Black spot of Dubai

Earlier this month (5^th to 8^th May) I was in Dubai for 4 days on a recruitment trip and I am impressed with the city though Kuwait-the place I am living in since 1978, is not that bad either. I had heard, seen and read a lot about Dubai and it was quite exciting to be there to see it with my eyes as to what the city can boast of.

Earlier in 2007, for the very first time, I had transited through Dubai airport while flying back to my beloved home Pakistan on short holidays and honestly speaking its airport was found to be much too much better than Kuwait airport and I did pen an article about the same which was published in press. This time I had a return ticket issued by Jazeera Airways for Kuwait-Dubai-Kuwait sector. I landed at Terminal 1 which truly speaks aloud about Dubai from variety of angles and spectrums but ever since on return I had to rush back a bit earlier than original plan hence I took Mihin International and flew out from Terminal 2.

I do understand that any two terminals, not necessarily of Dubai, can not be identical in space, facilities and amenities but nevertheless the two can not and should not be poles apart either. The grandeur, majesty and pomp and show witnessed at Terminal 1 are simply unbelievably missing at Terminal 2 for reasons best known to Emaraties alone, if at all they know. The buildings of the two terminals can not be compared from any angle. The very approach roads leading to the two terminals very vividly describe as to what place one is heading to. The very look, both exterior and interior of the two terminals does not match at all. In the 1^st instance when I entered in Terminal 2, it gave me so much deserted look that I thought primarily it could be for domestic flights only except that in emergency it could be used for international flights but I was totally mistaken in my apprehension and guess work. Many other airlines in addition to Mahini were operating through this terminal.

After checking in and obtaining the boarding card I wished to offer Aser (afternoon prayers) and I asked for the prayers hall. It was not a mosque rather a small area was converted into prayers room which did serve the purpose. The actual time for the prayers has gone hence I was all alone to offer the prayers. Believe you me, the room was barely furnished and it was much too much shocking to see that unbelievably the country like UAE could only afford to lay mat not carpet in the room. The thin mat gave the feelings as if some one is praying on hard rock or bare wood. As per IMF rating of 2009, Qatar topped the list with US $ 83,841 GNP followed by Luxembourg $ 78,395 whereas Kuwait scaled at number 12 with $ 38,304 as against UAE which came 15^th with $ 36,537 very well proves that Dubai can certainly buy carpet for the prayers room at terminal 2. I did not pray at terminal 1 but yet strongly believe that it must not only have a proper mosque but also with the prestigious furnishings.

Did upper echelon realize that if any one passes through terminal 2 in transit then what message he / she will be carrying about Dubai? Undoubtedly Dubai can rightly boast of holding some Guinness World records which, as such, excel her over others but at the same time the Terminal 2 in its present condition is certainly denting its repute to a great extent. Who would believe, how and why that Dubai, which rightly owns some of the finest and most expensive structures in the world owns Terminal 2 as well.  My schedule was too tight but yet I could squeeze some time to be driven around the high rise buildings adorned with giant multi colored glasses and rubber cum plastic coated walls and each building was competing with others. The illuminated and spacious highways were too tempting to be driven on. Sheikh Nahyan Mall was a place

Summing up, may I dare ask a very simple, not blunt, question if not annoying. To me either no higher official ever pray over there, which could be next to impossible simply because UAE is an Islamic country and Dubai is one of the federating units of the country.