Dubai Projects

[PenguinHunter]

This talk of the UAE in another thread made me collect this. I may be able to get a link to a much cooler slideshow in a few hours but I can't find it right now so maybe I will add it after. Anyways, here is a collection of crazy things you can do when your country's population is tiny and you have ridiculous amounts of oil.

Many towers and buildings.
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=100485&bt=2&ht=2&sro=1

Obvious favorites from that collection:
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=210444
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=182168 (http://www.burjdubai.com/)
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=227001

Dubai Waterfront
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=177344
http://www.thepalm.co.ae/
http://www.thedubaiwaterfront.com/po_ov.php
http://www.theworld.ae/

Hydropolis:
http://hydropolis.com/project/flash_fframe.html

Massive commercial centre:
http://www.businessbay.ae/

Massive amusment park/tourist centre/sporting complex
http://www.dubailand.ae/

Here's a new one I hadn't heard of until today:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050910/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_emirates_wonders

If I remeber any more I'll add to this.

[PenguinHunter]

This is all copied from http://www.funonthenet.in/content/view/127/31/ .

Here’s (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/archive/index.php/index.php?t-143516.html)a rough timeline for the completion of a lot of these things. 2006 is supposed be a big year but I’m not sure if Hydropolis is on schedule or not. The Ski Dome is already finished and it’s something impressive. Of them all I think I’m most interested in seeing the completion of the Golden Dome – it’s just so big all-round, it’s kind of hard to imagine it.

Palm Island. (http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=31260104897) Three artificial islands in the shape of palm trees will shelter nearly 500 apartments, 2 000 villas, 25 hotels and 200 shops of luxury. Palm Jumeirah, the most advanced, will be completed as of the end of 2005. Hundred twenty-five kilometers of coast additional will be thus created.

Palm Island
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/palm_20island.jpg

The World. With broad of Dubaï, nearly 300 artificial islands, seen sky will form a planisphere. If you want to acquire one of these islands, it will cost some to you between 6,2 to 36,7 million dollars. Work of fill, already begun, should be completed at the end of 2005.

The World
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/the_20world.jpg

Dubai Waterfront. Advancing on water of the Gulf, this whole of islands in the shape of crescent will extend on 81 square kilometres. Becoming the greatest sea front in the world, it détrône thus the island from Manhattan in New York.

Dubai Waterfront
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/dubai_20waterfront.jpg

Old Town. It is the final district of the building site located at the foot of the tower Burj Dubai. This great real complex will include the highest tower of the world, the greatest shopping centre of the world as well as a gigantic residential district

Old Town
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/old_20town.jpg

Hydropolis. Entirely assembled in Germany, this underwater hotel will be immersed with broad of Dubai at the end of 2006. It will comprise 220 continuations whose panoramic windows will give on sea-beds. The price of a room for the night would rise with 500 dollars.

Hydropolis
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Hydropolis.jpg

Burj Dubai. This phenomenal tower from which construction began last January and will end in 2008 should reach the 800 meters height. The building, built in three parts around a central column, finishes in spiral. It will count 160 stages.

Burj Dubai
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Burj_20Dubai.jpg

Madinat Al Arab. Here the representation of the one of the districts of the future greater sea front in the world, Dubai Waterfront. This sight accounts for the architectural ambition and the spectacular development of real constructions with Dubaï.

Madinat Al Arab
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Madinat_20Al_20Arab.jpg

Dubai Marina. new city, of a total cost of 10 billion dollars, will be built on a way of artificial navigation of 4,5 km. It will be able to lodge 120 000 people. Three principal towers will be set up and will bear the name of Arab perfumes

Dubai Marina
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Dubai_20Marina.jpg

Dubai Sports City. This immense sporting complex of 7.5 km² will accomodate sports such as the cricket, the golf, Rugby, football, the sports of ground, track, and interior (tennis shoe, handball, volley ball). Hotels, residences and villas are also envisaged

Dubai Sports City
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Dubai_20Sports_20City.jpg

Golden Dome. With its 455 m height and its 2,2 million m² of total surface, it will be one of bulkiest and higher buildings of the world. It will shelter 500 000 m² offices, commercial spaces like 3 000 residential apartments.

Golden Dome
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Golden_20Dome.jpg

Dubailand Ski Dome. This ski resort indoor, will comprise inter alia a directional ski piste and tracks of snowboard (with 6 000 tons of true snow). "Pinguinarium", aquariums four seasons, spa cold and hot... are also envisaged with the program.

Dubailand Ski Dome
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Dubailand_20Ski_20Dome.jpg

Space Science World. Space is one of the subjects exploited in the immense park with topics of Dubailand which has the ambition to become the largest tourist park and of attractions in the world.

Space Science World
http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Space_20Science_20World.jpg.jpg[/img]

[mancroft]

Two words:

Global Warming.

[Jennywocky]

This talk of the UAE in another thread made me collect this. I may be able to get a link to a much cooler slideshow in a few hours but I can't find it right now so maybe I will add it after. Anyways, here is a collection of crazy things you can do when your country's population is tiny and you have ridiculous amounts of oil.

Dubai is crazy. They're seeking to westernize themselves and become an international commercial center.

The whole palm thing -- creating beachfront condos by creating the islands themselves, and in the shape of a palm? Yeah, wow.

They have the world's 3rd largest indoor ski slope.

I actually know something about Dubai, because I am on the team currently designing and installing their electronic toll collection highway system even as we speak... I probably won't get to go over there, but the scope of the building projects there is amazing.

[htb]

Very nice, Penguin.

Several weeks ago I mentioned our exchange to an acquaintance of mine who, being a contractor with the US Navy, was stationed, among other Gulf sites, in the Emirates. Though the contractor did agree with my contention that the UAE rests on a knife's edge, he vouched for your characterization of what the princes have accomplished.

[Stoned_Rider]

Palm Island
The World
Dubai Waterfront
Old Town
Hydropolis
Burj Dubai
Madinat Al Arab
Dubai Marina
Golden Dome
Dubailand Ski Dome
Space Science World

Woah.. they're building stuff faster than they can name it :crazy:

[PenguinHunter]

I actually know something about Dubai, because I am on the team currently designing and installing their electronic toll collection highway system even as we speak... I probably won't get to go over there, but the scope of the building projects there is amazing.

Interesting, I hadn't really expected this but when they built the new highways a couple of years ago I wondered. . . Is the toll system going to be across the country or just certain places in and around the Dubai-Sharjah area and Abu Dhabi where the traffic gets bad?

They still have all the old coast highways which I assume wouldn't be toll, but I wonder if some people would brave the extra 25 minutes it takes along the coast just to avoid tolls. Could cause some problems since that road isn't great anymore.

It really is hard to convey the pace of construction there. It's not just fancy things like the Burj, it's everything. The outskirts of every city are basically just construction zones and regular office-type buildings and residential blocks just seem to appear overnight.

[charred_heart]

Dubai is crazy. They're seeking to westernize themselves and become an international commercial center.

The whole palm thing -- creating beachfront condos by creating the islands themselves, and in the shape of a palm? Yeah, wow.

They have the world's 3rd largest indoor ski slope.

I actually know something about Dubai, because I am on the team currently designing and installing their electronic toll collection highway system even as we speak... I probably won't get to go over there, but the scope of the building projects there is amazing.the toll system will totally suck! The bus system isn't mature enough, so we'll end up paying to get on a road just to get stuck in traffic.

[PenguinHunter]

the toll system will totally suck! The bus system isn't mature enough, so we'll end up paying to get on a road just to get stuck in traffic.

I was thinking they would just be for the new (well, not super new anymore) motorways between cities and possibly a series of new overpasses which let you avoid the congestion or something. Surely they won't be using toll systems around the city centres. What would be the point?

[PenguinHunter]

Another update, Abu Dhabi:

1) The Louvre (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/13/arts/design/13louv.html?ex=1326344400&en=9b7c14c1c717cb19&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss) will likely be opening a museum in Abu Dhabi and it is causing quite a stir.

2) Ditto for the Guggenheim (http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2006/07/08/guggenheim-abudhabi.html)

3) There are also beginnings of elite Fine Arts faculties on the horizon soon to set up shop in the Emirates: Yale (http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/20343)

This update was inspired by an annoying interview (http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/media/200703/20070319thecurrent_sec3.ram) (need Real Player for that link unfortunately) with one Yousiff Ibrahim - he appears as the final interviewee - on the CBC show The Current (http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200703/20070319.html).

It was enough to motivate me to write the following letter into The Current in response:


To Whom It May Concern,

I wish to comment on the portion of Monday the 19th's show regarding the development of Fine Arts in the UAE. More specifically, I wish to flag misinformation provided by the final interviewee, Yousiff Ibrahim, who made several erroneous statements.

First he claimed that there are no Fine Arts programs at colleges or universities in the UAE. The most basic research reveals otherwise (my own mother participated in one of these programs a few years ago at the American University of Dubai). Note also an extensive program at the Univerity of Sharjah: http://www.sharjah.ac.ae/Academic/fine_arts/majors/finea/index.htm. Many other colleges in the country have either programs or at least some courses devoted to Fine Arts or Art History.

Furthermore, he claims, with his last few words, that practicing Fine Arts such as sculpture and drawing/painting images is considered immoral and is "forbidden" in the Emirates. The above evidence strongly suggests otherwise, not to mention the increasing number of art exhibitions opening in Dubai. Add to this the fact that Abu Dhabi is encouraging prestigious Western universities (Yale for example) to set up Fine Arts branches in the Emirates, and you soon realize that this effort is much more than just a (and I quote [Ibrahim]) "if the French got a Louvre, I'll have a Louvre; if the Americans have a Guggenheim I got enough money to buy myself a Guggenheim" kind of soulless endeavour.

He asks "who from the local community would go to a Louvre - Abu Dhabi?". It is clear that Emirati Fine Art culture is beginning to find its feet. Mr. Ibrahim criticized the Emirates for discouraging local culture from developing over the past few decades, but I ask, what is Mr. Ibrahim doing right now?

[PenguinHunter]

New Performing Arts Center:

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/85111000performingartsckm2.jpg

And the interior:

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/851_1_Zaha_20Performing_20Arts_20Center_20interior.jpg

Guggenheim:

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/851_3_1000_20Gehry_20Guggenheim_20Abu_20Dhabi_202.jpg

Jean Nouvel Classical Arts Museum (Louvre a la Abu Dhabi)

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/851_4_1000_20Jean_20Nouvel_20Classical_20Arts_20Museum_201.jpg

[charred_heart]

Jean Nouvel Classical Arts Museum (Louvre a la Abu Dhabi)


abu dhabi is elitist :p



This update was inspired by an annoying interview (need Real Player for that link unfortunately) with one Yousiff Ibrahim - he appears as the final interviewee - on the CBC show The Current.

can't see the interview (where's he from?) but his views are definitely based on his social exposure in the country (probably his circle of arab friends). If I remember correctly there are expatriate citizens from more than 200 nationalities currently living in the U.A.E from varying degrees of social and educational backgrounds. Obviously quite a few would like to see an art scene develop here, including me. That way, it would feel like I'm living in a real city and not a giant air conditioned mall.

[charred_heart]

I was thinking they would just be for the new (well, not super new anymore) motorways between cities and possibly a series of new overpasses which let you avoid the congestion or something. Surely they won't be using toll systems around the city centres. What would be the point?oh, I should mention that they're actually building a (raised?) train/tram system for the toll thing.

edit:suspended railway system maybe? eh, I didn't get any sleep last night!

[PenguinHunter]

can't see the interview (where's he from?) but his views are definitely based on his social exposure in the country (probably his circle of arab friends).

http://www.fandy.us/experts/youssef-ibrahim.html

He's Egyptian-born and seems to suffer a little Gulf-envy. In the interview he was also ranting about the plan to recreate three of Egypt's most impressive pyramids near Dubai. He was pretty disparaging of the Emirates and Gulf culture generally (implying that there is none). I mean I can kind of understand the perspective, especially looking at the rampant consumer culture that has enveloped the UAE. . . but still, you just have to look, like all of 3 inches below that, to see a distinct Emirati vision of the world which incorporates much older traditions.

[charred_heart]

http://www.fandy.us/experts/youssef-ibrahim.html

He's Egyptian-born and seems to suffer a little Gulf-envy. In the interview he was also ranting about the plan to recreate three of Egypt's most impressive pyramids near Dubai. He was pretty disparaging of the Emirates and Gulf culture generally (implying that there is none). I mean I can kind of understand the perspective, especially looking at the rampant consumer culture that has enveloped the UAE. . . but still, you just have to look, like all of 3 inches below that, to see a distinct Emirati vision of the world which incorporates much older traditions.gulf-envy, I like that!

you'd be surprised how fast the locals here have progressed. I know a few from other forums on the net - business majors, computer geeks, designers. I mean, these people had parents with a grade school education, and probably illiterate grand parents.

there are dead beats walking the streets over here, but there are a bunch of worldly, intelligent people too. It's your choice who you hang out with.

I have the good luck of having two N friends, one studied CS with me in Cyprus and his brother (possibly an INTJ) studied economics in Harvard. We hang out and have cool conversations.

[PenguinHunter]

you'd be surprised how fast the locals here have progressed. I know a few from other forums on the net - business majors, computer geeks, designers. I mean, these people had parents with a grade school education, and probably illiterate grand parents.

there are dead beats walking the streets over here, but there are a bunch of worldly, intelligent people too. It's your choice who you hang out with.

Yeah, it's crazy to think about sometimes. One thing I really miss about the Emirates is that there is always that excited sense of progress. They know they are the up and coming centre of the world (I mean they always thought that before but now they know that it'll be recognized by the world :p) and there is a massive current in Emirati youth culture that is really proud to be a part of that progress. I just can't really respect the opinion of someone who says the Gulf has no culture - it has a fantastically vibrant culture. As if the only thing that makes a culture is its ancient relics. . .

(But, I think I just got a job over there for September so, inshallah, only five more months of home-sick!)

[charred_heart]

(But, I think I just got a job over there for September so, inshallah, only five more months of home-sick!)coming over to the UAE? we need a few more N's in the table!

[demagogic_schizoid]

Looks good for a select few, but the UAE has one of the worst human rights records in the world:

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&country=7082&year=2006

[PenguinHunter]

Looks good for a select few, but the UAE has one of the worst human rights records in the world:

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&country=7082&year=2006

Leave this thread in peace.

If you want to talk about Emirati politics, economics or society, please take it to one of:

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6664

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?p=422566#post422566

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=16092 (Only troll in this one if it's ok with Stoned_Rider)

[demagogic_schizoid]

it's not trolling, as it's backed up by a respected link and is a decent point to make, and because threads go on tangents all the time, now why didn't you give the same reponse to the person who said "global warming" on page 1 of this thread? I think your objection is unjustified, as you can quite reasonably link the excessef of the elite in the UAE to their treatment of the people working on these projects, wouldn't you say?

[dubbeltop]

Dubai Projects

Totally nuts, except for the world islands project....

[PenguinHunter]

it's not trolling, as it's backed up by a respected link and is a decent point to make, and because threads go on tangents all the time, now why didn't you give the same reponse to the person who said "global warming" on page 1 of this thread?

1) I've already visited your respected website. htb linked it for me long ago.

2) I've responded to pretty much everything it has to say, at some point, in the threads I linked.

3) The global warming comment was obviously a joke and made me smile a little. Your post is clearly designed to annoy either me or charred_heart because you haven't actually made an argument about anything, or even an interesting point really, just the equivalent of "they sux!" with no reference to anything in particular on the website. (No that is not a cue to start referencing here - see below.)


I think your objection is unjustified, as you can quite reasonablys of the elite in the UAE to their treatment of the people working on these projects, wouldn't you say?

wtf, feeding time is over! At least for this thread. If you want more, go to a different thread, read what is there first and then make your case.

[demagogic_schizoid]

I've already visited your respected website. htb linked it for me long ago.

2) I've responded to pretty much everything it has to say, at some point in the threads I linked.

3) The global warming comment was obviously a joke and made me smile a little. Your post is clearly designed to annoy either me or charred_heart because you haven't actually made an argument about anything, or even an interesting point really, just the equivalent of "they sux!" with no reference to anything in particular on the website. (No that is not a cue to start referencing here - see below.)

I don't see what argument you expect me to make, and if you dont have anything to say except the equivalent "shut up", why bother replying? Are you the personal ambassador for the UAE on this website or something? If you aren't interested in what I said, don't reply, countless replies to a thread aren't 100% on topic, and when people don't feel like replying to them, they don't. You are trying to tell me that my post was trolling, I don't accept that, you are the one who is showing an unreasonable attitude here, and your tactic seems to be to turn discussion of the UAE into some kind of "sensitive issue" that people shouldn't touch because they know it will only wind up you or charred_heart. Well, I don't care to be honest, that's not the attitude I expect on an INTP forum. Just because you might have had this discussion somehwere before, you think that no-one's allowed to talk about it again? I bet every point someone makes on any forum has been made by someone, somewhere on the internet, at some time, it doesn't mean they should just shut up. None of your objections to me on this thread make any sense. If you wanted to say "here, read this discussion I had with htb" I'd have accepted that, but instead you've gone out of your way to accuse me of trolling, which is bullshit.


wtf, feeding time is over! At least for this thread. If you want more, go to a different thread, read what is there first and then make your case

that annoying thing where you hit insert without realising it, and then what you wrote before gets deleted as you type, happened. I hate it, I'm a clumsy typer, and I don't proof read. I apologise for the distress caused but it was an honest mistake and I've now fixed the post.

[Stoned_Rider]

Okay cool it down plz. Like PH said, any further discussion about this should go to a different thread. Pick any one of the three that PH linked to, or start a new one. Whatever. The "troll" comment was unnecessary though, there's nothing wrong with raising a point relevant to Dubai projects in a thread about Dubai projects.

[airjaw]

I can't believe they are building all those... that really is incredible.