I was treated royally from the minute I got into the limousine that took me from the Dubai International Airport to my destination.
On hand to greet me was Arun, the “welcome ambassador” who had accompanied the driver to pick me up and ensured that I had a pleasant 20-minute ride to the hotel. The friendly young man – as well as bottles of mineral water in the car to revive a parched traveller – certainly made a good first impression on a first-timer to the United Arab Emirates, as did the front counter staff who treated new arrivals and staying guests with warmth.