Qatar - August 8, 2011

I have been in Qatar since June 30th.  I guess it has been five weeks since I left the States.

You could say a lot has happened since I've gotten here and in some cases, not much has happened.  Over the past two weekends I've gone to Abu Dhabi to meet our Project Director there and to Dubai to meet our project director on the Dubai Metro as well as finish a proposal due today in Qatar.

The trips gave me a chance to do two things.  One, and most importantly is connecting with the local staff and understand their personalities and issues.  Try to make that connection and help develop solutions to their problems.

The issues both have are finding the right staff willing to come to the region for the right price.  I need to understand the barriers for those folks, whether it is an HR issue, salary, housing, etc.  I know this is solvable, but I need to engage with them.

The second benefit of leaving Doha over the past two weekends is getting out of Doha for a day or two.  Primarily, this is a small town with little to do outside of work - for me.  If I'm here I'm working.  By going to the other locations I can still work, but it is a diversion from the routine.

The biggest issue I need to solve (or at least mitigate) is how to make sure this assignment is as equally rewarding for my wife.  Now that she has left her job to prepare for her move, the question of "What am I going to do when I get there?" comes up more and more every time we talk.  I have directed her to the typical expat wives websites .

Day 6 – Monday, February 21st. Off to Dubai

On Monday I took off for a three day visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  I was looking forward to it for various reasons.

Primarily I wanted to see Dubai.  I’ve heard so much about it over the years and the project we are doing there.  My curiosity was up, but I’ve also heard Doha will be the next Dubai.  In seven years Dubai has gone from nothing to Disneyworld on steroids.  I wanted to see it.

As this journey started, this beginning was no different.  I got to the airport to find my ticket wasn’t issued and I’d have to buy a ticket – WHAT!?  I was told I’d have to get to the airport two hours in advance of my flight – thank God, I had to wait in line to get my bag x-rayed, go to the check in desk to find out I didn’t have a ticket and go back out to the Qatar airlines ticket desk to buy a ticket.  Like I said it takes me two times to get anything right.

Got to the gate in plenty of time and off to Dubai I go.

I was met at the airport in Dubai by an old friend who whisked me through Dubai to our project office.  At the office, I was invited to lunch and off we went.  Initial impression, Dubai is a mix of Disney World and New York City, Doha is kinda like Baltimore.

After lunch I was given a presentation on our work with the RTA on the Dubai Metro then off to the Metro Station for a ride on the system.  I could talk about the architecture, which is fascinating, the interior decorations, the large raised steel bits on the floor to guide the sight impaired, the contactless smart card system used for fare payment, the “gold” level car with a special section for women and children, the simple beauty of the car interiors.  A lot to take in on a first visit, but what really struck me was how quiet the system was.  Very quiet and it had a very smooth start and stop.  Totally automated except for the attendant that checked tickets when folks boarded the “Gold” car to make sure they had the right ticket.   Nice.

Rode the Metro system to the Mall of the Emirates. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mall_of_the_Emirates

Ski Dubai is located in this mall, as well as many major US and UK retailers.  How funny to see people on a lift and skiing down a small hill.  There was a tubing ride for small children and a sledding run too.  Nice.

I was promised dinner at the Iranian Grill.  We drove over to the grill and got a table.  As soon as we sat down it started to rain.  Who knew, rain in the desert.  The place cleared like a tornado was coming.  People took off for cover in every direction.  No Iranian Grill tonight.  We ended up at a, of all things, steak house.  The food was good, conversation delightful.

Very tired out, still not adjusting to the time change.