Last week when I returned to Dubai, I chose to stay at a five-star hotel for a few nights, expecting impeccable service. However, I encountered something utterly speechless!!!

It happened during check-in. That day, we arrived just as a tour group did, and I ended up waiting in a long line. When it was finally my turn, the receptionist, who seemed to be from a small European country, was utterly indifferent and had a stern face.

I thought it might be because my English wasn't good enough, but then! Later, when I went downstairs to buy water, I saw her serving a Caucasian during their check-in, and her attitude was dramatically different, almost excessively subservient, perhaps an exaggeration, but truly very obsequious, almost to the point where it seemed her teeth would fall out from smiling so much!