Dubai is surreal in many ways — an extravagant oasis in the desert that most logically shouldn’t be, at least were it were not for the influx of billions of dollars of petrodollars. Opulent, overdone, but still fascinating.
As many of you know, I collect photos of signs. The signage of Dubai proved an interesting hybrid. While mostly targeting Emirati citizens, it also needs to appeal to the large population of expats living and working here, and to the city’s extensive tourist traffic. As such, many of the signs are both in Arabic and in English. As it is a mostly newly built country, the signs are generally clean and modern, and many reflect a luxurious lifestyle.
Some of the signs were unexpected. For example, while reading in most Arab countries (except for the Koran) is not encouraged, there were a number of book shops. And, not a surprise, penalties for violating the rules of the metro were steep. Signs with photos of Arab women were definitely unexpected.
As part of my series on signage, I present here some of those I found in the United Arab Emirates.
(Perfume souk)
(Our Canadian readers will be delighted to know that Tim Horton’s cafes dot the landscape)
