DUBAI...or Should I Say Shangri-La

I guess my first real desire to go to Dubai was about 2 years ago...I was watching some Discovery channel show where they showed, in painstaking detail by the way, the Burj Al-Arab hotel. I guess something about seeing the world’s first 7-STAR hotel piqued my curiosity...:-)

So...when LBS presented me with the opportunity to go to Dubai on a really cool job trek, how could I turn it down? You are right...I couldn’t! Also...my thinking was this...If I am to become a high profile super consultant...there are so many projects in Dubai right now...I had to really know that if I volunteered for one...could I really live in the city for 3-6 months? As you will see...the answer is 100% YES...with ease...

Dubai is a mix of South Beach, Las Vegas and Hong Kong---the beaches are beautiful, crystal clear and filled with tons of gorgeous women. The clubs and restaurants are world class---yet---somehow I was in the Middle East...The entire time I was in Dubai I felt like I was in some kind of hazy dream...like...this couldn’t be actually possible right? The city is filled with superlatives (Now you understand why I like it so much) The world’s best hotel---biggest skyscraper---biggest mall---indoor skiing---Everything in Dubai not only has to be perfect...it has to be BIG and the best in the world. I found myself right at home :-)



(No more gratuitous beach pictures, I promise)

Luckily, I had a good buddy who came on the trek who had worked in Dubai for the past five years---He did not let us down...so for anyone who is planning a Dubai trip in the upcoming future...here is my personal list of cannot miss activities:

BURJ AL-ARAB – Why not start with the best right? This hotel dominates Dubai skyline...and no matter how long you stare at it...you want to stare at it some more...Whether it is the underwater restaurant or the sky bar or the completely mesmerizing lobby...this hotel is not be missed under any circumstances
BUDDHA BAR – For anyone who has been in Paris or NYC---Dubai does not disappoint here---I was blown away
MODINAT JUMERIAH – Like a small Bedouin Village---this hotel is beyond words---you get moved around on little gondola like boats---the Burj is in the background...and about 50 restaurants are at your beck and all---oh yeah---the best club in Dubal is here as well...TRILOGY...and even TRADER VIC’S...all the way from LA!
JUMERIAH BEACH HOTEL – Go immediately to Bar 360---located so far into the ocean that you have to ride a golf cart to get there---just beyond words---get a mojito and just try not to fall in the water
ABSOLUT SHO CHO – This is the first time I have been to a lounge sponsored by Absolut---and they did not disappoint---The sushi was awesome...the crowd was hot...from there we went next door to Boudoir---another ridiculous club
MALL OF THE EMIRATES – This is the mall with the world’s largest indoor ski resort---and by itself is the world’s 3rd biggest mall. From Harvey Nichols to a LITERAL COPY of Rodeo Drive, to the first Armani Restaurant...you will not leave disappointed



Hopefully, you have a little understanding of what the city has to now offer you...and don’t forget---spend every possible minute on the golden sand beaches...and soon you will realize that there is not enough time in the day. I was BLOWN away by Dubai...now the only question is when to go back...New Year’s anyone??

PS...Here is a picture of the group before meeting with SHELL...just so people believe me when I say that I actually went for business... :-)