Dubai Airport
I had read up on the Dubai airport and most comments were about how crowded and busy it was. First stop was the customs hall, the biggest I've ever seen. Long row after row. It was very orderly and quiet though. The arrival monitor showed flights from everywhere (Khartoum, Brunei, you name it, this was the crossroads of the eastern hemisphere), even flights from places I never heard of. Where's Surabaya? Felt like I was in the lobby of the UN building. Africans and Indians in their national attire; whites, asians, middle easterners. All the customs agents were men and women dressed in traditional arab attire. This was at 1 AM. People are coming and going from all over the world 24/7.
I had a US passport and just came from Israel. You can reference websites that say otherwise, but in practice, everyone's welcome. Just don't bring drugs and don't be gay. Both are severe crimes. Unmarried couples can't share hotel rooms, but I don't know how widely enforced that is.
Customs took 30 minutes, luggage came quickly, thought I was outta there. Not. Dubai has the biggest, tallest, most expensive, longest of everything...including taxi lines. Took another 30 minute before I entered an air-conditioned volvo wagon. Dubai has the cleanest taxis. All of them nice new cars, mostly camrys, drivers (mostly Pakistani, some Indian) in uniform. Waiting for the taxi was an experience. 85 degrees at 1 AM, outside and only some fans to blow the air around, hoards of Indian men awaiting the arrival of relatives. A hectic yet orderly scene.
I had a US passport and just came from Israel. You can reference websites that say otherwise, but in practice, everyone's welcome. Just don't bring drugs and don't be gay. Both are severe crimes. Unmarried couples can't share hotel rooms, but I don't know how widely enforced that is.
Customs took 30 minutes, luggage came quickly, thought I was outta there. Not. Dubai has the biggest, tallest, most expensive, longest of everything...including taxi lines. Took another 30 minute before I entered an air-conditioned volvo wagon. Dubai has the cleanest taxis. All of them nice new cars, mostly camrys, drivers (mostly Pakistani, some Indian) in uniform. Waiting for the taxi was an experience. 85 degrees at 1 AM, outside and only some fans to blow the air around, hoards of Indian men awaiting the arrival of relatives. A hectic yet orderly scene.
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