NationStates Jolt Archive

>>>> ZOMG! <<<< (http://dubai.isnuts.googlepages.com.nyud.net:8090/)! :eek:

(Warning: Page is image heavy!)

What in the hell is up with Dubai? Their national pastime seems to be the breaking of every major construction record ever set.

Here is Dubai in 1990:

http://dubai.isnuts.googlepages.com.nyud.net:8090/Dubai1990.jpg/Dubai1990-full.jpg

Here is Dubai (projected) in 2008:

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/1606/downtownfulllp6.jpg

Again: ZOMG! :eek: It looks to me like a scaled-down version of Coruscant (http://www.niubniubsuniverse.com/download/council/CityRight72.jpg), the city-planet from the Star Wars movies.

If you have a slow internet connection, here are all the Dubai megaprojects mentioned on the page:

There are more construction workers in Dubai than there are actual citizens.

Dubai has approx. 15-25% of all the cranes in the world

The Dubai Waterfront: will be the largest waterfront development in the world

The Palm Islands: the three largest artificial island complexes in the world. Will hold 2,000 villas, 40 luxury hotels, shopping centers, movie theaters, and much more. Visible from space.

The World Islands: 300 artificial islands forming the shapes of the continents. $30 million each.

The Burj al-Arab Hotel: Tallest hotel in the world. Also the only 7-star hotel. Built on an artificial island.

Hydropolis: The world's first underwater hotel.

The Burj Dubai: Will become the world's tallest building, topping the Taipei 101 tower by 40%.

The Al Burj: Competing with the Burj Dubai for title of world's tallest.

The Burj al-Alam/World Tower: Will top the Burj al-Arab as the world's tallest hotel. Will be 28 meters shorter than the Taipei 101.

Dubailand: Will be twice the size of Walt Disney World Resort (that's including EPCOT, MGM, the water parks, hotels, etc.). Estimated area: 3 billion square feet, or 150 square miles. Will cost $20 billion, attract 200,000 visitors daily, and contain 45 megaprojects along with 200 smaller projects, including Dubai Sports City.

Princess Tower: 100-story waterfront hotel; will be the largest residential building in the world.

Dubai Marina: entirely man-made arena that will contain over 200 high-rise buildings.

Dubai Mall: World's largest mall, will contain around 1000 stores and cover 9 million square feet.

Ski Dubai: the world's largest indoor skiing range (recall that Dubai is in the middle of the DESERT).

UAE Spaceport: will be the world's first spaceport.

Dubai Metro system: will be the largest fully-automated rail system in the world.

Dubai World Central International Airport: will be the largest airport in the world when completed. Will also eventually become the busiest airport in the world, based on passenger volume.

As if all of this were not jaw-dropping enough, consider these two facts:

> Citizens and businesses in Dubai do not have to pay any taxes. None.

> The government there only gets 6% of its revenue from oil.

So... what the hell?

EDIT: For more info on Dubai, check out this handy FAQ (http://anti-state.com/forum/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=15292).

Dubai is as much a business as anything else, and, as far as I can see, a very profitable one at that.

Dubai is rapidly becoming an important player in the global economy, and it's a very fascinating place.

And they'll be broke.

Hmm... reading the OP, it seems like it would be a very interesting place to live. Something to remember for the future, though the cost of living may quickly get out of hand.

Dubai and the UAE is becoming sort of a "middle eastern tiger", I just hope they manage to create an economy more diverse than just oil and tourism.

Citizens and businesses in Dubai do not have to pay any taxes. None.

:eek: there has to be a catch...has to...

what I'm wondering is will Dubai soon begin to sink?

edit: and Dubai has in effect Chinese slave labour building these monuments!

There is an article in this month's national geographic. A lot of this is because 80% of the population of dubai is wealthy foreigners, so there is no need for extensive social safety nets or government services. Added to that there are liberal banking laws and no taxes. It's also extremely socially liberal for the ME.

Basically its a place that people (rich) want to be and do business - because of the regulatory and tax framework. The building is just a consequence of that.

That said, there are significant numbers of TCNs who actually build these things that live in squalor and are paid a pittance. Utopia, Dubai, is not.

Wouldn't you have liked to have bought some real estate in Dubai 20 years ago?
Wonder how much ROI that would have generated.

That said, there are significant numbers of TCNs who actually build these things that live in squalor and are paid a pittance. Utopia, Dubai, is not.
Where there is unprecedented wealth, you will always find poverty not to far away.

Reminds me of that tower from Half-Life 2.

Wouldn't you have liked to have bought some real estate in Dubai 20 years ago?
Wonder how much ROI that would have generated.

Sure as hell makes me wish that i had bought property there or at least been able to have bought property there. I think i would actually enjoy living there, maybe one day after completing my goal to visit every country in the world, then maybe i'll settle down there in Duabi for relaxation