Dubai Propaganda

In Dubai, I spied this piece of government propaganda. The billboard features Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Ruler of Dubai. The birds have the flag of the UAE on their wings. He’s looking out on the skyline of Dubai and the Burj Dubai in the background. And his eyes are filling with the tears of pride…

Ah the propaganda! Only in Dubai would you have Ruler who has such an ego to put up billboards of himself.

Fast Food Dubai Style

After finding KFC, I also spied several other fast food joints. These were all found at the Dubai Mall in Duba, UAE. They use the iconography from the West, with the Arabic Script. Check out these gems from McDonald's, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. So all the Yum Brands are represented.

As I wandered the food court, I didn’t notice any locals eating at these establishments. I figure they must be here for the expats, holiday goers and the armies of migrant workers.

KFC in the MidEast

At the Dubai Mall in Dubai, UAE, I spied this KFC sign in the food court. Like Coach leather goods, KFC chooses to forgo English signage entirely.

The same big fat white guy (known as “The Colonel”) in the U.S. is the same big fat white guy in the UAE. Part of me wonders how this translates with the Arab locals and the vast legions of Indian migrant workers in the UAE.

Coach

In my grand tour of all symbols and signs in Dubai, I found this gem at the Dubai Mall in Dubai, UAE. Leather goods company Coach doesn’t use English on their logo at all. Coach uses Arabic signs only.

Baskin Robbins Arabia

I love logoed signs. The logo we know from the United States. But the language is different. I spied this Baskin Robbins sign at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE.

Arabic Skier

When you think Arabia and the Middle East, you don’t normally think snow and skiing. Well, I do. The highlight of Dubai is Ski Dubai – an indoor snowpark.

Although the one thing you have to deal with at Ski Dubai is inexperienced skiers, including falling skiers.

Dress Code

Dubai has a very strict dress code (see Be Respectful). I just love all of these Dress Code signs. I spied this one at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE.

Be Respectful

I spied this sign at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE. I thought it was completely ironic.

At the Mall of the Emirates (or in all of Dubai), public displays of the affection are frowned or, or are downright illegal. That’s public displays of affection between a man and a woman.

However, men can walk around holding hands or put their arms around each other. I noticed two guys with their hands on each other asses, stroking each other. Homosexual and homo-erotic behavior seems to be well tolerated.

Very ironic!