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-- Look out, here comes Dubai

Look out, here comes Dubai

take a look at this craziness. if you do a lot of browsing you've probably come across some of these things, but putting it all together gives you an idea of the larger picture.

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The Dubai government's decision to diversify from a trade-based but oil-reliant economy to one that is service- and tourism-oriented has made real estate and other developments more valuable, resulting in the property boom from 2004�2006. Construction on a large scale has turned Dubai into one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developments_in_Dubai

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http://www.dubai-architecture.info....80/DUB-GAL1.htm Dubai is said to currently have 15-25% of all the world's cranes. The Dubai Waterfront will be the largest waterfront development in the world. The Palm Islands in Dubai are the largest artificial islands in the world and can be seen from space. The Burj al-Arab hotel, worlds tallest hotel and considered the only '7 star' hotel and the most luxurious hotel in the world. Hydropolis, the world's first underwater hotel. The Burj Dubai, at an estimated height of over 800 meters, it will easily be world's tallest building when finished. It will be almost 40% taller than the the current tallest building, the Taipei 101.

An Arab government not bent on Israel's destruction...WOW!



Dubai shows us that capitalism still is the best path to prosperity. Not war or socialism.

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Originally posted by Krypton Dubai shows us that oil kickbacks still are the best path to prosperity. Not war or socialism.

Fixed.

Yep that one needed a good fixing.

Why would people wish to be a tourist somewhere if they can get arrested for having errant poppy seeds on their jacket when they arrive?

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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov Fixed.

They turned their oil wealth into capital investments. Iran has even more oil wealth and have yet to show for it to the degree which Dubai has.

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Originally posted by Krypton They turned their oil wealth into capital investments. Iran has even more oil wealth and have yet to show for it to the degree which Dubai has.

sponsoring terrorism is expensive.

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Originally posted by Krypton They turned their oil wealth into capital investments. Iran has even more oil wealth and have yet to show for it to the degree which Dubai has.

Iran also has 70million people and growing. Plus most western nations have an economic embargo on Iran due to American imperialism. So yeah stfu.

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Originally posted by Krypton They turned their oil wealth into capital investments. Iran has even more oil wealth and have yet to show for it to the degree which Dubai has.

This is a silly argument - Iran is twenty times the size of the UAE.

And oil wealth spurred 100% of that divestment. And capital investments have not been nearly so important as lax corporate laws that have attracted multinational real estate developers and import-export firms - 99% of the private sector labor force in Dubai are foreign nationals.

It also really helps that most of Iran's natural resources are re-exported through Dubai in order to remove the linkage between the West and the Iranian regime.

Yes, they've used their immense wealth to integrate themselves in the global economy more fully than Iran has. But in so doing, Dubai has lost any national character and has become a bland steel and glass resort community where foreign businessmen go to exploit opportune laws.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN sponsoring terrorism is expensive.

Sure is.

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Iran also has 70million people and growing. Plus most western nations have an economic embargo on Iran due to American imperialism. So yeah stfu.

WTF is your point? Thanks for proving my point..

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This is a silly argument - Iran is twenty times the size of the UAE. And oil wealth spurred 100% of that divestment. And capital investments have not been nearly so important as lax corporate laws that have attracted multinational real estate developers and import-export firms - 99% of the private sector labor force in Dubai are foreign nationals. It also really helps that most of Iran's natural resources are re-exported through Dubai in order to remove the linkage between the West and the Iranian regime. Yes, they've used their immense wealth to integrate themselves in the global economy more fully than Iran has. But in so doing, Dubai has lost any national character and has become a bland steel and glass resort community where foreign businessmen go to exploit opportune laws.

Exactly what I was saying. UAE has converted its capital assets and economy, namely energy, into a deregulated free market capitalist bonanza that few countries enjoy!! No wonder the capitalists flock en masse to Dubai.

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Originally posted by Krypton Sure is. WTF is your point? Thanks for proving my point.. Exactly what I was saying. UAE has converted its capital assets and economy, namely energy, into a deregulated free market capitalist bonanza that few countries enjoy!! No wonder the capitalists flock en masse to Dubai.

You're missing the (multiple) point(s).

1. Iran is a much larger country - oil revenue doesn't go nearly so far.

2. Iran has unfortunate... political... difficulties in exporting.

3. The UAE has sucked up to the West enough to become a focal point for re-exporting goods from highly suspect origins.

4. The location of Dubai near the narrow part of the Persian Gulf has a lot more to do with their success than anything else.

5. Your "deregulated free market capitalist bonanza" has done little for the actual residents of the UAE, who remain unemployed and poor as foreign workers flock into the country to work on the cheap.

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Originally posted by guerra-monstru Iran also has 70million people and growing. Plus most western nations have an economic embargo on Iran due to American imperialism. So yeah stfu.

YES!!!! more "Iran is just a victim" garbage... leftists. can't tell'em shit.

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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov You're missing the (multiple) point(s). 1. Iran is a much larger country - oil revenue doesn't go nearly so far. 2. Iran has unfortunate... political... difficulties in exporting. 3. The UAE has sucked up to the West enough to become a focal point for re-exporting goods from highly suspect origins. 4. The location of Dubai near the narrow part of the Persian Gulf has a lot more to do with their success than anything else. 5. Your "deregulated free market capitalist bonanza" has done little for the actual residents of the UAE, who remain unemployed and poor as foreign workers flock into the country to work on the cheap.

I say none of that matters in the big picture. It all comes down to economic system. Iran is a heavily nationalize/subsidized economy with heavy government involvment. The UAE is a deregulated free market economy with plenty of foreign investment jumping into one of the freest markets in the world. Classic lassez-faire capitalism. THe USA isn't even that free..

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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov 5. Your "deregulated free market capitalist bonanza" has done little for the actual residents of the UAE, who remain unemployed and poor as foreign workers flock into the country to work on the cheap.

Basically, yeah.

In fact, just a few days ago one of America's largest law firms, Latham & Watkins, issued a press release announcing a new office in Dubai (among other places).

http://www.lw.com/News.aspx?page=pr...blication=2113#

It definitely makes you wonder how much of that construction is really going to be used by homegrown businesses with actual UAE citizens working there...

That said, I do think that this sort of development represents a positive step for the UAE, even though most of the people there will not see much in the way of immediate benefits.

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Originally posted by Arbiter It definitely makes you wonder how much of that construction is really going to be used by homegrown businesses with actual UAE citizens working there...

The short answer is not much.

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Migrant workers comprise nearly 90 percent of the workforce in the private sector in the UAE. They are denied basic rights such as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. Human Rights Watch urged the UAE government to drastically expand its staff overseeing migrant labor treatment. According to government sources, the ministry of labor employs only 80 inspectors to oversee the activities of nearly 200,000 businesses that sponsor and employ migrant workers.

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/28/uae13090.htm

Inflation is skyrocketing in Dubai but wages are not. Since migrants aren't allowed to join unions and often live on compounds on the cheap, indigenous workers are getting pushed out in favor of cheap labor from abroad. It's not a good situation any way you look at it.

It's true that the elite class has done quite well, but it's hardly a model of development that I'd like to see other countries follow. It is really a lot more like exploitation than development.

I agree with Krypton here. The UAE has made the most of its natural resources. It has invested heavily in itself in order to transform into a very modern if not futuristic looking country, and the standard of living for the locals is high. Where are some of you getting your info that Emiratis are poor? Natives in countries like the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain have it quite good actually, both in terms of education and as far as job opportunities. These 3 countries are also a lot less strict then neighboring Saudi Arabia, and definitely much moreso then Iran. Even the non natives are treated much better in the UAE when compared to Saudi Arabia, and they make more money then they would back at home, whether they're from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, or countries like Egypt.

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Originally posted by CHRles I agree with Krypton here. The UAE has made the most of its natural resources. It has invested heavily in itself in order to transform into a very modern if not futuristic looking country, and the standard of living for the locals is high. Where are some of you getting your info that Emiratis are poor? Natives in countries like the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain have it quite good actually, both in terms of education and as far as job opportunities. These 3 countries are also a lot less strict then neighboring Saudi Arabia, and definitely much moreso then Iran. Even the non natives are treated much better in the UAE when compared to Saudi Arabia, and they make more money then they would back at home, whether they're from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, or countries like Egypt.

yes

Alright, now here's the flipside. There's a darker side to Dubai's evergrowing wealth. You're welcome to read the following, but it's a LOT to take in all at once so don't blame me if your head explodes in the process:
http://newleftreview.org/?page=article&view=2635

PS yes I realize there's a darker side to the economic success of many countries, but this thread is about Dubai. Besides, this article hints at some of the problems found in other countries.

Happy reading,
Charles

quote:

Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov You're missing the (multiple) point(s). 2. Iran has unfortunate... political... difficulties in exporting.

This point just undermined your whole argument...

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Originally posted by Fir3start3r This point just undermined your whole argument...

Not really - that statement was in regards to political constraints impeding Iranian development... it had nothing to do with Dubai but was merely a refutation of the comparison between the UAE and Iran.

The article Charles just posted is a good one, and illuminates many of the problems that Dubai is facing - the local population is by and large not affected by the construction of seven star hotels and luxury penthouse suites - those are all going to, and being built by, foreigners. Is that really a development model we want to see other countries follow?

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