31 July: Dubai
We arrived here at 1.00am after flight delays. The airport is the 7th busiest in the world handling 70.4 million passengers last year and 2.37 million tons of cargo. Never have we experienced anything like the size of it. Peter did his 10,000 steps just getting out of it this morning.
Dubai is termed the shopping capital of the Middle East with over 70 shopping malls including the world's largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall. I found it interesting to discover that only 5% of the Emirates revenue comes from oil and gas. The oil reserves are expected to run out within 20 years. So they will be reliant on their real estate,  construction, trade and financial services to maintain their economy.  Tourism and gold are also major parts of their economy.
After looking at the cost of accommodation here we decided to go for the Airbnb option. We were greeted at the gated compound at 2am by a real Arab sheik who was most gracious considering the hour. We are very comfortably established in a large 3 roomed apartment with everything but a table and chairs. The owner had a new air con installed yesterday so that's a blessing. Even the water in the cold taps is hot. August is the hottest month of the year, and guess what, tomorrow is 1 August.
So in 38 C this morning, we have made our way up to the corner dairy for bread and milk. Sorry Peter,  no marmalade. I'll put a couple of photos on FB so you can see where we are, then off shopping. Might be writing another blog tonight methinks. Never mind. Makes up for skipping one yesterday.