Bush to leave for Saudi Arabia after Dubai visit

Dubai: US President George W. Bush on Monday got a flavor of this cosmopolitan banking and business hub, whose glass skyscrapers and booming construction have turned it into the capital of Middle East bustle.

The soaring Gulf city-state is Bush's second stop in the country, following his gentle lecture on democracy in Abu Dhabi and an opulent picnic at a desert horse camp on Sunday. The Dubai visit is part of a trip aimed at invigorating Mideast peace talks and keeping pressure on Iran.

Even before Bush touched down in Dubai, he had an impact.

The government declared Monday a national holiday and shut down many main roads and bridges.

On a day of cultural diplomacy, Bush began with a stop at the historic home of the former ruler, now a museum loaded with photos and artifacts of the emirate's history.

The president grinned and tapped his foot as a group of girls stepped rhythmically to Arabic music, their long hair swinging from shoulder to shoulder. The light rain that fell during Bush's arrival did not dampen the mood.

Bush then had lunch with students of the Dubai School of Government, a research and teaching institution that focuses on public policy in the Arab world. The president and his hosts sat on cushions, set in a circle, their food in bowls on the carpeted floor before them.

“I'm most impressed with what I've seen here. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and equally importantly, the desire to make sure all aspects of society have hope and encouragement,'' Bush later told a gathering of entrepreneurs and others affiliated with a young leaders' group.

The session was held in a conference room high atop one of Dubai's signature buildings, Burj Al Arab.

“I also want you to understand something about America - that we respect you, we respect your religion and we want to work together for the sake of freedom and peace,'' Bush told the group.

Bush was departing the Gulf region later in the day for meetings in Saudi Arabia.