Compared to the US, the security was laughable. Security was the only job I saw being done by native Emiratis, and there were usually three or four to a desk, talking and laughing and paying minimal attention to the x-ray image in front of them.The airport was a magnificent, sinister building. We were flanked on either side by palm trees and Grecian pillars; nearly everything was white or silver. Though the ceilings were high, sound did not echo, and I felt like somebody had forcibly turned down my volume. A few Emiratis walked past us, stately in their white and black robes, but mostly we were surrounded by mute Europeans. Despite being with a group of 8 people, I felt ill at ease.
Each of the washrooms in the airport had an adjacent prayer room. Their locations were also indicated by signs. I did not enter the rooms because I'm not Muslim, but I did find it interesting that prayer could be viewed as so paramount to a culture that prayer rooms are deemed as necessary as washrooms.
At 8:00 PM we boarded a shuttle. While the inside of the airport had been air conditioned, once we stepped outside, we were bowled over by a wave of 32 degree heat.
Because we had a long layover in Dubai, Air Emirates paid for our hotel and for our food, and I am happy to report that the food was excellent. The other guys on the trip went to the mall to see the ski hill and then to see the seven-star hotel, though I stayed to eat dinner and sleep.
In the morning, after eating some more delicious food, we boarded the shuttle again. This time we got to see what Dubai looks like during the day.
Though Dubai is a magnificient piece of engineering, I cannot say I enjoyed being there. It was partly because I read this article before I arrived, and I found it disconcerting to know how much of the luxury I was enjoying was the result of exploitation. Though the food was excellent, I was glad to leave.
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