A Relaxed Jackson Visits Dubai
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer


United Arab Emirates - In contrast to the frail, Michael Jackson cleared of child abuse charges in June, the king of pop appeared relaxed and friendly Tuesday during an ongoing visit to this Gulf sheikdom.

He ate Buffalo wings. He took a speedboat to a luxury villa on a manmade island. He buzzed around the Emirate with a race car driver and a prince.

The 47-year-old performer was even spotted looking over some of the world's most audacious real estate developments in flashy Dubai.

"He wants to see more of this area. He likes it here," said Mohammed Bin Sulayem, the Emirates champion rally driver who escorted Jackson on sightseeing tours, alongside their mutual friend, Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of Bahrain's king.

Jackson owns or is buying property in Bahrain, 300 miles up the coast from Dubai, where he took refuge after his 19-month trial and sensational June 13 acquittal of child molestation charges.

But unlike his reclusive stay in Bahrain, Jackson's visit to Dubai has included several appearances in public — albeit surprise ones.

The singer visited a pair of Dubai's $14 billion manmade island developments, touring the Palm Jumeirah, one of three palm tree-shaped archipelago under construction.

In personal snapshots Bin Sulayem provided, Jackson could be seen in his trademark black Fedora and sunglasses and a royal blue shirt, strolling alongside his Arab hosts, men in traditional white dishdasha robes and headdresses.

The singer also paid a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe, where he assuaged his craving for spicy chicken.

"We went there because he wanted to eat Buffalo wings," Bin Sulayem said. "We were sitting there with him and it was absolutely normal, we weren't under any pressure."

The singer was recently fined $10,000 for failing to appear in court to face a separate civil case in Louisiana on a claim of sexual assault.

what kind of fool goes to the united arab emirates to eat some buffalo wings at the hard rock cafe?!?

Anxiety said:

dook?

TheRealFiness said:

good point.

Anxiety said:

LOL