Bush In Dubai: A Holiday To Remember

Waking up on Sunday morning (January 13) at 6:20 AM - just like I do every working day - I realize that there is something immediately different. The world outside is a bit too noisy. I rush to the window and open the drapes, and, lo and behold, endless traffic queues from all directions.

Four hours later, I arrive to my office in Dubai Internet City, which is 40 KM away from my apartment in Sharjah. The trip usually takes two hours.

The reason for the traffic? Between the National Guard, police and other security vehicles, going through Dubai was more of a crawl. Interestingly, President Bush is 140 KM away in Abu Dhabi. Great...that means tomorrow's traffic will be an endurance marathon.

To everyone's surprise by the end of the day - merely half an hour before the working day usually ends - the government decides that Monday (January 14th) will be a holiday for both the public and private sectors in Dubai, due to Bush's visit to the Emirate on that day (security measures and avoiding traffic).

A smart move in a not so smart time.

The short notice threw everyone off guard. Access into and out of Dubai was virtually non-existent. All meetings, trades, appointments and whatnot had to be put off until Tuesday. The price that was paid of one day's closure is reportedly 432 million Dirhams (approx $118m).

The price that the people who lived in Dubai had to pay, though, was lots of detours, missed flights, frustration and seven hours of traffic.

For the people who stayed home, it was a great day.