haaa-ppy birthday to ya...

And today Time Out Dubai turns Five... http://www.timeoutdubai.com/thisweek/detail.php?id=800

I thought their round up of five years in our illustrious city was pretty damn good really.. added my bits in italics.

What happened when
2001 - October• Time Out Dubai is launched.• The Rugby 7s loses its World Series status due to fears of terrorist acts following 9/11.• Verre by Gordon Ramsay opens. November• Virgin opens the first of its stores at Deira City Centre.December• Mina Moon parties attract 2,000 beach revellers every week.• The Dhiyafah Road flagpole – supposedly the biggest in the world – is officially inaugurated.
My first trip to Dubai was in November this year, to visit sproglet one two months into his life in Dubai, as it was raining in the UK. Went home and resigned shortly after landing.

2002 January• The heaviest rains in recent years result in floods and chaos on Dubai’s roads.• Petrol stations finally make the switch to unleaded fuel.March• Time Out Abu Dhabi is launched.• Roger Waters plays by the Creek.May• The ground-breaking Palm Jumeirah project is launched. Meanwhile, the government announces that foreigners can buy freehold properties.July• Fujairah is desperately in need of water after underground supplies dry up leading to chronic shortages.September• Time Out reports on the launch plans for Tangerine, Zinc, MIX and Boudoir.• Fake Viagra floods into the country according to the local media.October• Toploader play the Time Out first birthday party.November• Elton John and Jamiroquai perform. But not together, obviously.
Most importantly, I moved here that year. March. Lasted till August in the job i moved here for before i got the call to join the big M. Moved flats shortly afterwards when I discovered odd flatmate actually had OCD and was borderline insane.

2003 January• The inaugural Jazz Festival is held starring drummer Billy Cobham.March• The Grand Hyatt opens.• War in Iraq causes several airlines to suspend flights to Dubai.April• Phase One of Dubai Marina goes on sale.May• Burj Dubai and The World projects are launched by rival developers, Emaar and Nakheel. • Restrictions on bird imports are introduced due to the threat of avian flu.June• BA resume the twice daily flights between Dubai and London.• Emirates place the biggest order in aviation history for new aircraft.July• Ex-Iraqi Information minister Mohammad Saeed Al Sahhaf arrives in Abu Dhabi saying his life is in danger in Dubai.August• Precautions taken against a possible SARS outbreak.September• The first phase of the colossal Madinat complex – the Mina A’Salam – opens.October• Gig on the Green takes place featuring Suede, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and Fun Lovin’ Criminals.• Dubailand project is announced.November• Work begins on Mall of the Emirates.December• The tourist sector bounces back from the Iraq war as hotels report record numbers.
I visited Afghanistan and Pakistan, and moved flats - this time into my own place in Karama - the melrose place equiv with the antipodean contingent.

2004 January• Air Arabia launches the first of its low cost routes.February• Bryan Adams, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey perform.April• The inaugural Desert Rock takes place, though without Limp Bizkit who pull out two days before due to regional security concerns.• Enrique Iglesias plays DMC.August• The Madinat Jumeirah’s Souk and Al Qasr open their doors and winding corridors to the public.September• Rap star 50 Cent plays the Country Club.November• The UAE president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, dies.December• The inaugural Dubai Film Festival takes place.
Moved jobs again, to focus on PR for a bigger region, which kickstarted my quest to live in the Emirates business lounge. Moved again, this time to the polo club, to live with the horse doctor and Sharjah riding queen.

2005 February• Andre Agassi and Roger Federer play a round of tennis on the Burj Al Arab helipad.• Global Village moves to its new location by Emirates Road.March• Mark Knopfler plays at DMC.April• Luciano Pavarotti struggles through an hour’s set at the Madinat Theatre.May• Destiny’s Child perform.June• Power cuts cause a blackout across Dubai.• Investors lose millions in stock market crash.July• First phase of the Waterfront goes on sale and sells out immediately.August• Time Out Dubai goes weekly.• The plague of the poisonous red back spider is widely reported.September• The Black Eyed Peas and Tiesto perform.• Oasis shopping centre burns down.October• Rumours of a Justin Timberlake gig circulate the city, they prove false.• The first stage of Mall of the Emirates opens.November• Dubai suffers tremors from the earthquake in neighbouring Iran.• The earth also moves for 10,000 Phil Collins fans at his record breaking Autodrome show.• Government attempts to curb rent prices by introducing a 15 per cent cap.December• Ski Dubai opens.
Prentals moved to Dubai and sproglet one got engaged.

2006 January• Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum dies.• Danish products are withdrawn from supermarkets over the cartoon row.February• Time Out hosts its inaugural Restaurant Awards.March• Saxon are barred from playing at Desert Rock due to the supposedly inflammatory nature of the lyrics for their song, ‘Crusader’.April• Robbie Williams breaks all records with a 20,000 capacity show at Nad Al Sheba.May• J-Lo cancels her show for the second time.September• Rock Bottom celebrates its tenth anniversary.• Time Out reaches five.
Moved job again... i'm good at that it seems. Joined the agency in Feb and have made it this far. Well done me. Still haven't left DP though, although still thinking about it.