"I arrived at my friend's apartment close to midnight, crumpled and groggy, too weary to do anything except brush my teeth and go to bed. Open the suitcase: no toothpaste. No problem, my friend insisted, grabbing his phone with the little twinkle in his eye that people get when they're about to show off a neat trick. They deliver everything here, he said."
"This, a decade ago, was my first contact with Dubai. And though of course you can get gig-economy groceries in most major cities these days, Dubai still stands out as a world of shortcuts and simple conveniences, a world of abundance and plenty, a world where everyone and everything has its price. If you fancy a quadruple-decker club sandwich at 3am, Dubai has you covered."
A late-night arrival revealed Dubai's near-instant delivery culture when a motorcyclist delivered a single tube of toothpaste within minutes. The city emphasizes shortcuts and ubiquitous services, enabling effortless consumption and constant availability. Cheap taxis, rooftop bars, five-star hotels and expansive Friday brunches promote excess and waste amid relentless air conditioning and pristine malls. Social-media-ready spectacles of luxury and postcard sunsets encourage guilt-free indulgence. Ostentation and abundance permeate daily life, offering an escape from high-tax, cramped city existence. A subtle shift in that prevailing vibe has recently begun to emerge.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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