Why many people say Arabian Gulf cities look "Fake " and "Soulless" ?

[funnyhouse88]

because it doesn't has it's own culture...

[Skyprince]

Originally Posted by mw123

Look at those photos above, certainly amazing stuff, but nobody is walking and out on the streets - It looks bland and soulless. I compare it to the Pudong area of Shanghai, an amazing place when it comes to skyscrapers and infrastructure like Dubai, however it is completely soulless at street level. Btw, I never said arab cities were all fake and soulless, cities like Cairo have people in them.

Is there even any footpaths in this photo?

That pic is only the Sheikh Zayed road. Dubai has very huge downtown, and many districts of Dubai are pretty crowded with pedestrians & street activities.

[Xusein]

n/m

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by Federicoft

1930s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latina,_Lazio

I don't see how this is relevant, though. It's not like other cities stopped developing in the 18th century.

It is relevant because people who blindfully talks about the magical world of pedestrian ''friendliness'' put up examples of places that were conceived way before that. The newer areas on those places are as bland and soulless (whatever the frak that ever means) as what they accuse Dubai to be.

Yes, I've been to different places in Europe, and yes they are.

Plus, the ''sustainibility'' part that is also often get mention, is a propaganda concept that is not clear even to proffessionals using it, let alone to chest-thumping (SSC) forum n00bs.

Waste of resources .... don't tell me you just don't want your own home have cooling in the summer and geatting in the winter,the talk how you're ok with wearing more clothes and putting more blankets is just apologistic BS.

As for the general ''opinion'' on wastfullness of A/C using in a hot desert enviroment, maybe these same people should ask themselves how much it costs the society to heat their homes in the winter and also repair and maintain their own vast road network from the devastating effect of ice, snow and rain.

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by joshsam

Dubai is like hardcore porn :') always over the top. It's great for skyscrapers, nothing more. There I've said it.

But sex (which porn glorifies), is something you've seen and practiced firsthand (no pun intended) yoursef, while ....

There I've said it.

[AltinD]

In short, there are boring and exciting, empty and full of people street scenes, as in any other place on Earth.

Crowds don't neccessarily bring excitements, and geographic locations, weather conditions, history, demographics and economics decide how inhabitatedplaces on earth would look like. They don't have to look and be the same, it's totally ignorant (to say the least) to pretend so.

Things not being your cup of tea, is not reason enough to bash and put them down.

[travelworld123]

Very interesting thread, i love these kind of discussions lol

Anyway, I have never visited Dubai, but from what I've seen and experienced over the past few years of the city whether over the internet, tv, media, general word of mouth and most importantly photos/videos etc... my impression of Dubai is unfortunately a sort of 'artificial' place that yes, seems to lack some sort of soul.

I understand there is old town and historical districts in the city, but from the photos and other pictures, even those areas don't seem that vibrant and it does seem to lack soul.

Also, the 'main' area of Dubai that is advertised and what most people know (I assume) is the skyscraper rich area, the Burj Khalifa areas, and the marina areas. So these are the main focus areas of the city most people know of as 'Dubai' and hence we mainly think of that while we see 'soulless'.

Also comparing with other Arabian cities, a quick google search pretty much sums it up.

I typed this: 'Cairo street' and came up with these.











image hosted on flickr

(source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tchik/1...n/photostream/)

(all above images taken from google images)


and this one especially for Cairo - please watch it, in HD even better, but it's such an awesome video of a tourists point of view of a bus ride in Cairo.


(this guy has many other videos from around the world)



Now compare that with Dubai with a similar google search:









(all above images from google images)

Now I'm not purposly picking and choosing ones that look as barren and soulless as possible. I'm literally choosing images that are on the first few of google image search.

Anyway, I'm not trying to compare in terms of which city is 'better' and bash Dubai, I'm just clearly trying to point out the level of vibrancy in Dubai is lacking and what a true, 'naturally' growing organic Arab city 'should' look like.

[Federicoft]

Originally Posted by AltinD

It is relevant because people who blindfully talks about the magical world of pedestrian ''friendliness'' put up examples of places that were conceived way before that. The newer areas on those places are as bland and soulless (whatever the frak that ever means) as what they accuse Dubai to be.

Yes, I've been to different places in Europe, and yes they are.

Plus, the ''sustainibility'' part that is also often get mention, is a propaganda concept that is not clear even to proffessionals using it, let alone to chest-thumping (SSC) forum n00bs.

Waste of resources .... don't tell me you just don't want your own home have cooling in the summer and geatting in the winter,the talk how you're ok with wearing more clothes and putting more blankets is just apologistic BS.

As for the general ''opinion'' on wastfullness of A/C using in a hot desert enviroment, maybe these same people should ask themselves how much it costs the society to heat their homes in the winter and also repair and maintain their own vast road network from the devastating effect of ice, snow and rain.

Meh. Areas conceived in the 1950s or 1960s are often bland and soulles, that was precisely what I said.
The problem is that Dubai was mostly built in the last 10-20 years or so, and if you look at areas built in the last 10-20 years in other parts of the developed world, you'll surely find plenty of dodgy planned areas, as much as you'll find many developmenets which respect the principles I was talking about. Or are you implying Europe looks like Dubai outside of historic areas?

Sustainability and resource efficiency are also well defined concepts, I wonder if you have any clue.

[potasio]

the city without a soul is generally because these cities are not cities for family if not for business.

[Skyprince]

Originally Posted by travelworld123

Very interesting thread, i love these kind of discussions lol

Anyway, I have never visited Dubai, but from what I've seen and experienced over the past few years of the city whether over the internet, tv, media, general word of mouth and most importantly photos/videos etc... my impression of Dubai is unfortunately a sort of 'artificial' place that yes, seems to lack some sort of soul.

I understand there is old town and historical districts in the city, but from the photos and other pictures, even those areas don't seem that vibrant and it does seem to lack soul.

Thanks for your insight and the photos too

I believe there are 2 different scenarios:

1) For tourism / short-term visit ( especially if you're a backpacker, myself is extreme backpacker ) - of course I'd prefer to visit places which are exotic, full of traditional charm, as chaotic/full of sound as possible, with greater landscape. Something u cannot find in ur home country.

2) For long-term living- I want to live in places which are orderly, neat, clean, world-class infrastructure, cosmopolitan, having restaurants/cuisines from allover the world. When I was in Sana'a I didn't find ANY restaurants seling pizzas, spaghetti, sushi, Chinese/Korean food, Naan, Tandoori, Fish & Chips etc I desperately craved for international food
In Cairo u can find them but choice is very limited, unlike in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Muscat which are full of dining options.

For day-to-day life, I certainly don't mind at all whether a place is traditional or new- Brand-new buildings and brand-new neighborhoods are very pleasant to look at IMO, and on daily lives I certainly prefer relatively quiet neighborhoods with less sound & physical pollution and less traffic jam

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by Federicoft

Sustainability and resource efficiency are also well defined concepts, I wonder if you have any clue.

Yes they are, but it's not how they get used, often even by ''specialists''. More often then not, they're just used as sugar coating to ''win'' arguments. How else would you explain them being used by people living in suburban sprawls with blasting heatting inside their detached homes, with roads and utilities that must be repaired or redone completely after each winter

[Jay]

Cairo looks nice, like it has human charm, while Dubai is a bunch of big empty buildings in a desert. Some of them are cool looking, but overall it feels soulless I think

[Skyprince]

from tourist's point of view of course the human crowds, very old traditional charm etc are attractive, but for long-term living I prefer brand-new developments using brand-new latest design and technology in my day-to day life.

If we despise newer cities, brand-new development etc then we should despise at the use of modern technology i.e. internet, use of automobile, flying by airplane, etc too.

[castermaild55]

people imagines easily Dobai as a house built on sand , mirage in the desert or instant city
of course ,Dubai is a global city and rich
anyway
1) more than 80% are foreigner
2)While there is already no oil in Dubai almost and there is oil money now, Dubai have to build the social system and city for which it does not depend on oil.
３）Curiosity；　modern skyscrapers ｖｓ authentic　architecture 　and life
The situation which cannot be told in society is materialized.
The thing which Dubai is the most dangerous as for that
4)Danger of a breakdown of a financial state
５）When growth stops, can it maintain by a foreigner?
6) as a Japanese , I would like to see the past historic ruins in Egypt ,Syria..
there is few in Dubai...
In Dubai which is only ten percent, nationals cannot depend on the past inheritance like Egypt or Iraq gathering people by tourist attractions.
A shopping center and a beach resort newly must be built and visitors must be gathered.
７）However a city may expand, it can imagine that there is likely to be no life rooted in the area.
８）The businessman who is working by finance is also coming from the all the members foreign country, and they will return to their native country, if work finishes.Since all people that are working in construction or a service industry are also immigrations, they are also living temporarily.
The cultural measure which judges one city, and the city which cannot be measured by social maturity

so I think such a city can be told to a negative.....

It does not ripen in culture.
A local community does not occur.
It judges critically.
many famous skyscrapers are built by many famous architects
yes it is globalism..
Advertisement of the ＃1 is important　for Dubai
The Japanese builder has proposed serious construction called eco Tower.
Both differ in stance clearly.
Especially I looks out for bubble construction and phenomenon very much.

hope not to be like a Tower of Babel
I think people think of Dubai like this ?and that is why people think it is "Fake " and "Soulless"?

[Metro007]

Just to ad a few words about Dubai. I am feeling very incomfortable when a city like this is building huge skylines and artificial islands departing from just nothing (or just because of the oil) in the middle of a desert. For me it looks like being extremely artificial and it seems that's also the way this city looks like for most of the people. Perhaps in 20 years it will be different?

[DiggerD21]

Originally Posted by Skyprince

but for long-term living I prefer brand-new developments using brand-new latest design and technology in my day-to day life.

For long-term living I wouldn't choose a desert city in the first place, but that is just my personal choice. I wonder how many of the expatriates went to Dubai because of it being a city worth living in and how many of them just went there for the money.

[Cloud92]

I'd love to visit Cairo one day maybe when the place becomes stable again when ever that will be.
While other cities around the world try to turn themselves pedestrian friendly Dubai seems to be doing the opposite.

[DiggerD21]

To be honest, it is a bit unfair to compare a city with ca. 2 Million inhabitants (Dubai) with a city with ca. 7 Million inhabitants in city proper and 20 Million in its metro area (Cairo).

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by DiggerD21

I wonder how many of the expatriates went to Dubai because of it being a city worth living in and how many of them just went there for the money.

Aren't both financial/monetary concepts?

[Ashok]

Here is why I have not been able to appreciate Dubai to its full extend. When I see the projects of Dubai, the intent seems to be to 'show off,' or bring the world's biggest type of building here.

So, often I see Dubai as an insecure city trying to assert itself in the world more then a great city.