United Arab Emirates

Renowned for its oil wealth, the United Arab Emirates (commonly called UAE) is the best symbol of the 21st-century culture of excess. The architect inside me drew me to this place. With endless shopping malls and seven-star hotels, I could not help feeling a sense of despair in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates is just about the first stop for most foreign travelers to the Middle East. Our rendezvous with Dubai was a short layover on our way to Oman. I felt a little guilty for passing judgment on a whole nation based on a 24-hour visit. Thanks to the dominance of Emirates in global aviation, I am certain we will return to the UAE sooner than I imagined.