Crazy Fast Development

This country has grown and developed at an unprecedented, mind-boggling rate. I'm sure I can find some statistics with which to dazzle you, but I think the photos I posted below can give you an idea of what I mean. In 1960, there was very little here. Dubai was a small, dusty, trading village and Abu Dhabi was also very sparsely settled. Most of the people still lived a traditional Bedouin (nomadic) lifestyle or else worked as fishermen or traders. Oil changed all that and the country has transformed itself from a traditional society to a 21st century, ultra-sophisticated, ultra wealthy nation in about 40 years. The older generation must be thoroughly confused. I am a little confused myself.

Yesterday we visited the Oasis Hospital in El Ain. This was begun by Christian missionaries in 1960. This was the first modern medical facility in the country. Before it came, the rate of death for women in childbirth was 50% and about 30% of children died at birth. Now the rates are similar to those of any developed nation. This is just one example to give a sense of the astonishing changes that have taken place in one generation.

Life was very harsh a generation ago. Traditional Bedouins lived in scorching desert conditions and subsisted on dates, camel milk, a little rice and a little fish. Now the Emiratis live in air-conditioned splendour and have a high rate of obesity and diabetes. Many of the problems they face are similar to those of the United States, but they arrived at these problems in one generation rather than hundreds of years.

One problem they don't face is crime; the crime rates are very low. I speculate this may be because the Emiratis have most everything they want, and the guest workers would be deported if they were caught.