Dubai Rising | Global Changes

Dubai Rising

Posted on October 20th, 2009 Global Changes 7 comments

Dubai has seen some of the most rapid and huge changes in the history of modern civilisation. In less than 20 years, was was a barren wasteland has transformed into the most rapidly developed city on the planet.

Dubai in 1990

The United Arab Emirates has become one of the fastest growing economies on the planet, and based on based on various socioeconomic indicators it is now one of the most developed countries in the world. Much of their wealth and economic power has come from years of booming export of natural resources like petroleum and natural gas. Although Dubai has become much less dependant for income from these resources, they still play a vital role in the economy for Abu Dhabi.

This is Dubai 2007, the same road pictured above

UAE has an estimated population of 6 million people. To put that into perspective, New York alone has a population of 8 million. Nearly 2.5 million people now live in Dubai, but a mere 17% is thought to be Emirati. Temporary construction workers outnumber residents by 8 to 1.

Construction in Dubai is simply massive. It’s estimated that they are using 15-25% of the worlds cranes in Dubai alone. The city has become not only a playground for the rich and famous, but for architects too. Every building is unique and interesting. Everyone by now will recognise the The Burj al-Arab Hotel, the world first and only 7 star hotel, that has been built on a man made island off the shore of Dubai.

This is the year to book your flights to Dubai as construction nears completion on the worlds tallest ever constructed building. So big in fact that it broke the record over 2 years ago way before it was even completed. The Burj Dubai is 40% taller than anything ever constructed by man before and has taken only 5 years to build. It is 818 meters tall and has 162 floors. It will be completed on December 20th.

Here is a picture taken just a few days ago after the removal of the last remaining crane.

But Dubai is not the only booming city. Abu Dhabi is also developing at an astonishing rate. Its estimated that Abu Dhabi will make $800 Billion from its oils surplus between 2005 and 2020. It’s already attracting some big names. The first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place in less than 2 weeks, bringing an end what has been a strange season in formula 1 with the first half day/half night grand prix.

Make no mistake that Dubai and Abu Dhabi is where the worlds wealth is moving to… and who can blame them.
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7 responses to “Dubai Rising”
1. D October 23rd, 2009 at 21:33
  
  How do you find a job in Dubai as administrative project manager for the contractors?
2. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview | Skip To The End October 30th, 2009 at 16:13
  
  [...] 1 race in Abu Dhabi, but it is certainly a city that deserves such attention. Along with the city of Dubai they are making the United Arab Eremites two of the fasted developing countries in the world, [...]
3. Flying High In Dubai | Global Changes November 17th, 2009 at 16:42
  
  [...] the new oil capital of the world, the Burj Dubai now towers over 800 meters into the Dubai skyline. Construction in Dubai has been radical over the past 20 years, including building islands in the sea from scratch. This is a building [...]
4. Dubai Builds World’s Tallest Building | Skip To The End November 18th, 2009 at 16:54
  
  [...] man built point in the world located in construction heavy Dubai. Construction in Dubai is simply epic. This is the daddy of them all. The building work on the Burj Dubai, the worlds new tallest [...]
5. Partho November 19th, 2009 at 08:12
  
  I love Dubai !! its such a nice place
6. Nardos May 21st, 2010 at 13:28
  
  I live in Dubai and I always eat dinners for Christmas in Burj Al Arab and i have visted the world’s largest shopping mall and also Burj Dubai which is now called Burj Khalifa. These three are aesome building and I really think you should come to Dubai, UAE for your summer holidays. Trust me it is AESOME. DON’T MISS IT.
7. NaadzJedStyles. November 23rd, 2010 at 14:47
  
  Thanks for this article. It helped with my course work. I would also like to comment on the beautiful pictures, after all the research ive been doing i now really want to go to dubai.xx
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