Back from Dubai

Dubai has to be one of the most extraordinary places in the world. Under the inspired guidance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the current Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Dubai has blossomed and flourished and become a phenomenal major world city.

Its architecture is breathtaking; its progress is truly phenomenal. It hosts major sporting events each year, including the Dubai Desert Classic on one of its superb new golf courses, plus major tennis events, rugby 7s and cricket.

Its shopping facilities, including its famous Duty Free at the international airport, are legendary and it now boasts the tallest building in the world.

When I was there last year, this massive skyscraper was being talked about. Now it is almost finished and stands towering above the city, which overlooks the Arabian Gulf, which in turn is graced by breathtaking hotels.

The population is 80% ex-pat and includes vast numbers from many nations, most of whom come to work for a few years as part of the thriving industry in the midst of this huge commercial base.

It has been a personal joy for me to visit Dubai frequently in the last few years and to try to be an encouragement to the believers who gather there as part of our international family, and also have excellent fellowship with believers from other contexts.

On this last visit, it was a special joy to meet the growing number of English, South African and other nationalities who are being added to the multi-national congregation, which has historically been largely made up of brothers and sisters from India, the Philippines, Pakistan etc.

Clive and Heather are doing a superb job and a growing team of believers who also work in Dubai are coming together in helping to establish a great testimony in the area.

It was a special joy to pray for the sick and see some wonderful healings and to be greeted by a couple from Johannesburg who have recently joined, the husband being an Emirates pilot and his wife having been healed from a thyroid problem when I had the joy of praying for her in Johannesburg earlier in the year.

Dubai is a great place to be. I would love to encourage businessmen, teachers, nurses and others who might like to consider short or long-term contracts to ponder the possibility of being in this magnificent international hub.

I certainly look forward to my next visit!