While the focus of most of the worlds media is on conflict areas in the Middle East, a silent revolution is taking place in the Gulf States. A rapid modernization process is taking place in this part of the Arab world, one that we have never seen before.Imagine an island called 'Happiness'. This is not a fantasy, it truly exists and will soon arise on the coast of Abu Dhabi, one of the largest Emirates in the Persian Gulf. A silent revolution is taking place in the Gulf where petro dollars are floating and Bedouin tents have long been replaced by a world of luxury and indulgence. While most of the worlds media focus on the Middle East as a region of conflict, a rapid modernization process is taking place in this part of the world, one that we have never seen before.
Due to high oil prices, Dubai and its neighboring Abu Dhabi are enjoying a transformational moment that could deeply affect the region, if not the entire world. Backlight takes you on a flight to the island of Happiness and shows you the impact of this dynamic process on a society that will become the model for a new Arab world.