Visions of dust, sand and extreme heat punctuated by some of the most architecturally impressive and stunning buildings in the world -That’s what I thought Dubai was all about before landing there for the first time last week.

It’s amazing the mental pictures that we build up about somewhere prior to arriving and mine of Dubai were based on the tales that friends and family had shared with me over the years. I was curious, very curious.

One of the major tourist destinations for holidaying Emiratis in Australia is the Gold Coast in Queensland and my trip here was timed with for the launch of Emirates Holidays 2010 brochure, in which the GC features.

The Emirates Holiday Tradeshow is an annual event that features exhibitors from all around the world each showcasing the amazing things on offer in their country to around 2,000 travel agents from all over Planet Earth. It’s a truly international affair and flipping huge!

I have been invited along as the guest speaker for the opening day and my role is to give a 40 minute presentation to motivate and inspire the assembled masses into thinking more about adventure, travel and just to give them all something to think about. It’s one of the biggest room I’ve talked to so far and by all accounts everything goes very well with rapturous applause at the end and a good few people commenting on how motivated they now feel – it feels great to have inspired!

Tourism Australia are represented at the show with Queensland making up the bulk of the display but with so many other exhibitors there standing out from the crowd is the challenge. Paul Buggy from TQ conjures up a superb idea – a law court with the case for Australia claiming to be The Best Holiday in the World. Chief witnesses include representatives from Queensland, Sydney and myself along with Bugs Bunny and Tweetie Pie flown in from Movie World!

The evidence is overwhelming and no one can deny the facts – it IS the best of course!

Arriving to the dry heat of the Middle East brings the memories flooding back of previous adventures in the desert, back in 2008 I drove with a friend Luke through Mali in temperatures of 49c and there is something magical about humans existing in temperatures like this…but exist they do thanks to good old air conditioning.

Over the next few days we’re going to be based in Festival City on the banks of the Dubai Creek and my room looks out over the water with old-fashioned boat yards lining the shores and the skyline of modern Dubai in the distance.

There’s the media side of things to be covered whilst I’m here too with several journalists from the newspapers and magazines asking for interviews, of which a couple are below and there’s also a few online publications here and here

…and even a slot in the local radio station, Dubai Eye. Here’s the interview:

One of the more personal presentations I give is to the Dubai Men’s College as part of their Speakers Week. It’s to an interested crowd and the Dubai Ladies College have even come along and as with Muslim tradition there is a split in the room with the men on one side and the women on the other. At the end of my talk the questions are really different as there is such a work ethos here “How did you leave your family for so long?”, “My Best Job would be in an office not on the road!” and the classic “Do you always wear blue shirts!”

In amongst the work there’s also some time to explore some parts of Dubai itself and the first stop is out to Al Maha Desert Resort, 220sq km of dunes and sand that offer protection to the 300 Arabian Oryx that call this part of the world home. It’s extreme out here, exposed to the heat of the day, direct sunshine and very little to eat but the reserve offers a measure of protection and around the luxury Emirates Resort they are plentiful.

We head out across the wadi’s (sand dunes) and hit the slopes for some sand driving action, our guide expertly taking us through some pretty hairy slopes and drops. Oh to be driving across a desert again!

Dubai is also home to the world’s tallest building- the Burj Khalifa that towers above the city at 800.1m high. It’s nothing short of incredible with its enormous spire towering above everything far and wide that seems ridiculous, as most of the other skyscrapers are at least 20 stories high. From up on the viewing platform at Level 124 all other construction looks like it’s just a plan view laid out below.

On my last night I take up the offer of a local Emirati girl called Rihab who takes me on a superb 8-hour tour of the city and the sights, we start at the light and fountain show before heading down the coast to the landmark of the Burj Al Arab hotel at Jumeira Beach. This city is all about building and in any style, shape or size you want! Thank you Rihab for a totally comprehensive guided tour and amazing night.

My final morning in Dubai has two more presentations in it; the first to the Australian Business Council and then to the Board of Emirates here in the UAE – both to very high-up people within their industries and for some reason the nerves are jangling more than with a room of 500!

But they both go well and as I wrap up the tour and head back to the airport I’m thinking about the huge range of people around the world from all different walks of life who have at least heard of the Best Job in the World. From the hotel staff to the directors of major companies – something like 3,000,000,000 yes 3 BILLION people know or have heard about the campaign. Mind blowing.

For now the world tour has drawn to a close allowing me time back in Brisbane to think about putting the contents together for a book and to start to plan my kayaking expedition. Work in progress….

Ben