I live in Jumeira, and drive a Pajeira, but what is so glam about it?

A letter written in to Emirates Today last Thursday asking what was so glam about living it up in Jumeirah. There were not any responses to it. Pity, I was expecting an influx of irate Janes casting a million spells on him for saying such a thing!

As a relative newcomer to Dubai, it always surprises me when I hear that the Jumeirah area of the city is the most desirable district to live in. Can someone please tell me why? The roads are constantly full with choking traffic, massive construction holes and blue-suited labourers.The air is thick with dust, squalid heat and petrol fumes. The much-touted houses are nothing more than oversized villas with garish ornaments straddling the roofs, gates and walls.

Yet the smug look that follows anyone declaring they live in the area is a sight to see.Yes, I live in Jumeirah. I live near third-rate Italian restaurants, Starbucks, over-priced beach resorts I will never use and low-grade beauty parlours. Big deal. Is this really the best area of Dubai? Does it compare to Mayfair in London? The upper East Side of Manhattan? The Left Bank in Paris?

Hardly. Yet to hear the smug, sunglasses-onhead wearing, hire-purchase Porsche driving “media types” that rave about the place, you would be forgiven for thinking that the area was the most desirable place to live in the world. Please take off your Gucci shades, wind down your blacked-out windows and take a good look around. Jumeirah ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

SEAN FLYNN Dubai