Comments on: McEmirate’s: McDonald’s in Dubai http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/ Gary Arndt's journey to travel blog around the world Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:14:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mal http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-16479 Mal Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:45:15 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-16479 Hi Lara Hope u dont mind me messaging u.I will b travelling to Dubia next month on a family holiday.My first trip ever to the emirates and we all very excited.I am wondering if you have any tips to offer and could tell me what food prices are like eating out? Hi Lara
Hope u dont mind me messaging u.I will b travelling to Dubia next month on a family holiday.My first trip ever to the emirates and we all very excited.I am wondering if you have any tips to offer and could tell me what food prices are like eating out?

]]> By: Alex http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-9143 Alex Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:57:16 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-9143 I had a chicken big mac at the Sharjah airport. I not embarassed to say that McDonalds can be a handy resource when traveling for cheap meals, free wifi (sometimes), or clean bathrooms (sometimes). I had a chicken big mac at the Sharjah airport. I not embarassed to say that McDonalds can be a handy resource when traveling for cheap meals, free wifi (sometimes), or clean bathrooms (sometimes).

]]> By: Jeff B http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-7604 Jeff B Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:01:22 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-7604 Sort of related... I remember once having a discussion with a Belgian girl who was complaining about us (America) exporting McDonalds to her country (Belgium obv.) and Europe in general. I remarked if you guys wouldn't eat that crap then they wouldn't put them there.... Conversation over. Personally I don't eat McDonalds at home and have no interest in doing so when abroad, but it is interesting the differences. Safe Travels Sort of related… I remember once having a discussion with a Belgian girl who was complaining about us (America) exporting McDonalds to her country (Belgium obv.) and Europe in general. I remarked if you guys wouldn’t eat that crap then they wouldn’t put them there…. Conversation over.

Personally I don’t eat McDonalds at home and have no interest in doing so when abroad, but it is interesting the differences.

Safe Travels

]]> By: tacogirl http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-7594 tacogirl Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:57:25 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-7594 Got to this post from your twitter was a great read for this morning - thanks for that. Got to this post from your twitter was a great read for this morning – thanks for that.

]]> By: Michael Tefft http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-7592 Michael Tefft Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:51:54 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-7592 Very interesting article. I especially like that you point out that having western food stores in non-western countries does not destroy a culture any more than Chinese restaurants in America destroy our culture. Any you are right about the number of Chinese restaurants in the U.S., they are everywhere. Yet I still speak English. BTW, great photos. Very interesting article. I especially like that you point out that having western food stores in non-western countries does not destroy a culture any more than Chinese restaurants in America destroy our culture. Any you are right about the number of Chinese restaurants in the U.S., they are everywhere. Yet I still speak English. BTW, great photos.

]]> By: Gary Arndt http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-5922 Gary Arndt Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:24:22 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-5922 Today I go to Bahrain, then Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan. That is it for the Arab world on this leg of the trip. Today I go to Bahrain, then Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan. That is it for the Arab world on this leg of the trip.

]]> By: lara_dunston http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-5921 lara_dunston Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:15:45 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-5921 Yep, locals (as we call the Emiratis) officially make up around 10% of Dubai's population and closer to 20% of the country's, but those are figures that are often disputed. One of the first things I always send my guests to do (and I never get bored with it myself, even though I have lots of local friends) is the Cultural Breakfast at Sheikh Mohammed's Centre for Cultural Understanding. It's a non-profit organization staffed by locals that aims to build bridges between cultures and give foreigners (expats and visitors alike) the chance to meet Emiratis and get to know their culture/religion/way of life etc. It's fantastic.<br><br>Having lived in the UAE since 1998, for me, the most enriching part of the experience has been the development of friendship with Emiratis. They really are extraordinary people and in many ways (like Qataris, Bahrainis, Omanis too), are the quintessential Arab - gracious, hospitable, generous - and also very funny. I'm always wishing more visitors to these countries had greater opportunities to meet locals. They'd come away with very different perspectives to what many travellers come away with. And particularly to what you read in travel magazines. Just read yet another story on Abu Dhabi (the flavour of the month it seems) in a high profile travel magazine and the Abu Dhabi in the story (written by a journo who flew in for just 3 days) is very different to the city I lived in for 5 years.<br><br>Enjoy the rest of your time in the Gulf! Are you going to Syria and Lebanon. Two of my favorite countries. Now, I know you don't use travel guidebooks, but I'm very proud of ours on S&L. And our many books on Dubai/UAE. If you are heading there, you might also find our hotel reviews for Damascus, Beirut, as well as Cairo, on the Lonely Planet site helpful. Happy travelling! Yep, locals (as we call the Emiratis) officially make up around 10% of Dubai's population and closer to 20% of the country's, but those are figures that are often disputed. One of the first things I always send my guests to do (and I never get bored with it myself, even though I have lots of local friends) is the Cultural Breakfast at Sheikh Mohammed's Centre for Cultural Understanding. It's a non-profit organization staffed by locals that aims to build bridges between cultures and give foreigners (expats and visitors alike) the chance to meet Emiratis and get to know their culture/religion/way of life etc. It's fantastic.

Having lived in the UAE since 1998, for me, the most enriching part of the experience has been the development of friendship with Emiratis. They really are extraordinary people and in many ways (like Qataris, Bahrainis, Omanis too), are the quintessential Arab – gracious, hospitable, generous – and also very funny. I'm always wishing more visitors to these countries had greater opportunities to meet locals. They'd come away with very different perspectives to what many travellers come away with. And particularly to what you read in travel magazines. Just read yet another story on Abu Dhabi (the flavour of the month it seems) in a high profile travel magazine and the Abu Dhabi in the story (written by a journo who flew in for just 3 days) is very different to the city I lived in for 5 years.

Enjoy the rest of your time in the Gulf! Are you going to Syria and Lebanon. Two of my favorite countries. Now, I know you don't use travel guidebooks, but I'm very proud of ours on S&L. And our many books on Dubai/UAE. If you are heading there, you might also find our hotel reviews for Damascus, Beirut, as well as Cairo, on the Lonely Planet site helpful. Happy travelling!

]]> By: Gary Arndt http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-5919 Gary Arndt Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:58:42 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-5919 I have met very few locals anywhere in the Gulf. Everyone I interact with has been from South Asia (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka) or the Philippines. It seems that they make up most of the population of these countries. That has been the most surprising thing of my entire visit to the region. I have met very few locals anywhere in the Gulf. Everyone I interact with has been from South Asia (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka) or the Philippines. It seems that they make up most of the population of these countries. That has been the most surprising thing of my entire visit to the region.

]]> By: lara_dunston http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-5918 lara_dunston Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:48:25 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-5918 Hi Gary - but did you get to meet any locals (Emiratis)? I would have loved to have heard more on your thoughts about the local culture and your experience of it. You're writing about my (adopted) home town of course, so I'm keen to hear what visitors think. Shame I wasn't here while you were in the neighbourhood. <br><br>Liked your response to Eric's travellers vs tourists question, and I've written my own post today and linked to you today at cooltravelguide.<br><br>cheers<br>Lara Hi Gary – but did you get to meet any locals (Emiratis)? I would have loved to have heard more on your thoughts about the local culture and your experience of it. You're writing about my (adopted) home town of course, so I'm keen to hear what visitors think. Shame I wasn't here while you were in the neighbourhood.

Liked your response to Eric's travellers vs tourists question, and I've written my own post today and linked to you today at cooltravelguide.

cheers
Lara

]]> By: Kelsey http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-5709 Kelsey Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:41:40 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-5709 Great post. I asked around in Bangladesh why there wasn't a McD's there and was told that the local meat wasn't good enough. It didn't meet McD's standards. I thought that was pretty scary and have since become a vegetarian in any country that doesn't have a McD's. Great post. I asked around in Bangladesh why there wasn’t a McD’s there and was told that the local meat wasn’t good enough. It didn’t meet McD’s standards. I thought that was pretty scary and have since become a vegetarian in any country that doesn’t have a McD’s.

]]> By: Sean http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/01/10/mcemirates-mcdonalds-in-dubai/#comment-5701 Sean Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:15:11 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/?p=1131#comment-5701 I have it on good authority that you can also find something called "Damascus Fried Chicken" in Dubai, which I find hilarious way out of proportion. Five dollars if you can find Arabian Pork Chops on a menu somewhere. I have it on good authority that you can also find something called “Damascus Fried Chicken” in Dubai, which I find hilarious way out of proportion. Five dollars if you can find Arabian Pork Chops on a menu somewhere.

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