I went to Dubai for a conference on Education. The conference was interesting and apart from meeting with old colleagues I made new friends. We stayed at the five-star Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, just across the street from what will be the tallest building in Dubai, the Burj (which means ´tall´ in Arabic).
Dubai is a very strange place, nice but strange. 80% of the population comes from other countries, mostly India and Pakistan. It is one of the few countries that earns more money from external investments than domestic production (Norway is another one, I think). It is amazing how fast the city is growing, everything is brand new. A couple of years ago there was nothing but sand here but now there are brand new highways, skyscrapers everywhere, shopping malls and supermodern residential buildings everywhere you go. This place is growing fast.
I was here a year ago but did not see anything but the hotel and the office. This time I went on sightseeing and shopping, dune bashing and skiing.
The seven-star hotel Burj Al Arab, i.e. ´the Tall Arab´.
Dune bashing is driving like crazy among the dunes with a jeep. A sandy rollercoaster ride! 
In the Emirates Shopping they have built a slalom slope inside the shopping! Great fun. It costs 40 USD for two hours, worth every penny!
