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Surfing the Dunes of the Gulf (Cont.)

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Camping in the Desert … The dunes have proven their seductive charms. It must have been hours already, but I was in a trance until we reached our first destination. I had always wanted to try quad-biking. As someone who doesn't know how to ride a bike (yet), four wheels sound ideal - a great combination of power, speed, and balance. I was excited and hopped on without any hesitation. I wrapped my 'shamagh' (head scarf) tighter and braced myself. It was time to have fun. I must have gone over my ride time limit. I couldn't get enough of it! As an adrenaline junkie, I didn't stop once. I would gain momentum at high speeds and drive straight up a dune as if going for a flip. Things were safe most of the time, but I almost crashed and heavily injured myself. The one time I accidentally drove right off a small cliff, I almost fell upside-down. Phew! That was a close call. Relieved by my close encounter and exhilarated by this new experience, our time was up, and it was t...

Surfing the Dunes of the Gulf

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My First Desert Safari When I think of drastic fortune shifts, I often think of places like The United Arab Emirates. It is not an easy feat to completely turn around circumstances and fate in a handful of decades. The Emirates have been able to achieve this after uniting and discovering their golden ticket – "Black Gold." Oil money is a hotly debated topic in some circles. It is as greasy and dark as some industries get, but it is not the worst hand. Miracles can happen when a nation can dodge the resource curse trap. Dubai and the other Emirates are good examples. Previously uninhabited lands with sparse fishing villages have now become not only regional but global hubs of trade and commerce. This sudden influx of wealth and attention soon allowed the most diversified Emirate to become a tourist hot spot. The pearl fishing community now hosts ten times more expats than locals. Downtown Dubai as seen from Burj Khalifa, Dubai (2017) Copyright © Kidus Assefa 2023 Dubai now has...