Tariq A. Al-Maeena

Last month, a report in a local paper caught my attention.  It quoted official statistics indicating that nearly two million people had visited Dubai in 2014.  Travel industry and hospitality experts also indicated that Dubai had indeed become the principal place of choice for Saudis seeking a short holiday.



With short school breaks becoming the norm especially during the cooler months, Saudis today head in record numbers to this city which is smaller than Jeddah and spend a sizable portion in the Emirates of the estimated SR80 billion that Saudis spend annually abroad.   



An executive member of the tourist committee in the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that Dubai remains the favorite destination for most Saudi vacationers, especially if traveling as a family group.  Quoting statistics from the recent school break, he said that all flights had been booked for that period to Dubai from the Kingdom to the tune of some 5,000 passengers daily. Another analyst chimed in that Dubai’s attraction as the main destination for Saudis was because of its moderate weather during this time of the year.



But their weather is not much different than ours at this time of the year.  And in summer, I can certainly testify that it is a lot more challenging. Perhaps it has to do with a lot more than the weather.  Why is the word "Dubai" so often on the lips of Saudis when they are discussing the state of their own cities?  Whether it is their airports, the immigration staff, or the roads and streets in their cities, most Saudis will grudgingly admit that their cities lag far behind Dubai in providing the basic services that residents require.



Most of the ire is directed toward the decades-old decaying and poorly maintained infrastructure that is taking its toll on residents in the Kingdom.  Getting around or navigating on urban streets and roads is a nightmare for many.  In social gatherings, just about everyone has an opinion on what is wrong with their city, having experienced the downside of living here.  But while there is a remarkable difference in municipal services provided by Dubai in comparison to our own cities, one has to wonder if that is all that elevates Dubai to such a lofty status.



Forty years ago, if you had asked anyone in Saudi Arabia to name one of the emirates that comprise the UAE, the chances were that you would have been met with a blank stare.  School children growing up in Jeddah in those years would have known of all the continents and the major cities of the world.  In the Arabian Peninsula, it is likely that they would have known of only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the northeast and Yemen to the south.  And yes, an island called Bahrain to the east.  There was also a smattering of some areas called the Trucial States, but that did not attract much curiosity or attention perhaps because of their size or significance at the time.



But look what four decades has brought Dubai.  World class recognition as a place to visit and do business.  And that is perhaps why Saudis continue to flock to this city in the millions, and not simply for pleasure.  Many have set up business ventures there. 



A young Saudi woman who started her own business in the city last year said: “I honestly chose Dubai for a few reasons…The first is that as a woman it’s easier to set up a business in Dubai than in Saudi Arabia. There is easy accessibility for all GCC clients to come in for appointments and attend our workshops.  Dubai is also accessible for our employees and with the other centers we are in cooperation with in London whose personnel can fly in and out at anytime.  Also the market in Dubai is great, as you have so many nationalities which fit into our services just great.  I am close to home and family and can visit them on weekends if I like as it is only a couple of hours away.  But live and work there?  No thank you!” 



Her account is in line with that of many talented Saudis who have escaped the stifling bureaucracy, gender marginalization and red tape of unimaginative civil servants in Saudi Arabia and have chosen Dubai as an outlet for their creativity and passions.  The UAE is a benefactor of such expertise from an Arab neighbor, and it knows how to attract the ambitious and the innovative.



It’s just too bad that their gain comes at the expense of Saudi Arabia’s loss.  The same applies to Saudi tourists whose entertainment needs are not being met in their own country.  It is not the glitzy buildings that draw Saudi visitors to Dubai.  It is the overall package.

 

— The author can be reached at talmaeena@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @talmaeena