Until the discovery of oil, the economy of Dubai was built primarily on pearls and dates. The latter of course is the greatest of all dried fruits, the loveliness of sweet but not too sweet with a texture that is unmatched by other fruits. You cannot escape the date in Dubai. It is a staple in every grocery store, peddled in kiosks in every mall, and featured in every duty free shop in the airport. It is found humbly in bulk, next to the spices and nuts and prepared foods; and it is found in more elegant variations, stuffed with almonds, or wrapped in chocolate.
In the United States, the most common variety of date is the Majdoul from Jordan, and indeed this is considered by many (according to some Internet research) as the premium variety. For many years, this was the only date that I knew and enjoyed. However, on recent trips to Dubai, I have had the opportunity to sample different varieties that are either unavailable in the US, or very difficult to find (I have not necessarily sought them but I have not seen them either).