kuwait - but it was a 'yellow' journey from start to finish.  Below are a few shots from the trip, starting with the airport, Dubai, the 'World' and Kuwait.  

As we were landing, the wind made the captain pay a little more attention.  It was so dusty, visibility was poor. The ugly shacks you see below are Shuwaikh Industrial area and Rai.  From this position, I usually get a wonderful view of Downtown - with Kuwait Towers in the very far distance.  Have a look at the larger version, you may just be able to make out some of the taller buildings.

 

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Road Signs

Dubai is awake again.  Whilst it's still not to the Dubai I knew before the recession, there are plenty of positive signs.  I used the Sheikh Zayed road to measure the activity level on a previous trip.  This time I was actually stuck in traffic on a few occasions.  There are still unfinished buildings with no obvious signs of any work in progress; but roads, shops and restaurants are reasonably busy.  With the summer heat, malls feel busier and I'm told hotels are taking more and more bookings for the summer.

Work-wise, some of the projects previously on hold have been dusted off and are taking shape - even if only on paper.  In all my meetings, I sensed a readiness to do business again.

I hope this continues and I wish Dubai all the best.

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View from the Top

I'm in Dubai again today.  Although I thought I had imagined it last time, the place is really very quiet.  The airport was virtually empty with no queues for immigration and taxis.  The roads are, in Dubai's standard, deserted!

The above is a view that I'm very familiar with.  I stay at this hotel many times during the year.  The main road, Sh Zayed Road, usually has bumper-to-bumper traffic most of the day - and the early part of the night.  The swimming pool is always, and I do mean always, so busy that I never thought of going down for a quick swim.  During the busy afternoon time on a glorious sunny day, there were four people there.

I'm sure Dubai will pick up again.  I pray it's soon.  They deserve it with all the hard work that has gone into it.

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Not a Nose Dive

I visit Dubai almost monthly and I've never seen it this quiet.  The airport, the roads, the shops and restaurants - all seem to be looking for disappearing trade.  Taking into account the financial crisis around the world, and how much Dubai relies on foreign trade, it's not a surprise.   The place has been exploding into something much larger than its own foundations, and this was simply unsustainable.

There are challenges and many projects are being shelved, but this is a breathing time for Dubai that is well overdue. There is also a shy positive feeling when you talk to business leaders.  I saw a manufacturing company, a petroleum terminal manager and a banker.  All agreed that this is not a collapse but a correction.  A correction that Dubai has needed for some time.  A moment for reflection to avoid going too far (more than now). 

Signs of progress are as visible as the cancelled projects.  I saw a train moving on the tracks at Sh Zayed Road.  On Monday, there was a visit  by the leader of the UAE to all the major Dubai projects.  It was a clear signal to the region, and the world, that Abu Dhabi stands behind what Dubai is doing.  Sure, they will probably buy a nice portion of it, but I hope it's a clear indicator that this magnificent ship on the Gulf will continue to sail.

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Taking Off Again

A short trip again.  This time to Doha.

Last time I was in Qatar was just before the Museum of Islamic Art opened.  It was very frustrating and I hope I can make it up this time.  I will hopefully have 2-3 hours free between meetings.  Can't wait...

Photograph above was taken at Dubai airport last week.

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Transit City

It's been a while since I've been to Dubai.  I will be going there a few times over the next month or two.  This doesn't mean I haven't stopped there on the way, or the way back, from somewhere.  I suppose anyone with wings has to stop there at some point.

I managed to catch a glimpse of Sh. Zayed Road from the air very early this morning. You can see Emirates Towers if you open the larger version.

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