…And the
Streets was Gold
SEUN AKIOYErecently
visited the United Arab Emirate and gives a perspective of the
oil rich region through the eyes of a twenty-four hours visitor
to Dubai.
"Can you see
it, look very well, yes down there, look at the splendor, wealth!!!!
This is wealth undiluted", the woman sitting beside me on the
Emirates flight began to shout as the plane began to make what
seem like a U- turn in the air, preparatory to landing in Dubai,
the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Her shouts in Yoruba
almost drown the voice of the pilot dishing out his last minutes
order "fasten your seat belts, remember this country is very strict
about drug peddling, it carries the death penalty." This woman
would not bulge; she began to ransack her bag for her passport
and other documents.
She reminded
one of those women who never realize they are not at their own
backyards less alone on a Boeing 300 airplane, 50,000 feet's above
sea level. When the plane landed, to my utter amazement, majority
of the Nigerian traders on the flight began to clap hailing the
safe landing as "the smoothest ever". That was like a welcome
party to Dubai for me, and my first knowledge of Dubai, the land
of gold, and the prince among the Arabian cities. Few years down
the lane, not much was known about this city until the rush for
Dubai goods began. I got to Dubai in high expectation. I had been
booked in the Millennium Airport Hotel, a four star hotel by all
standards. The hotel is a melting point for all nationals and
there I got the direction to Deira Market where I was told "a
lot of Nigerians trade" That gave me the opportunity to view Dubai's
beautiful scenery.
The streets
are well laid and bridges crossing over one another. All along
the road are beautifully laid out posters all written in Arabic
and English. Standing on one of the bridges, the multiracial nature
of the city is evident in the colors of people walking around
dressed in flowing garment, cars of all size and brand adorn the
superhighway. One could see the wealth of the oil rich region
flowing, a more curious look at the streets and one could swear
they were paved with gold, yes pure gold. To get along well in
Dubai, one need to quickly learn the basic Arabic words, like
"How are you" Shukrat "Thank you". The ability to do this is the
secret to wining the Arab confidence; he will go to all extent
to help you.
Transportation
here unlike Europe is without trams and trains, but there is an
efficient system where hundreds of luxurious buses ply all the
routes and the taxies are the fastest way to get to ones destination.
Dubai evidently has a lot to show the world. Recently it was voted
as the best original destination by Spanish giant newspaper, Viajes
Turismo. This is the result of years of aggressive promotion and
marketing of the country overseas. By 2006, there will be additional
30 megastar hotels offering additional 10,000 rooms to world-class
visitors. That majority of Dubai princes are super rich is apart,
like in every nation, there are dregs of that society. These poor
people are mostly found in places like Deira markets and that
is where to find Nigerians. The international market attracts
the best of the world and also caters for the poorest of the earth.
Unlike The
Deira City Center, where good s are very expensive Nigerians find
this place very conducive. Here is where all the Dubai goods in
Nigeria come from. To my chargin, I noticed Nigerians who meet
here are not friendly to each other. My shock was not over yet,
Nigerians here don't buy the genuine goods, they settle for the
run off the mill, inferior ones dumped on the streets. One Italian
shop owner on learning am from Nigeria said "I like Nigerians,
they have lots of money but buy cheap goods, the ones outside
in large quantities" Another said, "a single wristwatch can cost
about 300 Dirhams, (Dubai Currency) Nigerians will be looking
for a pack of twelve for just 50 Dirhams" Saying this he preceded
to show me some shirts out of the inferior ones "You like this?".
After a day shopping, one can get very cheap food at the market.
There are restaurants for all nationalities. I chose a Bangladesh
joint where a plate of rice cost five Dirhams and consist of a
bowl of over boiled rice enough to satisfy five hefty men, a bowl
of pepper soup, plate of meat, fresh pepper, and a cup of watery
soup.
I was instructed
to eat the rice with my bare hands, scooping it into balls, rolling
it into the soup, and throwing the chunk into the mouth. There
are cheap hotels too, ones that allow you to cook your own meals,
there most Nigerians stay, and when they learnt I was lodging
at the Millennium Hotel, they looked on in amazement. That night,
as my plane lifted high into the skies above the city, the lights,
imposing structures, beautiful scenery and the golden waters of
the golden city played itself out, that night I dreamt of the
tales I have heard of the gulf region, the fable of Ali Baba and
the forty thieves and why they will continue to seek the gold
of the city.
