| If you looked on the various news headlines | | | | reported have had been the events like a friendly |
| emerging from the Middle East, you will notice a | | | | match organized between Andre Agassi and Roger |
| substantial shift taking place in the manner they have | | | | Federer on the helipad of Burj Al Arab hotel. Tennis |
| been reporting about this region as a whole. From | | | | balls kept falling down inside the Arabian sea as the |
| various military coups to the stories of political | | | | two players proceeded with some of their favourite |
| vendetta; from gun totting hostage takers to the | | | | strokes. Not too behind was Tiger Woods who made |
| unnerving interpretation of Islam; and from the | | | | use of the same helipad for his golf practice. Woods |
| so-called lack of democratization to the non existent | | | | was in Dubai to take part in the Dubai Desert Classic |
| human rights, the Middle East has always had to bear | | | | and couldn't resist the temptation of practicing on |
| the brunt of hostile news reporting. But, the emerging | | | | such a breathtaking height. |
| trade and commerce and tourism activities in Dubai | | | | If the celebrity spotting has become one of the new |
| are fundamentally changing this long held stereotyped | | | | trends in Dubai's social life, then so is the emerging |
| interpretation of the Muslim world now. | | | | competition among the hotel owners for making the |
| Don't be surprised therefore, if the British footballer | | | | best out of this pulsating market. They are making all |
| David Beckham and the Spice Girl Victoria are seen | | | | efforts, like building of more niche hotels, to cap this |
| walking out of one of its famous five star hotels, or | | | | upscale clientele. This means exclusively targeting the |
| if the reigning formula one champion Michael | | | | business travellers and the multimillionaires from |
| Schumacher is spotted unwinding somewhere on its | | | | across the globe. Apart from Dubai, Lebanon and |
| breathtaking shorelines. You will also come to notice | | | | Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt have also been trying to |
| some very famous names from the corporate world | | | | raise their stakes. However, the former is well ahead |
| making regular rounds of this famous city. From top | | | | in the race involving these three. |
| cine stars to sports celebrities and from the | | | | Dubai's desire of opening its borers to the outside |
| multi-billion empire holders to the average holiday | | | | world has been well received and reciprocated by the |
| making freaks, all are increasingly being seen on | | | | latter. As a result we are witnessing the very |
| Dubai's soil these days. This in itself, speaks a lot of | | | | fundamental image of the Middle East taking a new |
| how dramatically the world's vision of the Middle East | | | | turn in the global environment. By allowing so many |
| has transformed. | | | | expatriates on its soil, Dubai has made its friendly |
| The next round of Dubai Tennis Championships to be | | | | intentions clear. Expatriates will continue on playing a |
| held in February and March 2007 will be another treat | | | | crucial role in the local economy, hence making the |
| for the tennis lovers and the media managers both. | | | | exchange of the Arabian peninsula with the outside |
| Names like the William sisters - Serena and Venus and | | | | world stronger. It speaks of a pleasing scenario, |
| Andre Agassi have played on this venue and | | | | which will continue to get on more shades with each |
| enthralled the audiences in the recent past. Equally | | | | passing day. |