I am not an economist. Nor do I play one on TV. But I have a sense that we are in a bit of a boom time, here in the UAE. Certainly, in Abu Dhabi.

We arrived in 2009, which was pretty much the bottom of the global economic crisis. And things were going on even then, here in Abu Dhabi. (Including a $20 billion bailout of Dubai, where the economy came off the rails, for a time.)

Things have never been rough, in the capital. But also, I do not recall a moment when things seemed so … busy.

A thought which struck me while sitting on the expanded terrace of Lebanese Flower, a landmark Abu Dhabi restaurant. Which has recently expanded into four more locations.

Eating on the terrace, as they would call it in France, might also be known as “eating on the patio”, in the States. Or simply “dining outside.”

Only in the past few weeks has it seemed like a good idea. Through October, it was still too hot to be eating dinner away from air conditioning.

Now, most of the nights are in the 80s, Fahrenheit. Outdoors weather.

We have been going to Lebanese Flower since 2009. And for the first three or four years, anyway, it was repeats of the original experience.

Maybe 20 tables outside, to the left and right of the front door. Planters with hedge-type plants, to shield patrons from 11th Street/Defence Road, and mildly flirtatious waiters, guys in their 30s and 40s, who knew their business.

Inexpensive dishes. Maybe 30 dirhams (about $8) for most entrees, and every table got a dish of nuts, and then a big plate of vegetables, and hummus.

It often was crowded, during the winter. But a person could get seated, eventually. And Lebanese Flower did a significant business in shisha smoking.

Well, at least the shisha hasn’t changed.

The Lebanese Flower we went to tonight seems to be experiencing growing pains.

The terrace has been extended, and seats perhaps twice as many as it did two years ago. The menu is notable for a couple of changes: 1) a list of the several other Lebanese Flower franchises, including one quite close to where we live (but without a terrace); and 2) prices that seem to have gone up 20-35 percent almost across the board.

We did not recognize any of the wait staff. The older guy who fancied himself a jokester was not there. Neither were the two or three guys who just knew they were irresistible to women. (Replaced by other wait staff who know they are irresistible to women.)

We noticed the new prices — still not ruinous, but definitely north of where they had been — and we noticed when both of our main courses were cold, upon arrival. My shish taouk and Leah’s grilled lamb pieces.

That would not have happened at the old Lebanese Flower.

Perhaps it was waiting for the side order of kibbeh to be finished (can’t really make kibbeh and set it to the side for a couple of hours), but cold main dishes is a rather significant “fail”.

But the crowd on the terrace was good, and the guys honking horns and waiting for their food in their SUVs seemed as numerous as ever, so maybe the bottom line is still good. Or better.

It fits with a sense of thing picking up pace here, economically. Lots of buildings going up. Fast. Including the medical school buildings near where we used to live.

A statistic, last week, that the population of Abu Dhabi has doubled in less than ten years to more than 1 million. Even more malls, more towers, more hotels.

Perhaps the softening price of oil will slow this … it is under $80 a barrel, at last report. But this may be beyond that. Abu Dhabi perhaps is speeding up on the basis of its own momentum, built over several years.

The city seems more busy and more crowded, right this minute, than at any time in our five years. You can see it from the terrace of Lebanese Flower.