The Truth Behind the Dubai Shock

What comes to mind when you hear "Dubai"? The world's tallest building, the world's largest shopping mall, the world's biggest theme park... At the same time, you might hear voices saying, "Isn't it all over now?" Many of you may remember the boom that began around 2006, as if to say, "You can't talk about overseas without knowing Dubai," with magazines and television constantly featuring lavish coverage of Dubai.

However, following the global economic downturn accompanying the 2008 Lehman shock, and the 2009 announcement of the Dubai government's default, along with concerns about non-performing loans for Western banks, a situation known as the "Dubai Shock" occurred. Japan's fascination with Dubai cooled instantly, and the boom faded. News about Dubai was dominated by signs of decline, and the number of TV programs and magazines introducing "luxurious Dubai" drastically decreased compared to before.

Yet, in reality, while the global economy and the Dubai Shock had an impact, Dubai's position as a Middle Eastern economic hub remained unshaken. On the contrary, it has continued to grow as one of the world's leading tourist destinations, boasting immense popularity not only among travelers from the Middle East but also as a "tropical paradise" for Europeans. Evidence of this is that Dubai's international luxury hotels are in a "seller's market," with reservations being difficult to secure for most of the year. Let me introduce one entity that symbolizes Dubai's "invincibility."

The World's Most Luxurious Police Cars

A few weeks before my visit to Dubai, I came across an article stating that the Dubai Police had introduced anAston Martinas a police car.Supercar "One-77"With a price tag of approximately 160 million yen in Japan for the UK model, it could be considered the world's most expensive police car. They had already introducedLamborghinis,Ferraris,and Porsches, so I felt I absolutely had to see them.

With a roar of the engine, theLamborghini"Aventador" Arrives

I obtained information from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing that National Geographic magazine would be photographing police cars at The Dubai Mall, and I rushed over. Unfortunately, the Aston Martin I was hoping to see was undergoing maintenance. Instead, a Lamborghini and a Ferrari were scheduled to appear. My anticipation grew.

The Dubai Mall is one of the world's largest shopping malls, so vast that you couldn't possibly see it all in a single day. If I had the chance to visit The Dubai Mall, I would want to spend at least half a day enjoying the shopping, but this time, prioritizing the police cars, I headed straight for the entrance area where I could see the designated spot, without so much as glancing at the shops, and waited intently for the "super police cars" to appear. After waiting for over an hour, just as I started to worry if it was a last-minute cancellation, theLamborghini Aventadorarrived with a spectacular engine sound.



As reported, the livery was primarily white with green accents. People began to gather, noticing the presence of the police cars, all with cameras and phones in hand. The doors opened dramatically, in true Lamborghini style, and the police officer who emerged, though appearing stern at first glance, was kind to children and happily posed for photos with a smile.

Then, another flashy police car arrived, painted in white and green. It was the latestFerrari "FF". A female police officer was at the wheel, and it was mentioned that these cars are often used for patrols in areas with many tourists. The female officer who stepped out of the Ferrari at this time wore a uniform consisting of a long moss-green skirt. While her face was not obscured, a scarf was visible beneath her hat. Ah, this was an Arab country.



What surprised me were the stiletto heels hidden by the long skirt. She was maneuvering the Ferrari in high heels that appeared to be at least 9 centimeters. Unlike the male officer driving the Lamborghini, she showed no smile to the men (or women) surrounding the Ferrari. This, too, was fitting for an Arab country. However, during the National Geographic photoshoot, she stood smiling beside the Ferrari, fulfilling her role as a model admirably.



This impromptu experience reaffirmed Dubai's drive to constantly seek the world's best.

Inquiries
Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
www.myfavoritedubai.com
dubai.japan@aviareps.com