Absorbing the Emirati culture in build-up to the Dubai World Cup

Having spent the best part of the last five months in the rural setting of Australia’s Hunter Valley, we now find ourselves in the heart of the Middle East – Dubai.

Not only one of the seven Emirates forming the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is also the city ruled by our generous patron and vice president of the UAE – HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Although the latter may seem obvious, to visit Dubai is to truly experience the love and passion that His Highness has not only for his city but equally for racing. This has certainly been the experience of the Godolphin Flying Start second-year team since arriving here ten days ago.

For more information on the initiative, visit the Godolphin Flying Start website

With applications currently open for the next intake of scholarship recipients, the temptation is there to tell you all about our adventures over the last week or so, and all that we have experienced to date. In saying that, I think my colleagues will agree that what we have enjoyed most so far is learning about Dubai, experiencing the culture and exploring this multi-national, buzzing metropolis within the Arabian Desert.

Our formative days here in Dubai were spent learning more about the place in which we will call home for the next three months. Taxation was a point of interest for me – I was amazed to learn that aside from the recent introduction of five per cent VAT, no one pays taxes. This includes corporate tax.

In Dubai, businesses must either be majority owned by an Emirati or within one of the designated “free zones”, which come with their regulations.

As well as this, we were also surprised to learn that Emiratis make up only approximately ten per cent of the population in Dubai. The economy here is driven by tourism, a cycle which drives hospitality standards as well as many other aspects of this city.

During our time here, we reside and have management lectures in the Emirates Academy of Hospitality and Management (EAHM). With similar intentions to the Godolphin Flying Start, the EAHM was established by His Highness to ensure the highest standards of training and experience within the sector of hospitality and management. A very clever initiative, in keeping with the main feeder of the economy.

To date, we have had several very memorable cultural experiences. Our time here coincides with the Dubai Racing Carnival, but aside from racing at Meydan and Jebel Ali (which were cultural experiences within themselves), we also spent a day visits the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, the Dubai Museum, the Souks and the Burj Khalifa.

A camel ride was also part of the experiences in Dubai

The ratio of Emirati to expats and the reliance on tourism means that Arabian and Muslim culture and tradition are more relaxed here than in the surrounding areas. For this reason, it was good to spend a day learning about the history of Dubai as well as learning more about Islamic traditions and getting an opportunity to visit a mosque.

Now when we hear the call to prayer ring out through Dubai at varying intervals throughout the day, we have a better appreciation for the five pillars of Islam and what it entails.

For anyone who has not visited Dubai, it is hard to explain just how breathtaking an experience it is. To those who have been, I am sure you share my sentiments.

With so much culture to absorb and so many things to do, I am certain there won’t be a dull moment for us in the build-up to the Dubai World Cup.