Question:
Why on earth are they building massive shoppong centres and all these apartments if Dubai's population is hardly anything? I don't get it. Sydney cant even build a 235m tower because there will be no tenants, out of 7 million people in NSW... Dubai has 1 million? Im very curious, I dont get it? And besides no1 is able to afford all this anyway??????:nuts:

Population now is 1.3 million.

Dubai has 3.62 children born/woman.
Age structure:
0-14 years : 32% (male 375,709; female 360,199)
15-64 years: 66% (male 975,868; female 511,692)
65 years and over: 2% (male 25,869; female 12,972) (July 1997 est.)

So population growth is strong and will be getting stronger. Not to mention the amount of foreign investment into Hotels, Holiday apartments, Constant arrival of expatriates, new international business and the amount of air traffic passing through Dubai.

So all in all Dubai is growing faster in population than any Australian city, not to mention economy. 2.5 million is the Estimation and plan for Dubai by 2020 is realistic and very achievable and depending on the success of there ability to captivate the world and draw them to Dubai it could start to grow very fast after 2020. Remember most of these projects are sold out; apartments have worst returns in Dubai out of all the developments, Hotels are sold out and Office space is expensive, but developers like the instant returns of Apartment sales.

^^ It is actually 2.45 million by 2015 according to the strategic plan. The population growth rate (birth and immigrants) is 8%.

when will dubai get density. someone totally needs to build dense lowrise structres all around the shiek freeway but out from it, not along it.

wicked statistics! great buildings!

Dubai is more dense than any Australian capital. It terms of SZR there is BD, BB and DIFC they will all bring density. Who knows what could happen after.

OMG did any1 just watch 60 minutes DUbai??? Thats not amazing, that is heaven!!! My dad has been pressuring me to go stay with my uncle in Dubai and work there and I have been saying NO, I HATE the heat, but then again maybe i can stand the heat for 1 year..!?? That place was WHOA!!!!!!!! CONFUSCIOUS!

OMG did any1 just watch 60 minutes DUbai??? Thats not amazing, that is heaven!!! My dad has been pressuring me to go stay with my uncle in Dubai and work there and I have been saying NO, I HATE the heat, but then again maybe i can stand the heat for 1 year..!?? That place was WHOA!!!!!!!! CONFUSCIOUS!

The woman in that aussie family they showed was such an ignorant moron. I wanted to gouge her eyes out. "I'd never even heard of Dubai! I had to do a google search *laughs*". What a buffoon.

The woman in that aussie family they showed was such an ignorant moron. I wanted to gouge her eyes out. "I'd never even heard of Dubai! I had to do a google search *laughs*". What a buffoon.

Wat about that other woman with the fake face... muhahahaha did u c her! She reminded me of one of my aunties, but not that bad! hahaha.

The new design of FOUR SEASONS Hotel in Dubai Festival City has been unveiled.

It went from this:

http://i5.tinypic.com/242beyf.jpg



to this (http://www.dubaifestivalcity.com/explore_hos_four.asp):

http://www.dubaifestivalcity.com/images/fourseasons_side.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/3zbyf6s.jpg

How do they compare for height? They are both amazing designs!!!

^^ the 2nd one's shorter :)

i like the older 1

i like the original but new one is certainly a dif approach. love the beam of light which acts as a connection. i wonder if reality will look like this?

both look like that thing in paris

News/info about Al Burj ... and Aussies involvememnt :cheers:


http://i16.tinypic.com/312a44n.jpg


http://vdmg.com.au/market.html

...and "Amazing Dubai" just doesn't stop!


World's largest residential tower will provide 'height of luxury'

Publisher: Jon Land

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/640/52843474tf7.jpg

The Pentonium in Dubai will become the world's tallest residential tower
Plans for the world’s tallest residential tower - the Pentonium in Dubai - have been unveiled today.

Trident International Holdings has partnered to create unique alliances with premium brands from across the world for its new 516 metre-tall tower, a development they describe as the 'defined height of luxury'.

The top floors of this world’s only Pentominium will contain a Sky Lounge, Sky Pool, Business Centre and a private observation deck along with ladies & gentleman’s health clubs and a cigar lounge, squash courts, a banqueting hall and private theatre.

Each individual residential unit will take up a complete floor of the tower providing over 6500 sq.ft. of living space.

Each floor will have a private foyer of its own and smart biometric access control.

Taking the element of luxury living spaces to another level are entire floors which are uniquely suspended in mid air, giving the impression of floating penthouses in the sky.

“Our aim is to create the new benchmark in luxury living,” said Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wazir Ali Daredia.

“This aim is reflected in all our projects and is what differentiates Trident and its projects. Through the alliances we have partnered with for Pentominium, along with the uniqueness of this proposition, we will achieve this.

“The building will be iconic, and its residents exclusive. They will be living in a piece of history.

“Trident’s strategy has always been to offer innovative luxury features combined with premium waterfront location, and the Pentominium development is the very expression of this.”

Trident is positioned and acknowledged internationally as a boutique developer of successful and highly visible residential towers in Dubai, including Marinascape, Bayside Residence and the Trident Grand Residence.
Like Trident’s other projects, Pentominium will be no more than 500 metres from the waterfront at Dubai marina; the centrepiece of new Dubai.

Daredia added: “Our background in luxury goods demonstrates our precision and finesse, our understanding of true opulence. We do not sell towers, we provide a lifestyle.”

Pentominium is being designed by award winning and world renowned architects and designers Aedas. Based in Britain, with offices around the world Aedas is responsible for a number of striking buildings and developments in Dubai and across the Gulf already.

Interior design of Pentominium will be undertaken by Hirsch Bedner & Associates, exclusive designers of Ritz Carltons, Grand Hyatts & Four Seasons worldwide.

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4402/70232238ct1.jpg

There will be a dedicated Concierge Service by Quintessentially, the international private members club, which will be available 24 hours a day to meet residents’ needs whether locally or across the world.

Through a series of unique alliances Pentominium owners will have the rights to use a fleet of premium automobiles including a Rolls-Royce Phantom that comes as part of the Pentominium experience along with world renowned Azimut yachts for leisurely trips across the Arabian Gulf.

The tower’s spa will be run by Six Senses Spas, the operators of a number of premium world class health resorts around the world including the multi-award winning Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, itself one of the top 10 spas in the world according to Forbes.

All public areas will be crystallized by Swarovski and each Pentominium unit will be fitted with state of the art sound equipment Bang & Olufsen can provide.

Pentominium’s business lounge (overlooking The Palm) will be accessorized by exclusive Tiffany accessories.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3018/13702245rr9.jpg

Lol 100m taller than the WTC.

"Pentominium".

Element number 125 on the Periodic Table.

Cheers,

Adam

Dubia annoys me so much its not funny i mean look at all of this. Its amazing yes i agree but the money could be better spent in helping other countries in healt and education than building palm tree shaped island and concret jungles.

Yes dubia has a right to build a city a great city at that but seriously if they arent careful all of this greedieness will come back at them and dubia will seriously collapse becasue most of the buissnesses their are governm,ent funded becasue they are giving workers expensive and more benifits.

I h8 the fact they are going to make a tower bigger than aussies own Q1!!!! i mean come on leave something for other countries to be proud of!!

Dubia Dubia Dubia.....

haha very funny i only said dubia ummm 1...2 3 times :D

Dubia annoys me so much its not funny i mean look at all of this. Its amazing yes i agree but the money could be better spent in helping other countries in healt and education than building palm tree shaped island and concret jungles.

Yes dubia has a right to build a city a great city at that but seriously if they arent careful all of this greedieness will come back at them and dubia will seriously collapse becasue most of the buissnesses their are governm,ent funded becasue they are giving workers expensive and more benifits.

I h8 the fact they are going to make a tower bigger than aussies own Q1!!!! i mean come on leave something for other countries to be proud of!!

They are opening up the market the Sheik sells of land to private Developers and Develops other land with there own companies. Dubai's say will end, thats true but Dubai gives more aid than most nations. They are Producing products and are industrializing very fast. People think it's all toping and no ice cream and this is false.

Richard,

This might help on finding out if the MILLENIUM TOWER is 280/285 or 300+ on top pf spire:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.whitbybird.com/pics/projects/brightStartMast_01.jpg
http://www.whitbybird.com/practice/teams/dubai/brightStartMast.jpg

from: http://www.whitbybird.com
Bright Start roof sculpture
Bright Start Tower, Sheikh Zaid Road, Dubai, UAE

On behalf of the fabricator, we analysed the dynamics of the 32-tonne steel roof sculpture that will identify Bright Start Tower — a mixed-use development some 60 storeys tall.

The 42m steel wand, averaging 2.5m in diameter, is clad in aluminium panels and fixed at its base to an 18m high steel platform supported by the roof of the tower. Taking wind forces into account, the sculpture will result in reactions of up to 150 tonnes on some of the platform's supporting columns.

To harness the sculpture's dynamic response to wind, we recommended the introduction of a 600 kg chain damper attached to top of the structure inside the frame. This free-hanging weight acts to contain lateral excitation within acceptable limits.

Wind tunnel testing to our specification confirmed our calculations, enabling us to report to tower engineers on behalf of our client
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

:cheers:

MARVEL Comics Theme Park for Dubai in 2011.

Spiderman, X-Man, Fantastic4, The Hulk, Actionman and many others ... are comming. :runaway:

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS more pumped into the Australian economy:

http://i10.tinypic.com/3zar7k7.jpg

^thanks altind. intresting about millinuem towers.
yes multiplex is a great firm "the well built Australian".
cheers

Their Government recognised and realises that their current oil-based economy will crash when oil runs out.

So they are moving into make Dubai a major tourist destination with resorts, hotels, shopping precincts, and now theme parks to attract tourists and expanded coverage of their airlines (Emirates move into Australian skies for example) to get them there.

Question:
Why on earth are they building massive shoppong centres and all these apartments if Dubai's population is hardly anything? I don't get it. Sydney cant even build a 235m tower because there will be no tenants, out of 7 million people in NSW... Dubai has 1 million? Im very curious, I dont get it? And besides no1 is able to afford all this anyway??????:nuts:

Question:
Why on earth are they building massive shoppong centres and all these apartments if Dubai's population is hardly anything? I don't get it. Sydney cant even build a 235m tower because there will be no tenants, out of 7 million people in NSW... Dubai has 1 million? Im very curious, I dont get it? And besides no1 is able to afford all this anyway??????:nuts:

Sydney and Australian cities can't build this many highrises because they are building so many greenfield/detatched house suburbs at the edge of town. Where would people live if the only place to build was on land that has already been developed. The only way would be up.

This isn't exactly true in Dubai other than the fact that they are not building to many detached houses. I assume because of the heat and how uncomfortable it is outside, people prefer to live in highrises where everything is much closer than in the suburbs.

If there was a real life Sim City - this is it.

feb 2007
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/381688473_0e641a47b9_b.jpg

What traffic problems? They should see Sydney's roads....



construction of lightrail stystem to ease traffic problems
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/387744111_49ec5eb714_b.jpg

Wow a 10 lane freeway, no traffic and there just constructing a rail system next to it because they can i guess?

Thats whats wrong with this retarted country we call Australia, we can't even build public transport when we really need it, even then it takes 10 or so years :ohno:

Multiplex is a traitor!!!!

Build those towers in Sydney, not in Dubai!!!!

Multiplex is a traitor!!!!

Build those towers in Sydney, not in Dubai!!!!

Meh. Multiplex was a traitor to Perth. Long ago. They should be building them in Perth!

Meh. Multiplex was a traitor to Perth. Long ago. They should be building them in Perth!

Ahh what's the use. Your mining boom isn't converted into skyscrapers.

Weren't Multiplex traitors long before now? When they started work on Wembley Stadium maybe.
I just showed my flatmate a few pictures of Dubai as she's going there in a few weeks. She was shocked as she didn't think it was one massive building site.

^^ So she wanted to to see pictures of Dubai and you showed her some building site pictures?

Anyway she will not even notice the building sites, what she'll remember will be the free booze ladies get everywhere.

Dubia annoys me so much its not funny i mean look at all of this. Its amazing yes i agree but the money could be better spent in helping other countries in healt and education than building palm tree shaped island and concret jungles.

Yes dubia has a right to build a city a great city at that but seriously if they arent careful all of this greedieness will come back at them and dubia will seriously collapse becasue most of the buissnesses their are governm,ent funded becasue they are giving workers expensive and more benifits.

I h8 the fact they are going to make a tower bigger than aussies own Q1!!!! i mean come on leave something for other countries to be proud of!!

There is no greediness, and they help other countries alot. Just because you don't know what other countries & what kinds of investments, it doesn't mean that they don't exist. It is not their responsibility to take care of other countries. What they do for other (developing) countries is a gift, and its more than enough.
And, your jealousy is not going to get you anywhere. You set your own limits when you give statements like these:
I h8 the fact they are going to make a tower bigger than aussies own Q1!!!! i mean come on leave something for other countries to be proud of!!

Wow a 10 lane freeway, no traffic and there just constructing a rail system next to it because they can i guess?


Uh, no traffic? :lol:

^^ I'm staying late at office just to avoid it :lol:

Culwulla is going to love this:

http://i16.tinypic.com/3z7pq1s.jpg

Notice the red tag on the left side, at the same level as the 22nd floor. Time for diagram correction I gues. :D

Holy Shite. Thats just Massive.

here you go, another project recently approved: Pentominium 516 metres, 120 floors and will become the tallest residential tower when finished :crazy2:

http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/7/4/10/f_pentominiumm_bcdeea6.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?srv=img03&img=/7/4/10/f_pentominiumm_bcdeea6.jpg)

http://img02.picoodle.com/img/img02/7/4/10/f_pentominiumm_f6193bd.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?srv=img02&img=/7/4/10/f_pentominiumm_f6193bd.jpg)

^^ So she wanted to to see pictures of Dubai and you showed her some building site pictures? Anyway she will not even notice the building sites, what she'll remember will be the free booze ladies get everywhere.

Oh no she won't. Good old ladies nights. If they drink like my friends did there (male & female), she won't remember any of it.
:booze::crazy2::drunk::dizzy: :eat::sleepy: :puke:

What a hot apartment tower. I seriously don't see how all these can sell!

the pentominium will only worlds tallest resi if Chicagos 610m spire isnt built. but it looks like it will start soon.

Q1 will loose its title.

Q1 will loose its title.

Always considered Eureka to be taller than Q1 anyway... the highest occupied floor in Eureka is about 60m higher than Q1's.

Always considered Eureka to be taller than Q1 anyway... the highest occupied floor in Eureka is about 60m higher than Q1's.

It's on!

Meh who cares, Q1 will be out of the top five by the time this thing is built.

DWTCD had some new renders released and they are rather good if you ask me.

Near DIFC and Emirates Towers
http://i17.tinypic.com/4dzgefn.jpg

New Layout for Dubai.
http://i12.tinypic.com/403lhrr.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/2z7mnfs.jpg

^^ What the...? How big is Dubai going to get? It must have the highest skyscraper density in the world!

Wow! Those towers look very American!

Wow! Those towers look very American!

Yeah especially the Aon Center & Library 'US Bank' Tower in this picture!!

http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/7/4/10/f_pentominiumm_bcdeea6.jpg

Uh, no traffic? :lol:

Apparantly traffic is an absolutley huge problem in Dubai at the moment (even though the pictures dont show this) but public transport is all but non-existant so the amount of cars on the roads there during peak hour is phonomenal!

Yeah especially the Aon Center & Library 'US Bank' Tower in this picture!!

http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/7/4/10/f_pentominiumm_bcdeea6.jpg

lol, this topic's been discussed to death! It's very common for renders to have buildings from other cities in them. It's just laziness I guess. :P

New DIFC tower, will be East of Emirates Towers, Near SZR. 400m.
http://www.difc.ae/press_centre/archive/2007/images/376.JPG

Love the design...and the wind turbines!

Thats a real nice nice one. OMG, I said something nice about Dubai....

That towers wierd..

Hope no birds get sucked up into it!

I love that tower! One of the better buildings to be built in the Emirates.

that Lighthouse tower is stunning! Dubais highrise architecture is superior to other cities atm.

that Lighthouse tower is stunning! Dubais highrise architecture is superior to other cities atm.

Yeah if you are paying some attention to what is goin on there. ;)

i think we should send our refugees to dubai instead of america, lol that way they will have to build public housing and stuff and then they will be more like the western world like they are trying to be.

I'm starting to hate dubai :)

i think we should send our refugees to dubai instead of america, lol that way they will have to build public housing and stuff and then they will be more like the western world like they are trying to be.

Huh. Dubai has no citizens that come from overseas (yet). Thus that would be impossible and they would end up working for crap wages making no money.

Is Dubai a slum?

Al Sharq Tower. Re design. Now 100 floors - 360m tall.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/altind/AlSharq.jpg
what happen to this project

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/998_3_1000%20Atkins%20Lighthouse%203.jpg

what happen to this project

Still go as far as i know. Could have been moved to BB or it's been replaced.

That brown tuby one (Al Sharq) is plain ugly

wow that city shot is cool. If there are no immigrants as of yet, then why are they building all those apartment towers lol? Surely the population of the UAE isn't growing that fast :lol:

The immigration rate is 28/1000 in the UAE, the highest in the world I guess !!

no its not its 26/1000. But I think it might be the highest. I'm sure Australia would be high if we let in anyone who wanted to come, or in that case if any country did :)

They Don't do it like this in Aus.
http://i15.tinypic.com/30xa17b.jpg

No wonder they build em so fast!!! :shocked:

^^ ^^ Where is that??

^^ ^^ Where is that??

Dubai, Marina. Torch Tower 345m tall.

wow, there is more people working there than many towns populations in australia!

That brown tuby one (Al Sharq) is plain ugly

Dig up some info and detail on it. It's an awsome building.

simply amazing
model of 328m INDEX showing entry via ponds and cascading waterfalls.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3847/imresolt040co1.jpg

Index has a great aussie connection, Woods are architects, Multis building and APPI the Project Managers

Huh. Dubai has no citizens that come from overseas (yet). Thus that would be impossible and they would end up working for crap wages making no money.

Huh, I would say that 98% of the population of Dubai is ex-patriate. Whether they are citizens or not, the major majority of people that are there were certainly not born there.

Might be 96%, but there is no where in the world with a higher expat population.

Scale of Dubai development mind-boggling
Turi Condon, Property editor
May 15, 2007 (http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21731324-25658,00.html?from=public_rss)

AUSTRALIAN property developers can only dream about selling 1000 apartments in a single day, or working on one project that has 297 apartment buildings, rather than 297 apartments.
But that's Dubai, where everything is bigger, brighter and sells faster, at least for the time being.

"I didn't fully understand the scale before I got here," said Chris O'Donnell, CEO of the Dubai government-owned Nakheel, which describes itself as the world's biggest privately owned developer.

Mr O'Donnell previously headed listed Australian property group Investa, before moving to Dubai just under a year ago to run Nakheel.

Nakheel has 16 large-scale projects under construction in Dubai, the most western of the seven states that make up the United Arab Emirates, including the massive reclamation projects where sand has been pumped from the Arabian Gulf to form three islands in the shape of palm trees, and one in the shape of the world and measuring 9km by 7km. Nakheel says Palm Jumeirah is the biggest man-made island in the world, covering 560ha.

Mr O'Donnell said Nakheel, which only develops in Dubai, owned more than 2 billion square feet of land worth about $US30 billion ($36 billion). "I'm not sure I could actually guess the end value of all our development," Mr O'Donnell said.

Nakheel is the master developer of all the land, much of which it develops itself, although chunks are carved off and sold to smaller operators.

Gold Coast-based Sunland Group, which last week launched a Palazzo Versace hotel and apartment project in Dubai, has bought one of Nakheel's sites.

Mr O'Donnell said one of the biggest projects would be an 80km-long, 100m-wide canal that would loop around the city and be ringed by apartment, office and retail projects.

But in a city which has 15 per cent of the world's tower cranes, questions are being asked about whether the development boom is sustainable.

Mr O'Donnell argues that it is, with the influx of foreign companies setting up regional headquarters, the port (the world's third largest), a burgeoning tourism industry, political stability and the fact that Dubai is within a four-hour flying radius of Europe and other regions taking in a population of 1.7 billion.

But cracks are starting to appear.

Despite a 14-lane highway cutting through the city, traffic jams are becoming legendary, and housing prices in some areas are coming off the boil after as much as doubling a few years ago.

Arab investment bank EFG-Hermes expects a housing oversupply in 2008. But it says strong population growth, with the almost 1.4 million now growing to almost 1.9 million by 2010, will generate demand for about 40,000-50,000 apartments a year.

According to Standard Chartered Bank's Dubai residential property index, apartment prices rose 10.1 per cent in the year to October 2006 while villas increased 30.1 per cent.

"Frenzied growth in demand, particularly in the past two years, has far outpaced the speed at which new residential properties are being built, a trend that has pushed up prices and whetted the appetite of developers," EFG-Hermes said.

Projects so far announced would see the number of residential units in Dubai double by 2010, the bank said.

But the extent of the downturn would depend on the actual supply - some projects are facing delays - and the amount of homes for sale on the resale market, it said.

Rents should also begin to come down after extraordinary growth and yields should come back to global averages after 2008, the bank said.

1.4m to 1.9million in 4yrs? 125,000 ppl a year?? Yeah right....even NYC only grows by about 110,000 per/year.

^^ then even our current growth is higher than NY.

1.4m to 1.9million in 4yrs? 125,000 ppl a year?? Yeah right....even NYC only grows by about 110,000 per/year.

What's so hard to believe? People keep on coming up with the same rhetoric, 'how are they going to fill all these buildings?' Well the answer is 125,000 extra people a year!


Another Sunland development in Dubai:


Sunland in $860m Emirates project
Turi Condon
May 17, 2007 (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21743545-25658,00.html)

GOLD Coast-based developer Sunland Group is planning an $860 million luxury residential and retail project in its second Dubai joint venture with British/Arab consortium Becfar.
In a sign of the red-hot Dubai property market, Becfar will pay Sunland $33 million to be involved in the project. The new joint venture would then share 50-50 in the costs and profits or losses of the development, Sunland said.

Becfar's involvement has resulted in Sunland's first Dubai land fund, which would have provided development funding for the project, being shelved.

The new project will be on part of the 3.2ha Dubai Waterfront site at Palm Jebel Ali which Sunland purchased from government-owned developer Nakheel in February for $107 million, to be paid over the next two years.

Sunland managing director Sahba Abedian said the partners planned to start work next year.

Becfar is owned by Britain's Balli Group and the United Arab Emirates-based investors Farbro Group and Arsh.

In April the partners paid $32 million for a 2300sqm site in Culture Village in another part of Dubai, close to Sunland's D1 apartment tower and the Palazzo Versace project.

"It is anticipated that the Dubai Waterfront will be launched at the end of the year," Mr Abedian said.

The Gold Coast-based developer would earn fees for the project management, design, construction and sales of the project.

"The partnership with Becfar is strategic because it allows Sunland to focus upon its core business in the region of development and project management," he said.

More than half of Sunland and its partner's $5.5 billion portfolio is made up of offshore projects.

The group is also project managing the $4 billion White Bay master-planned community 60km north of Dubai at Umm al Quwain.

Last week The Australian reported that Sunland had sold 34 apartments in its Palazzo Versace project to an Iranian company for $US170 million, and 16 floors in D1 for $US80 million.

However a report from Arab investment bank EFG-Hermes expects a housing oversupply starting in 2008.

Sunland shares closed at $3.59 yesterday, down 2c.

By Graham Summers
May 18, 2007

Picture Miami: the palm trees, the sun, the warm weather, and the wealth.

Now lower the humidity, add Arabic to the signs, clean up the city considerably, invest $100 billion, and you've got Dubai.

Dubai is stunning. The buildings are all less than seven years old and represent the efforts of the world's finest architects. The Burj Dubai, currently scheduled to be the world's tallest building, is less than half complete and already dwarfs the other skyscrapers. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill - the same firm that designed the Sears Tower in Chicago - the Burj Dubai's architecture is striking: The base is modeled after a three-petalled flower native to the region.

Other luxury construction efforts include an indoor ski slope, three manmade peninsulas in the shape of giant palm trees, and "the World": 300 manmade islands arranged in the shape of a globe and costing between $15 million to $45 million a pop.

It's a stunning example of what can happen to a city when it opens itself to foreign investment. Prior to the 1950s, Dubai was a small fishing town, with three hotels, a four-lane main drag, and little economy to speak of. Fortunately, the emirate had a visionary in then-leader Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who dredged the region's primary river using borrowed capital from Kuwait in the late 1950s.

With a river wide and deep enough for commercial shipping, Dubai became a primary trade port… eventually capable of docking 16 ships at once. The development made Dubai the Chicago of the Middle East, bringing in an economic boom similar to what the Windy City saw in the late 19th century.

Between 1956 and 1968, Dubai's population nearly doubled. However, it wasn't until 2002 when Sheikh Rashid's third son Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum allowed foreigners to buy land in certain regions of Dubai, that the economy exploded.

In less than six years, Dubai underwent a complete transformation from semi-desert to cosmopolitan metropolis. Under Sheikh Mohammed's leadership, downtown Dubai sprang up, and its main strip, the Sheikh Zayed Road, grew from four lanes to 12.

Similarly, Sheikh Mohammed created the idea for Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City: Two of Dubai's "free" zones in which foreign companies can buy land and operate without paying corporate taxes. By forcing international companies to all set up operations within a particular region, Dubai manufactured its own tech boom. Today, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, HP, NBC, Reuters, CNN, and CNBC are all located there.

Entire cities have erupted out of the desert. On Wednesday, I drove through New Dubai - the latest residential free zone. Try to imagine an area the size of downtown Baltimore completely under construction. The below picture is one of 30 I took, all looking the same. I finally just gave up trying to capture what I was seeing on film. No one would believe it anyway.

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2167/20070518chartasx8.gif (http://imageshack.us)
It's beyond eerie: A ghost town where no one has moved in yet. Even more incredible is the following statistic: Between 15% and 20% of the world's construction cranes are at work in Dubai.

Dubai's GDP grew an unbelievable 16% in 2005. Tourism generated nearly a third of the growth, outpacing both energy and real estate. Last year, Dubai hosted more than 6.5 million visitors, generating $3 billion in revenue. Today, tourists outnumber residents by a ratio of 5 to 1.

Plans are in place to build another airport - Dubai's third - that will feature 16 runways. Not gates, runways. Developers are planning to build around the airport another 850 high rises: four times the number in downtown Atlanta.

If you think this sounds impossible, you're not alone. But as my contacts here have stated time and time again, "Everyone's been shaking their head in disbelief for 50 years here. And so far the sheikhs have proven us wrong every time."

Dubai is a fantastic example of how markets can flourish when governments are investor-friendly. I've been here researching investment opportunities all week. I'll be reporting some of my findings in my Inside Strategist newsletter.

Good investing,

Graham

http://www.dailywealth.com/archive/2007/may/2007_may_18.asp

i don't understand Dubais growth, i mean how many people are willingly going to move out to the middle east with all the troubles it has (even though UAE doesn't but it is a mindset many have). I am and will always be sceptical about the size of Dubais development, as much as i love it :)

I reckon go and visit and then make up your mind.

I know its amazing and i don't need to visit for that. But that doesn't mean i want to live there :p No intentions.

How does Dubai generate electricity? Oil-fired power stations? Solar? Will they be able to keep up with demand?

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8919/14119fw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Embassy of United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Seoul contributed the following article on the occasion of a visit to South Korea by Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE, and ruler of Dubai on May 20-21. -- ED.

Hotels in Dubai are steadily increasing with 302 hotels and 111 hotel apartments recorded by Dubai Municipality’s Statistics Center in June 2006.

The world-famous man-made offshore developments along Dubai’s coast, such as the Palm and World islands, will support numerous hotels and resorts.

A concentration of land-based hotels along the Sheikh Zayed Road/Al Barsha Road includes at least 12 new projects that add 2,948 rooms to the emirate’s ``room-bank.”

Among them are the five-star, 250-room Armani Hotel in the Burj Dubai development, due to open in 2008, and the five-star, 400-room Kempinski Hotel in the Mall of the Emirates.

Meanwhile, new developments on Dubai’s Jumeirah coast involve at least seven hotel and resort developments and the coastline north of Dubai Creek is also receiving attention with six confirmed hotels and resorts.

In addition, Dubai specializes in giant shopping malls and is building numerous theme parks and other attractions.

Plans were unveiled in 2006 for a $27-billion resort and entertainment complex, the Bawadi project, spread over 13 million square meters in Dubailand.

This will feature a cluster of 31 hotels, offering more than 29,000 hotel rooms, including the world’s largest hotel, the 6,500-room Asia Asia hotel.

This is expected to accommodate more than three million tourists by 2016.The first phase of the project, which includes the Asia Asia Hotel, will be operational by 2010.

The emergence of Dubai as a top holiday destination is also attracting the attention of cruise lines.

Dubai’s weather and tourism infrastructure are supporting development of a new cruise destination for the industry that lacks a viable turnaround port when winter strikes the Mediterranean, Alaska, North Europe and the Baltic.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is constantly active in promoting the emirate as a tourism destination of worldwide significance.

It mounts regular media and advertising campaigns and is a major presence at regional and international travel markets and fairs.

The home and regional market is of growing significance with over two million Arab hotel guests staying in Dubai in 2005. There was also a significant increase in the number of German hotel guests to Dubai in 2005 with their numbers totaling 264,298, an increase of 12 percent from 2004.

Media and Culture

Dubai announced plans to restore over 300 historic buildings in the emirate by 2010 as part of the government’s architectural conservation plans. Certain buildings will be submitted for inclusion to UNESCO’s approved list of heritage sites.

At least three of Dubai’s major historical sites, Shindagha, Bstakia and Hatta Heritage Village, are already under consideration by UNESCO. The Shindapha Heritage Area alone contains around 65 heritage sites.

Al Bastakia Quarter has around 55 heritage sites, about half of which were restored by 2005. Amongst these buildings are Sheikh Saeed house _ an elegant late nineteenth century, two-story building of Arabic design, complete with four wind towers, housing a unique collection of rare coins, photographs, stamps and documents; Bait Al Wakeel _ Dubai’s first office building dating back to 1934 and now housing a museum devoted to Dubai’s fishing and maritime traditions; and Al Ahmadiya Scholl, Dubai’s first regular school, established in 1912 and now a museum of education.

The restored Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai was originally the ruler’s residence; it subsequently became an arsenal, then a jail, and is now a thriving interactive museum with a wide range of archaeological and ethnographic exhibits.

The underground section of the museum houses lifelike exhibits of an ancient souq, a Qur’an school, typical Arabic households and an oasis.

There is also a display of the desert by night with interesting local wildlife. Historical buildings are major tourist attractions in Dubai and are also used for commercial purposes to generate some income and support the restoration work.

A hotel is being run in one of the restored buildings, while others are used for restaurants and coffee shops. Some of the restored buildings have also been rented out for residential purposes.

Infrastructure

Dubai’s strategy is focused on investing billions of dollars in continually developing aviation infrastructure.

In particular, it is planning for a large increase in passenger throughput as it equips its facilities with the capability to rival major transit hubs such as Heathrow and Atlanta.

Again Emirates airline, which is based at Dubai International Airport (DIA) in the center of Dubai, has been a major catalyst for growth at the airport. Passenger traffic at DIA has increased by 247.8 percent from 7.1 million in 1995 to 24.7 million in 2005.

Currently, 113 airlines operate from the airport, flying to over 160 destinations, Dubai recorded and air traffic growth of 14 percent in 2005, when 24.7 million people passed through the airport compared to 21.7 million in 2004.

Cargo at Dubai airport’s cargo village registered a 20 percent growth in 2005 with a total volume of 1.3 million tones compared to 1.1 million tones in 2004.

This exponential growth continued in 2006 as flight (at 116,543) in the first half of that year increased by 10.31 percent over the same period in 2005 (105,646 flights). Passenger traffic increased by 6.24 percent to 13.75 million during the first half of 2006.

Dubai Cargo Village handled 690,775 tons of cargo compared to 627,704 tons in the first half of 2005, an increase of 10 percent.

Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) expects to see 29 million passengers pass through the airport by the end of 2006, with cargo touching 1.4 million tons.

To facilitate this growth, the second phase of DIA’s $4.1-billion development plan is well under way. This includes construction of the new Terminal 3, Concourse 2 and Concourse and an upgrade and expansion of Terminal 2.

Terminal 3 (a multi-level underground structure featuring lounges, restaurants, a hotel and 10,000 square meters of commercial space, including Dubai Duty Free outlets) and Concourse 2 are scheduled to be operational by the first quarter of 2007.

When the project is completed, Dubai airport will be able to handle 70 million passengers a year.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2007/05/180_3202.html

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5722/20778uaeskoreazs8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Sheikh Mohammad is leading a team of ministers and businessmen in Seoul

UAE to boost ties with Seoul


Emirati energy minister says more time was needed to finalise oil deal with South Korea.


SEOUL - United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum told South Korean businessmen on Monday he wants to build a "partnership" between Seoul and his booming oil-rich Gulf country.


But the UAE's energy minister said more time was needed to finalise a memorandum of understanding on stockpiling Emirati crude oil in South Korea.


"This visit will, God willing, strengthen ties ... and turn (them) into a partnership," Sheikh Mohammad, who is also vice president of the UAE and Dubai's ruler, said after arriving in Seoul on a two-day visit.


A number of bilateral cooperation accords are due to be signed on Tuesday. The UAE prime minister will meet both President Roh Moo-Hyun and his South Korean counterpart, Han Duck-Soo.


The UAE is South Korea's second largest crude oil supplier, with shipments of 158 million barrels in 2006.


Total trade between the two countries doubled in the past three years, rising from 7.96 billion dollars in 2003 to 15.8 billion dollars in 2006, UAE Economy Minister Sheikha Lubna al-Qassemi told the businessmen.


South Korean companies recently clinched major deals in the UAE. Two firms are building power plants there, while Samsung is building "Burj Dubai," a tower projected to be the world's tallest skyscraper in the emirate of Dubai.


Sungwon Corp, a construction firm, said Monday it had signed a preliminary deal to take part in a multi-billion-dollar development project in Dubai, one of the seven members of the UAE federation.


Trade exchanges remain tilted in favour of the UAE, whose oil sales to Seoul last year were worth 10.6 billion dollars.


Sheikh Mohammad is leading a team of ministers and businessmen in Seoul one year after the two countries signed a series of economic agreements during a visit by Roh to the UAE.


These included an MoU that paves the way for the stockpiling of UAE oil in South Korea.


UAE Energy Minister Mohammad bin Dhaen al-Hamli said on Monday that the two countries still need to work out the commercial terms of the agreement, and this requires time.


"We have signed an MoU on the broad lines ... There must be agreement on commercial aspects," he said.


Hamli said storing oil "might not be appropriate" at this point for the UAE, which is currently pumping 2.6 million barrels per day, given the present high level of demand for crude.


"The important thing is that there be an agreement to cooperate" on oil supplies, he said.


Obaid al-Tayer, chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Emirati businessmen can benefit from the experience of South Korean companies in project management and IT research and development.


Emiratis in turn "can share our experience in making Dubai a business hub," and the UAE can also help source material needed by South Korean industries, he said.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=20778

The development is pretty amazing no doubt, though a lot of the Dubai forums, especially the palms, are soooo off topic now. It's not really about skyscrapers or the developments. It's just a place now for people who have bought villas or apartments to discuss renting and handovers and fixing snags etc.

Amen. The Torch thread is the worst along with Ocean (3 year delay) heights.

i have another bone to pick with dubai, lol.
how can they think they are going to become a world class city and have all these huge high-rises , malls and all that crap, yet they still have public "lashings" (if anyones been watching the news youd see Australians avoided a public lashing)
what a fucking joke

^^ Whos the idiot that told u that we have public lashing? Not that there is a problem with it anyway !

Do they have public lashings in Abu Dhabi? I think that is what the news report said.

^^ No public lashing anywhere in the UAE

^^ No public lashing anywhere in the UAE

Yep, but weren't lashings for non-Muslim's only banned very recently? Muslim's are still subject to lashings depending on the crime they commit as far as I know...

^^ Whos the idiot that told u that we have public lashing? Not that there is a problem with it anyway !

Yeah what news reports? Channel 7,9 or 10 all these stations are crude and misleading. They do there best to aviod the truth when reporting news. P4L is dumb enough to beleive what they say as well.

I know its amazing and i don't need to visit for that. But that doesn't mean i want to live there :p No intentions.Money, money, money! ppl get offered hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to work in the office buildings over their. Not only that, but they get free cars, a house until they can buy one or rent one for themselves, etc. It's quiet amazing really, i mean i couldn't see how bringing all of these ppl into the country is going to help support it when the oil runs out?
rirwi4

Yep, but weren't lashings for non-Muslim's only banned very recently? Muslim's are still subject to lashings depending on the crime they commit as far as I know...
We do have lashing but not public lashing and I don't know if it was ever applied.

Anyway, just because Australians (or any others) consider lashing an illegitimate punishment doesn't mean we should follow their way.

Dubai is a package, take it or leave it :)

Money, money, money! ppl get offered hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to work in the office buildings over their. Not only that, but they get free cars, a house until they can buy one or rent one for themselves, etc. It's quiet amazing really, i mean i couldn't see how bringing all of these ppl into the country is going to help support it when the oil runs out?
rirwi4
Actually that's fairly wrong

^^ Whos the idiot that told u that we have public lashing? Not that there is a problem with it anyway !

many different television stations.
of course there is a problem with it, it's the most backwards shit ever, while dubai may be moving foward in all the areas that the western world value (highrise, malls, disneylands and all that crap) it's society is very much behind, the fact that you can't kiss in public? that there are stil lashings, you people are still living in 500BC for fucks sake, don't blame it on the muslim religion either as religions should be subject to adjust with modern times, and islam has, eg. when praying 5 times a day i believe a lot of muslims in non-muslim countries just fit them in with their schedule rather than go to the mosk during the middle of the day.

For the record, Perth4life, the UAE does NOT prosecute people for kissing in public, they only proscute for making out in public, which incidentally is true in many other countries - take a look at the link below -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4132801.stm

The Italian gentleman was kissing and making out in a public place and was fined. Big deal.

Take a look at this link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/3716976.stm

An English school restricting pupils from explicit behaviour. A phenomenon restricted to Dubai ? I think not.
And how about Australia -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/801377.stm

They are PERFECTLY ENTITLED to prosecute people who make nuicanses of themselves - take a look at this story from Australia's own press -

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21788910-5001021,00.html

And lastly indecent exposure is illegal in many places including Australia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indecent_exposure

I think I can rest my case !

I would add that three Aussies were lucky lately to have coused all those trouble in an UAE Airline. If they were on the way to the USA, they would have been locked down for years, instead they were let free. :bash:

We do have lashing but not public lashing and I don't know if it was ever applied.

Anyway, just because Australians (or any others) consider lashing an illegitimate punishment doesn't mean we should follow their way.

Dubai is a package, take it or leave it :)

It's got nothing to do with lashings being illegitimate or inhumane (which they are), it's just the fact that banning lashings against 'infidels' just goes to show that Dubai is at the mercy of foreigners. It's a sign of weakness if anything. You'll do anything to please the values of foreigners and expats, while Muslim's are becoming second-rate citizens. How sad.

For the record, Perth4life, the UAE does NOT prosecute people for kissing in public, they only proscute for making out in public, which incidentally is true in many other countries - take a look at the link below -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4132801.stm

The Italian gentleman was kissing and making out in a public place and was fined. Big deal.

Take a look at this link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/3716976.stm

An English school restricting pupils from explicit behaviour. A phenomenon restricted to Dubai ? I think not.
And how about Australia -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/801377.stm

They are PERFECTLY ENTITLED to prosecute people who make nuicanses of themselves - take a look at this story from Australia's own press -

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21788910-5001021,00.html

And lastly indecent exposure is illegal in many places including Australia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indecent_exposure

I think I can rest my case !

"They say "unwanted" students who are caught kissing, swearing and smoking are treated differently from others."

of course the schools going to discourage people smoking and swearing? and they probably don't want them kissing because it'll distract them from their work. A school is a lot different to what might happen in society.

and yer of course indecent exposure is illegal, that's why people get arrested for streaking, otherwise it would just be pitch invasion. But i've never once seen or hear of anyone persecuted for kissing or even "making out" in public, those articles did nothing to back up your case.

I agree with P4L. A modern city needs to embrace modern values otherwise it is just superficial. Infact, Dubai is the definition of superficial.

For once I am in agreeance with P4L. and hence Dilaz. Not being racist or anything, but the middle east is still really in the dark ages when it comes to values.

^^ This feeling is mutual, believe me.

It's got nothing to do with lashings being illegitimate or inhumane (which they are), it's just the fact that banning lashings against 'infidels' just goes to show that Dubai is at the mercy of foreigners. It's a sign of weakness if anything. You'll do anything to please the values of foreigners and expats, while Muslim's are becoming second-rate citizens. How sad.

No, no it simply means that non-muslims are not prosecuted by Sharia Courts (Law), while Muslims still are.

^ not that would be acceptable if it was a tribe in a remote community that doesn't want to be in the mainstream system .. as we have with some aboriginal communities in remote Australia, they are allowed their own system to do with tribal laws such as spearing etc... but being a modern society religion/community still using age old punishment is a bit stupid don't you think?

^^ Is that even logical? How did you get to decide that the rules u've invented should work everywhere only because you believe they are right/acceptable?

because i don't wear a towel on my head.
haha only joking no harm intended.
i dont really understand your question anyway

Smussuw is a dedicated Muslim scholar? It is ironic, the West uses the time of the Dark Ages to measure backwardness. Ironically we still hold the same ill informed views of the “Arab” and Islam.

You need a little perspective; I find judgmental comments from Westerners ridicules. Without trying to sound arrogant myself I feel that our society is really just wobbling on the steps of tolerance, apart from my own distaste for those attempting to simplify the Universe.

Dubai has its own rules because it has its own unique culture that must be respected. You would ask a person from Dubai to respect our laws and the same should be expected in return. Dubai has its own culture that will evolve with time; outside influence will be part of this, extreme pressure for change is unnecessary.

Considering the force the idiots that opposed Gay adoption in WA have and the talk or corporal punishment on Children I think we ironically have a strong headwind in our own society.

citystyle i wasnt disrespecting their laws or whatever, i was just simply saying for a city that strives to be so western in the things they build, eg skyscrapers, malls etc... they are backwards with their laws...

^^ and what define a backward law? according to whom? You?

I think you need to be specific because the western laws is backward according to my standards :)

P4L, who set the standards as to what things are acceptable and what things aren't.

Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, but not so in many western cities. If prostitution is illegal in your city, would it be fair if a Dutch person called your city's laws backwards because it doesnt give people the right to be prostitutes? what about drugs? many different types of drugs are legal to varying degrees. Are US laws backwards because Marijuana is an illegal substance? Are US laws backwards because children under 18 are allowed to work instead of concentrating on school (unlike in the UAE - officially)? Are Australians backwards for not legalizing same-sex marriages? If it is not a mutually agreed law/value - being against murder as an example, who is to say what punishments are right or wrong?

what is "backwards" is that you have the same cultural superiority complex that was so prevalent in the colonial west 500 years ago.

you may think not allowing kissing in public is "backwards" because it "restricts freedom"
while some cultures think public displays of affection are "backwards" because they are "crude and uncivilized"

western countries are slowly starting to educate themselves on the issue of multiculturalism. previously, western countries forced immigrants to assimilate and adopt western laws and values (something that westerners deny but at the same time call a "melting pot"). with the huge number of non-western immigrants now living in the west, there is growing resistance to assimilation and now western countries are facing the "tossed salad" issue - there has been a lot of cultural sensitivity training going on in the west - so we will see if your cultural superiority complex changes over the next couple of decades.

that being said... of course you are allowed to have your "opinion" on what is backwards and what is not. but that does not mean your opinion = god's word (if god does or does not exist).

(btw, the "many television stations" that tell you Dubai has public lashings... I suggest you stop watching those channels and maybe read some fairy tales or fantasy novels like LOTR - you'll get the same end result).

citystyle i wasnt disrespecting their laws or whatever, i was just simply saying for a city that strives to be so western in the things they build, eg skyscrapers, malls etc... they are backwards with their laws...

the city does not strive to be western.
the city has long been a crossroads between various cultures, between the east and west, between modernity and history, between sea-faring trade and nomadic desert living, all cemented by a unique Arab identity, and a unique Islamic identity.

the city strives to be what it always has been - a balance and a mix.
the city might be westernizing in some ways, but the city wants to maintain its heritage in other ways.

P4L, who set the standards as to what things are acceptable and what things aren't.

Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, but not so in many western cities. If prostitution is illegal in your city, would it be fair if a Dutch person called your city's laws backwards because it doesnt give people the right to be prostitutes? what about drugs? many different types of drugs are legal to varying degrees. Are US laws backwards because Marijuana is an illegal substance? Are US laws backwards because children under 18 are allowed to work instead of concentrating on school (unlike in the UAE - officially)? Are Australians backwards for not legalizing same-sex marriages? If it is not a mutually agreed law/value - being against murder as an example, who is to say what punishments are right or wrong?

what is "backwards" is that you have the same cultural superiority complex that was so prevalent in the colonial west 500 years ago.

you may think not allowing kissing in public is "backwards" because it "restricts freedom"
while some cultures think public displays of affection are "backwards" because they are "crude and uncivilized"

western countries are slowly starting to educate themselves on the issue of multiculturalism. previously, western countries forced immigrants to assimilate and adopt western laws and values (something that westerners deny but at the same time call a "melting pot"). with the huge number of non-western immigrants now living in the west, there is growing resistance to assimilation and now western countries are facing the "tossed salad" issue - there has been a lot of cultural sensitivity training going on in the west - so we will see if your cultural superiority complex changes over the next couple of decades.

that being said... of course you are allowed to have your "opinion" on what is backwards and what is not. but that does not mean your opinion = god's word (if god does or does not exist).

(btw, the "many television stations" that tell you Dubai has public lashings... I suggest you stop watching those channels and maybe read some fairy tales or fantasy novels like LOTR - you'll get the same end result).

while some cultures think public displays of affection are "backwards" because they are "crude and uncivilized"

heres a perfect example, shouldnt they than adapt to other cultures ways, you don't see us complaining about how muslims make women cover their bodies up and treat them like shit with caveman like ideals, yet you complain about public affection.

what a joke

^^ but you complain about almost everything Muslims do. I'd call that uncivilized !

Deleted post..sorry!

while some cultures think public displays of affection are "backwards" because they are "crude and uncivilized"

heres a perfect example, shouldnt they than adapt to other cultures ways, you don't see us complaining about how muslims make women cover their bodies up and treat them like shit with caveman like ideals, yet you complain about public affection.

what a joke

why should the UAE's culture adapt to other culture's ways when its not necessary? here you go again with your cultural superiority complex. i suppose you want everyone in the UAE to convert to christianity, hand over their land to you, and then work that land for you now right?

in the UAE, as an example, the culture's values is not to not allow public displays of affection. theres no reason for them to adopt your culture in this regard.

but at the same time, it has to adapt in some ways by allowing foreigners into the country. therefore, it tolerates a moderate amount of drinking. consequently, the same way not everyone in aus complains about muslim women in oz being covered up, not everyone here complains everytime a bunch of aussie men get trashed out of their minds, get women trashed out of their minds so they can sleep with them, act like douchebag cavemen, and cheapen up the venue.

instant skyline!
40 skyscrapers that wernt there 2 years ago.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/575335634_64feec3d0e_o.jpg

i think malec did thius. the TALLEST BLOCK ON THE PLANET. most bldgs range between 200-550m tall.
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/773/marinav612texturedyv5.jpg

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/9387/masterplan5pz.jpg

i wanna know what happens when sea levels continue to rise...

: |

instant skyline!
40 skyscrapers that wernt there 2 years ago.



just add oil? :lol:

just add oil? :lol:

funnily enough, its the opposite.
take away the oil, and boom 40 skycrapers are built.

Yet another keraaazy supertall announced, the approved 90 floors @ 460m DAMAC Heights resi...thread HERE (
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=488517)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/510/oh2pw8.jpg

All these good looking towers are pretty much swallowed up into a sea of mediocrity
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/575335634_64feec3d0e_o.jpg
when those gold coast style sea resort towers are duplicated 10000 times

they should be planting a buffer forest between the city and the sand dunes to try and mitigate that constant haze - theyve got enough water thanx to desal?!

after Q1 and Eureka the next tallest resi will be 395m marina23 and this baby>
414m princess tower

top of tower
http://i15.tinypic.com/5436et2.jpg
its only 40m wide, so a ratio of 10;1. should look bloody tall when under it.
most floors are 1300-1400sqm. each

the main roof is 352m and that first step 16floors from roof is 288m. amazing hey.
malec
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8441/princess3wp7.jpg

Malt they are Arabs and JBR the gold coast clones are Arabic/ Islamic in design.
Thats not a bad thing because the development will be amazing to be around when complete.

all these developments are great but does anyone here actually know how dull and souless Dubai actually is. Mall after mall after mall...and that dust!!

yawn ^^
obviously never been to "dubai"

wrong - and i will be there again in October.

i said you've never been to "dubai"

youve probably been to Dubai and spent time with your aussie friends living there who just moved there a couple or a few years ago and are living in a very nice house somewhere in the outskirts of the city next to the Mall of the Emirates or Ibn Batutta mall who told you to come visit because of the sun, beaches, shopping, indoor skiing, golf etc

^^ You forgot to mention that the only sadisfaction is the happy hour and the free booze.

Leighton Confirms in Talks With Gulf-Based Al Habtoor (Update1)

By Garfield Reynolds

July 13 (Bloomberg) -- Leighton Holdings Ltd., Australia's biggest builder, is in talks with United Arab Emirates-based construction company Al Habtoor Group about a partnership in one of the world's fastest-growing real estate markets.

India and the Gulf region offer ``great opportunities,'' Sydney-based Leighton said today in a statement. Al Habtoor, which built the Middle East's tallest hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is one of a number of companies with which Leighton is discussing potential partnerships and joint ventures.

Leighton wants to take a ``sizeable'' stake in Al Habtoor, with the potential to increase it in the future, the Australian Financial Review reported today, without saying where it got the information. The holding would value Al Habtoor at as much as A$2 billion ($1.7 billion), the Review said.

Shares of Leighton rose 75 cents, or 1.8 percent, to A$42.80 at 10:24 a.m. in Sydney, valuing the company at A$11.9 billion. The stock has more than doubled this year as Chief Executive Officer Wal King benefits from Asia's growth, which boosted demand for the company's contract mining and engineering services.

Al Habtoor, founded in 1970 by Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor, employs about 25,000 people and worked on projects including the seven-star Burj Al Arab and the international airports at Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Leighton is 55 percent owned by Hochtief AG, Germany's largest builder.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=as2wLr1qTAe4&refer=australia

Now is this complex whacked or not? Now u/c.

Anantara Towers, 44fl x 2 & 49fl.

- tallest tower is a 5-star hotel - 49 floors @ 228m
- residential tower will be 44 floors
- office tower also 44 floors

Thread HERE (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=498688)

Courtesy of the fabulous Imre:

http://www.archiportale.com/immagini/FileProgetto/3098_1.jpg?475,857

^^ designed by a gynaecologist?

Cheers,

Adam

:lol:

I just *had* to post that via a quote in the international thread.

...

That design is quite 'out there'!!! Original though. I'm having trouble grasping the mathematics of the design, but it looks good.

Sydney, Australia - Dubai WorldDubai WorldDubai World
News | Profile | Officers
Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, is underlining his commitment to long term investment in Australia across a range of sectors during discussions with senior Australian Government Ministers this week.


Mr Bin Sulayem, also Chairman of global marine terminal operator DP WorldDP World, is currently visiting the five DP WorldDP World terminals in Australia and holding high level discussions with business leaders and senior politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister of Transport Mark Vaile, New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma, Victoria Premier Steve Bracks, Victoria's Treasurer John Brumby, Ports Minister Tim Pallas and Industry and State Development Minister Theo Theophanous, South Australia Transport Minister Patrick Conlon, Queensland Transport Minister Paul Lucas and Western Australia Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan.


Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: "Australia is a vibrant and growing economy and we see considerable potential for investment in property development, tourism and infrastructure such as marine terminals and business parks.


"DP WorldDP World has already invested substantially in the Australian terminals acquired last year when it purchased P&O Ports and is working on expanding capacity, improving efficiency and providing top quality services to Australia's importers and exporters.


"Because of its geographic location, it's important that Australia is plugged into a strong global ports network - something DP WorldDP World with 42 terminals around the world is able to offer.


"I am keen to work with the public and private sectors to facilitate investment in the Australian market, both within the ports industry and outside of it.


"I am impressed by the willingness and enthusiasm of Ministers and Premiers from all sides of Australian politics to foster links between Dubai and Australia and believe that all stand to benefit from closer commercial ties."


Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile welcomed Mr Bin Sulayem to Australia saying the visit highlighted the burgeoning commercial links between Australia and Dubai.


"The links between Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Australia are getting stronger," he said. "Dubai is experiencing phenomenal growth and many Australian companies are actively participating in that growth.


"The fact that Mr Bin Sulayem has come to Australia for a week to visit a number of capital cities demonstrates that our market has a great deal to offer potential investors."

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20070718065613/secIndustries/pagReal%20Estate

the article says DP woeld is planing to get into property/real-estate,which means we might possibly see a big super tall here.hope so :cheers:

the 108st/484m BURJ AL ALAM has commenced

http://i2.tinypic.com/swyfzr.jpg

its ob deck will be 447m, some 5m higher then Burj Dubais deck

http://i5.tinypic.com/14xc7tj.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8672/imresolt13bv7.jpg

the massive 300ft wide index tower.
now lev38/176m
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7214/imresolt134wq7.jpg

simply amazing
tallest bldg in this pic is the Almas tower which is currently 270m. eventually 360m.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/1348343255_ed62885385_o.jpg

Amazing, but those yellow towers on the beach are just horrid.

Amazing, but those yellow towers on the beach are just horrid.

hehe horrid.

i haven't heard that word since i stayed with rellies in london years ago.

woah look at the hawt 12 lane freeway.

impressive
worlds 3rd tallest flagpole (95tonne)
abu dhabi
123m
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/5949514_40aebf85ac_b.jpg

sept07
magnificent suburban town planning
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/1349416816_1c5aad4d25_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/1349420836_246e0815e9_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1335/1349246992_fe74bb52b2_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/1348354603_aae25d30df_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/1348350973_b483b263fc_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1353/1349228820_d7b6b74fcf_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/1348343255_69fdb483c4_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/1349215008_29db758aff_b.jpg

the mighty burj
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1337/1349282562_653a671e3c_b.jpg

^^ It almost reminds me of the Gold Coast, but much better planned and about 1000 times the size! It is massive!

That palm island looks rather packed and ugly with all those houses on it. Ilove the suburbs they look really nice

^^ It almost reminds me of the Gold Coast, but much better planned and about 1000 times the size! It is massive!

How is any of that well planned???? The suburbs have no permiabilty and legability, many of the houses look similar as do the streetscapes. Please explain. (BTW I am not defending the Gold Coast for being well planned because it also has many badly planned areas.)

^^ I said "well-planned" in the sense that it actually looks quite organised and well laid-out.

Jump on a plane and give it try Frog, it is hopeless.

Maybe not without hope, but it certainly shouldn't take 2 hours to travel 40kms on a 6 lane fwy..........

When all the building activity slows down and the metro/subway is done, maybe their is hope. Certainly has a long way to go.

Best of luck to Dubai, no-one could say they died wondering.

checkout the damn opera house!!! out of this world
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3020/operahouse29nw.jpg

looks like a sheet has been drapped over sydney opera house

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7825/operaov6.jpg