WHEN you have lived in Dubai (or the United Arab Emirates, UAE, in general) for years, it’s a given that you would’ve heard the phrase “my friend” tossed around quite a lot.
“My friend” is commonly used to politely address, ironically, any stranger you encounter day after the other – from the cab driver, to the attendant at the small grocery shop in your building, and even the random guy or gal on the street, and vice versa. This tiny snippet of real life is so common, that it is more often treated as mundane, ordinary, unimportant—pre-Covid-19 pandemic, that is.
The current global health crisis has altered everything. It has shut down businesses, halted travel and kept nearly every citizen around the world cooped up inside his home for an indefinite period.
Dubai, which mainly relies on tourism and had close to 16 million visitors in 2018, is one with the global community in containing the spread of the virus by implementing lockdown measures, leaving its massive streets, popular destinations and even off-the-grid tourist spots eerily empty.
The emirate, known for its gleaming skyscrapers and fascinating architecture, looks hugely different without people milling about its every corner. Notably, it is clear that it is the people who make the city interesting and vibrant, and who bring out its soul. People who head for the Dubai Water Canal on weekends for an early morning jog or run, sometimes capped off with a quick breakfast of quiche or croissant and lemon mint drink with a side of the famous Burj Khalifa at a farmer’s market in nearby Business Bay.
The kind who make it their mission once a month to drag their still-sleepy bodies out of bed on a Saturday to be the first to grab the best selection of second-hand items at the Dubai Flea Market in Zabeel Park. Some do it better than others though: sweat it out around the park’s running track first then browse for finds later, sometimes without the intention of buying because soaking up the vibe is already enough of an added mood booster.
And then there are those who come out of hibernation for the months-long Dubai Art Season, held around February to April. Bookworms usually troop to the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature in Dubai Festival City to listen to their favorite authors speak, while scores of art enthusiasts descend at the Bastakiya, part of Dubai’s historical district located in a part dubbed “old Dubai,” for the Sikka Art Fair. Here, the rustic ambience, ancient architecture and quaint cafés make for a perfect backdrop for art exhibits, installations and musical performances. Different forms of art are accessible in “new Dubai” as well, with Alserkal Avenue, an industrial area chock-full of art gallery-warehouses, and the Dubai International Financial Centre simultaneously hosting art exhibits and events during the art season. Add to these the Middle East Film and Comic Con, a treat for manga and pop culture lovers, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Still, there is another group whose interests revolve around the beach, food and arts. La Mer is designed exactly for this kind of people, those who want to start their morning or afternoon with a dip at its beach, take their children to the Laguna Waterpark or the cinema, people-watch at any of its beachside cafés and restaurants, or just plain stroll the entire stretch checking out the colorful murals.
While the end of the current pandemic carries no timeline, pandemics definitely always end and the world will be back on its feet again, Insha’Allah (God willing).
Dubai will soon come alive, and I am certain that amidst the din of people and traffic, the familiar “my friend” will be uttered again. Often, it is the smaller details like these that stay with you more vividly and make you more grateful in times of crisis.