MPI Gulf Meetings & Events Conference in Dubai and GITBM in Abu Dhabi

So, it's like 430 am on Friday morning. I'm up, just posted the blog about our Treasures event. I have to say I was dying to see the photos... But, it's now time to update you all on the big trip. Our main purpose in going is that Simply Mumtaz wants to open a branch office in Dubai. I must say that now after attending the conferences and staying for a few extra days to play... I think it's a good move. The MPI conference was held at the InterContinental Festival City in Dubai. It was very intimate with only 170 of us from all over the region, Europe, and a few of us Americans! But, the quality of attendee was next to none. We were able to have amazing conversations and the networking was fantastic. The InterContinental was terrific. It's such a new facility that you could have eaten your lunch off the floor! By the way, the hotel is a bit out of town center (no more than 10 minutes in the taxi) but the breakfast buffet alone is worth the stay! OH MY GOD, let's just say that. Also, I'd like to say the closing night festivities at Bab Al Shams were absolutely terrific. First timers, book this as an activity. It could use some show production tips, but overall one of the best Arabian experiences for your group!

After the MPI conference we all hopped on a bus to Abu Dhabi for the 2nd Annual GITBM conference. But before we go on... This was a bit of culture shock for me in terms of the terms they use.. us Americans use our own lingo and it was about a day before I could really start translating... If your looking to do business internationally, that's the first step - no the local lingo! SO - The GITBM was geared towards the Incentive market... Those bringing groups into the region as part of their incentive programs AND the second was the major convention business coming into town. I have to say UAE is really grasping what it is to be a major destination in terms of infrastructure, facilities - hotels, meeting and event venues, etc. I give 5 years and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be so on the map! Overall, the conferences - were absolutely amazing, I learned so much about the current market and was just inspired to see what's next for Simply Mumtaz!

OK, now to the fun stuff... Please see the fun photos... Let's start in Abu Dhabi. The first photos below are of two major icons to Abu Dhabi. For those that don't know Abu Dhabi is a seperate emirate (state) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). So, the first is of Emirates Palace. It's a gorgeous place. My photos don't do justice, but here is the center atrium, initial beach patio, and the front of the palace. At night time this place is even more beautiful.

The second major icon in the city is the Grand Mosque... it reminded me of the Taj Mahal.. even though I've never been. It's still under construction, but I tried to crop the photos so you couldn't tell. Just make sure if you go to visit, you bring a cover if your a woman.. it's respectful, they also have an on-site tourist "cover station" available. Also, pay the taxi to stay if your not on a tour bus. Taxis are not allowed to stay and there is no where close to catch one! BELIEVE ME!

NEXT, back to Dubai. I took a day tour to Hatta. It's a small village on the border of UAE and Oman. OMAN, now that's a place I really want to go next. It's totally in its infancy, but the natural activites to do there, diving, hiking, desert safari, etc. Very cool! That's on my list. Anyways, before we got to Hatta my tour guide since it was only a one on one tour, asked if I was spirited, meaning adventurous. I, of course, was like YEAH! So, we drive off the freeway, he let's out some air in the tires and off we go into the sand dunes! Dune bashing as they call it. WHAT A THRILL! Up and around, skidding or should I say slipping down sand dune slopes at 45 mph, this was so much better than a roller coaster... I few times we pushed the car I swore we were going to tumble down the slopes... But, here we are at the top! Oh, and for some lucky reason I have a nack of picking times to visit places when they are practically deserted! On our way out there was anothe 4Runner coming...

We then continued towards Hatta. We visited the Hatta Heritage Village before headed our way into the Hatta Wadi (Natural Springs).

So this is me on our hiking trip before we hit the Wadis... Isn't this an amazing shot.. the Mountains...


Don't I look I just conquered the world! It was so fantastic! It was so silent, all you could hear was the fast moving desert wind moving thru the valley, the buzz of some bugs near by, and just silence. WOW!

So, here are two odd points I thought I'd share... Via my travels to the Middle East, I've noticed onething.. They posted posters of their Kings... So, here is an example.

So the second is they always have elaboratly decorated doors usually in a blue color! I'm gonna start stopping to take photos of just doors. It's really very cool! I have to find the reasoning behind this, I would suspect it would have to do with the Evil Eye superstition.

Ok, back in Duabi now. Another very attractive trait to Dubai is it's Gold Souks! They also have the spice souk, the perfume souk, the textile souk! These are in essence the merchants direct type of shopping and you better bargain! My favorite was the Gold Souk! Windows upon windows of dripping gold! 14carrot - what's that? The minmum you'll find here is 22carrot!

This is a photo of the Bur Dubai souk.. it's a smaller souk opposite the Diera souks listed above.

This is the Abra Station during the day. The second during the night... In the center of Dubai is the Dubai Creek. It seperates two parts of the older town, Bur Dubai and Diera... For one dirham you get get across in an abra (boat). Gotta do it. Don't get intimated by the amount of people that go back and forth, my travel book estimates about 40,000 people use the boats every day to go back and forth to work. In a taxi you're looking at 20 dirhams min.

I had to do it and take a Dubai Creek dinner cruise... Let me say what an odd experience to do on your own. Lucky for me the Indian Father / Son couple from South Africa inherited me for the evening. We had a terrific conversation...

And, here it is... the ICON for the region... the Burj Al Arab! I kept looking for it in the Dubai skyline from the moment I flew in. When I finally saw it I felt giddy. Like WOW, I'm here. But, it was also a geography lesson... Dubai is a long city along the coast. So, the Burj is where I will call the top part of town with the Mall of Emirates - Ski Dubai, and Medinat Jumeirah. Then was the Marina and the Burj Dubai - the almost complete tallest building in the world... it will be a mixed use property... then you have Bur Dubai and Diera. So, I'd say the only real landmark you can see from all of these locations is the Bur Dubai. But anyways, isn't she beautiful!

I hope that you enjoyed this post! It was fun re-living these photos.... Our next post will hopefully be from the SME team in Cancun for our Indian Wedding.