Jan 4: Emirate of Dubai, Persian Gulf early 2000s CE.
Multi–faceted 21st century Techno Pharaoh extraordinaire Sheikh Mohammed son of Rashid Al Maktoum, ascends to the Ruler–ship of Dubai in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Persian Gulf….
He redefines the contours of modern Arab culture and the limits of “Imagineering” in the early 21st century….
Cutting–edge vision, architecture and policies.
….personally sets up $10 billion dollar Arab world education–fund…Dubai emerges as one of the most harmonious and creative locales on the planet….a credit to the Arab world…and to humanity…
Courageously bucking pressure from the right wing of the Arab and Muslim world, the valiant Sheikh Mohammed sets up a Jewish–friendly and Israeli–simpatico oasis…of global tolerance and mutual respect.
…however, ominously, from Dubai’s neighbor to the north, Iran, just across the Persian Gulf, comes an eerie echo from Nazi Germany…
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Postscript: However, on February 15, 2009, after years of impeccable dealings, Dubai would surprisingly “disappoint.” Dubai blocks Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer from participating in a WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) meet (presumably in a very tight spot, under severe Arab militant pressure related to the Gaza mini–War of January 3–18 of the prior month). Four days later, after assorted “push–back,” Dubai reverted back to its “ecumenical incarnation,” and gave a visa to Israeli men’s tennis star Andy Ram to participate in an international men’s tennis tournament that same month.