-About this time last year, I was an International wide-body Captain for Kalitta Air, and I was sitting in the Metropolitan Palace hotel Dubai for four days at a time. This hotel is in Deira- not a bad place, but not the best either. Their is a "compound" that the Brits that basically run Emirates airlines have set up that includes several British pubs that are easily worth the $3 cab ride to from this place. Guiness on tap, and not expensive either. I was a 747 Captain back then-

That was last year. This year I am a 727 second officer. They usually don't even hand me the approach plate when they get done with the briefing. I get talked down to by janitors, and have grease stains all over the back of my shirt. When I jumpseat, they look at me funny "I don't know you..." and the FFDO Captains do snide things like leave their weapons on the console without explanation. I guess that is to "console" me or something? Whatever floats you boat buddy! I probably have more flight time than he does anyway, oh well.

Dubai has a great mall, the hotel will tell you how to get there via cab. The cabs are cheap and easily available, so I suggest you take one.

Last year in Dubai, I think it was in July: I decided to walk the 1.0 mile from the Metropolitan Plaza in Deira to the Deira mall, which is a very typical mall and even includes a French Carrefour "supercenter", a la Wal Mart. When I got there I was pretty sweaty- I didn't understand why, but later, when I walked the same mile back to the hotel...I learned from the television in my room that it was 114 degrees outside! Funny, this desert dry heat didn't feel at all different from Fort Lauderdale on a 90 degree day.

Be carefull where you walk down there. And drink lots of fluids!