Dust / Weather

An anon friend sent me this:

"Back in DXB... and noticed something while the plane was landing. I could see Jebel Ali from the plane! Never seen Jebel Ali from the air... so it got me wondering, while I was in the cab. I could see Burj Dubai clear as day business bay crossing ( asked the cabbie to take the senic route ). Could see wafi and the NBD building on the creek clear as day. And then it hit me. Between the weekend and eid all construction activity had stopped for 3-4 days, and with no dust being blown up in to the atmosphere for once visibility is extremely good in DXB. "

Thoughts?

Building collapse in Dubai

Twitter user MaliZomg is posting some on-the-scene updates of a building collapse in the UAE (around Abu Hail area)

Click here (http://twitter.com/MaliZomg) to follow the updates.

Credit: http://twitter.com/MaliZomg

Khaleej Times: Ten cars destroyed in Deira building collapse

"An eight storey building under construction in Deira, Dubai has collapsed destroying more than ten cars, a police officer said.The building, on Galadari Road next to Ramada Continental Hotel, collapsed at about 4pm and the officer was not able to confirm whether anybody had been hurt in the building collapse but said no workers were believed to be on-site at the time."

The National: Building collapses in Dubai

Gulf News: Building collapses near Al Ittihad Road in Deira

Video from very top of Burj Dubai

Stumbled upon a really great video on YouTube, taken from the very very very very top of the Burj Dubai. Simply Breathtaking...

Dubai rotating tower

I wouldn't want to live in it, and I don't for a moment believe it will end up looking anything like this if indeed it is ever built at all, but the 3D animations in this video are stunning. It looks like something from another universe:

Jumeirah - a beach that was (?)

Does anyone know what's going on at Jumeirah Beach? Where previously white sands led the way down to the sea, now ALL of the stretch from Jumeirah 1 to Jumeirah 3 has been cut off from public, and villas are being constructed on it.
has anyone been there recently? what's this about? is this the only solution to the acute housing shortage in Dubai (building sea-front villas that will sell for over AED 30M each)?
i want my beaches back! last year, any turn you took towards the sea (on beach road) led you right to the sands, and you could drive next to the sea. this is so disappointing. were these developments ever announced?

Dubai Metro construction pictures

A website in Romania has some interesting pictures of the upcoming Dubai Metro...
Page 1
Page 2

EDIT: these (as pointed out in the commenting section) are photographs of the new airport terminal and not Dubai Metro

WSJ: Dubai's Debt Cloud

Friday the Wall Street Journal ran an article about market concerns over the level of sovereign in Dubai. An ungated copy of the article is here. Among other things the article points out that big investors want more transparency such as access to Dubai government's books.

The UAE student blog Broadcasters of Tomorrow astutely observes: "In the end, if Dubai gets into financial trouble it would take its neighbours with it. Or perhaps they're counting on a regional bailout."

Similarly, for the Emirates Economist (shameless plug) the money quote from the WSJ article is this one: "The assumption is that Sheikh Mohammed or his government will come to the rescue in a pinch. And if Dubai gets overextended, analysts expect the emirate's much-richer cousins in Abu Dhabi will lend a hand."

With that attitude you've got the same element that fueled the savings and loan real estate scandals in the US in the 1980s - removal of downside risk.

So what do you think? Would Abu Dhabi do a bailout? Are Dubai's investors counting on it? And if so, what can Abu Dhabi do about it now?

UPDATE - Marginal Revolution links here and writes "sell short."

D1 flood

"The construction site of Dubai’s luxury residential tower D1 flooded this week after a sea wall collapsed.

The construction is located in Dubai’s Creek cultural and artistic district, built directly at the waterfront.

An eyewitness said: “Looking at the crane it seems as though the site is about 30 feet under water”.

It is believed that nobody was hurt.

A similar incident took place in February this year when the site of the Infinity Tower in Dubai’s Marina was inundated. A burst wall was also cause of the incident then. Consequently, the project had to be put on hold.

The D1 Tower, designed by Holford & Associates, is a twin tower to the world’s tallest residential tower, Q1, in Australia."

More HERE

Weakened Dollar Slows Dubai Tower's Race to the Skies

The Washington Post

U.S. policymakers and consumers have committed one of the few unforgivable sins in this desert boom town: They've slowed the building down.

"We don't want the United States to fail, but we don't want to go under with them," said Yasar Narrar, a strategy adviser to the executive office of the ruler of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktum. Dubai is one of seven states in the United Arab Emirates.

Last month, the Emirates became one of the first Arab countries in the Persian Gulf to declare the dollar's fall a crisis. Local currencies' peg to the dollar was hindering growth and squandering the opportunities presented by $99-a-barrel oil, said Sultan Nasser al-Suweidi, the governor of the Emirates' central bank.
...
As recently as last month, some construction workers on the Burj Dubai and other projects made the equivalent of as little as $109 a month. Back home in India, where the dollar has fallen 14 percent against the rupee in the past 18 months, remittances that workers here sent to their families steadily lost value.

"I work here, and I can't save anything. I'll ruin my family," said Ram Chandra, 33, a mason from the north Indian state of Rajasthan.
...
"Every time I telephone my family, they say, 'Cancel your visa and come home,' " Chandra said. All the workers in the room said they planned to do so.
...
"It's far more attractive for them . . . to be living in their home country and making the same wages and living far more cheaply," said Tom Barry, general manager for Arabtec, one of the lead construction contractors for the Burj Dubai.

Emphasis added. Hmmm. Is the pressure for revaluation that the Central Bank is feeling political pressure from Dubai?

The article doesn't mention that Dubai Inc. holds large dollar-denominated investments in the US.

Seven people killed in construction accident at Dubai Marina

News courtesy of Gulf News

"Dubai: Seven people have been killed in a construction accident in Dubai Marina.

20 people have been injured in the accident, which happened at 6.20pm on Thursday evening.

It is believed the accident happened when scaffolding on a bridge under construction on the Al Suffouh Road collapsed.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board of the Roads and Transport Authority told Dubai TV the accident was caused by human error when steel rods were wrongly loaded.

Jamal Al Merri, deputy commandant of Dubai Police told Gulf News: "The accident happened at 6.20pm. The pillar collapsed killing seven people instantly and injuring 24, according to preliminary information.

"There are no workers under the rubble. All other workers have been accounted for."

Dubai Metro faces delays

Found in last week's Middle East Economic Digest, dated 19-25 October 2007. The on-line version is available on a subscription-only basis, so I've typed it in here as an article of general interest.

Contractors ask for more time to complete urban rail network

The $4,600 million project to build the red and green lines on the Dubai Metro scheme could be facing delays of up to one year after contractors on the scheme indicated to the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) that they need more time to complete work on the project.

According to several senior sources on the scheme, the JT Metro joint venture executing the civil engineering and construction works is seeking an extension to complete the project. “The amount of time being discussed is changing, but it is several hundred days,” says a consultant working on the project.

Significant changes in the design of the system are understood to be the reason for discussion. The client, the RTA, has revised the design of the project since the contract was awarded to the Dubai Urban Rail Link (Durl) consortium in 2005, and the contractors are now seeking more time to accommodate these changes.

“Almost everything has changed except the tunnel diameters and the viaducts,” says a source on the project. “It is very different to the specifications provided in the tender documents.”

However, it is unclear whether an extension will be granted by the RTA. The project is one of the most critical in Dubai as it is required to alleviate the chronic congestion currently experienced on the emirate’s roads.

“The RTA is adamant that the red line will open on 9 September 2009,” says the source. “So the consortium may be compensated to get it finished on time.”

The RTA denies that there has been a request for more time to complete the project. “The RTA is not aware of any such request,” says a spokeswoman.

RTA to be in charge of final Creek Extension Phase 5

Longtime reader, first-time poster here...

The Gulf News tabloid Xpress is reporting here that the RTA will be in charge of the final phase of the Creek Extension project which will extend from it's current place of behind the Metropolitan Hotel under SZR, beside the Safa Park, under Wasl Road and Beach Road, and finally out to the Gulf beside Jumeirah Beach Park. This final phase of construction will start in December of this year to be completed in 3 years.

Up until now Dubai Properties has overseen the project but the leadership will change for this final phase, presumably because the final stretch will disrupt so much traffic on these three major roads.

This is of great interest to me because the projected path of the waterway winds right past my villa. But the project in general should be a concern for all Dubai/Sharjah residents because three new bridges will be built on these ever-so-critical thoroughfares.

Do you think it's a good thing that the RTA will be in charge of the final phase? How do you think this project will affect life in Dubai and your commute to and from work or leisure activities?

Beach development is still happening...

I've been posting on my blog for a while about the beach development next to Burj Al Arab - the fence going up, then the press announcement of the development, then Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid's order for construction to stop.

I've also talked about the mysterious offshore work that didn't stop, as has NZM at M&J Adventures. She has some good photos of the work boats in action.

Yesterday morning an island had appeared out of the sea - this morning I took these photos from the sea wall around Umm Suqeim Fishing Port.

The fence has gone from around the beach sure enough, but the Boskalis dredging company's semi-permanent construction site offices are in place adjacent to the port, the dredgers are working and there is now an island which wasn't there three days ago.

I can't imagine that Sheikh Mohammed's order would not be obeyed, so what's going on?

How many revolving towers are planned for Dubai?

Planned, whatever. According to www.homesgofast.com,

Three ambitious new building projects have been announced in Dubai all of which will feature rotation in the design. This new concept features rotation either of the whole towers or of certain floors within.

Such technology however exists since 2001 in Brazil. The 15 storey Suite-Vollard in Curitiba, Brazil has 11 apartments that turn independently at 360 degrees an hour. ...

The first of the three projects in Dubai is the High Rise Real Estate’s ‘Rotating City’. This development has towers and villas. The villas will rotate completely with the help of a certain mechanism. These will be lifted up to six metres in height and then turn around. In another fifteen storey tower within this city, five floors will be designed to rotate as well. Vehicle owners will also have it easy with the vehicles being transported up as well.

The second project located in the ambitious Dubailand is the Times Residences. This project is headed by the Dubai Property Ring and consists of 24 towers and expected to be ready by 2009-2010. The first tower will rotate on a 24 hours cycle. The remaining 23 towers will follow the different time zones across the world. Solar energy will power this technology.

The third project is the Da Vinci Tower which will rotate as well as change shape in the process.

It's all here. Credulous? I cut&paste, you decide.

Miss little sunshine

Further to this post some time back, I found the following in the 2-8 Feb 2007 issue of the Middle East Economic Digest.

Abu Dhabi to exploit solar power
Government's Masdar alternative energy builds up a head of steam

Abu Dhabi is to build the Gulf's first major solar power plant as part of its Masdar advanced energy initiative.

Masdar, which is being promoted by the government-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, was set up last April to promote sustainable energy in the emirate. By developing clean energy projects, Masdar aims to extend the life of Abu Dhabi's vast hydrocarbon reserves, expand the emirate's position in the global energy market and relieve some of the demand on precious gas supplies.

The solar plant, which is to be implemented by Masdar in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA), will have cpacity of about 100MW. Depending on which of three possible sites is selected, it will either be a standalone solar power plant or one which will also include desalination facilities.

Germany's Fichtner has been appointed technical consultant for the plant, while German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is the solar survey consultant. A decision has still to be taken on whether the project, due to be commissioned in late 2009, will be developed with the private sector, as is now the case on all ADWEA generation schemes."

So it is possible!

Life's a beach.

We have some fabulous beaches in Dubai, huge stretches of soft white sand with warm turquoise water to swim in. They're part of life in Dubai for many people, especially at the weekend when friends meet there to relax after their hard working week.

We now have some iconic buildings on the beach too, which tourists love to photograph.

Today I took my camera when I went for a stroll along the most famous stretch of beach so that I could share some photographs of our beach culture with you.

First, the view of the beach from Umm Suqeim Park:



Then Burj Al Arab, the building that the tourist buses head to every morning so that the excited tourists can have their photo taken with our symbol of Dubai in the background:



And its sister hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, photographed from the lifeguard tower at the end of the beach:



Looks fantastic doesn't it.

Beach update - it couldn't be worse.

I wrote on my blog yesterday about the mysterious construction fence which was being built along Jumeirah Beach (which Samuraisam kindly linked to this blog - below).







My worst fears about it have been confirmed.

Just read what the press release in the papers today says:

Zabeel Investments has begun work on a new 4.5 million square foot coastal development on Jumeirah Beach in Umm Suqueim.

"The unique mixed-use development will comprise residential, commercial and hospitality facilities reflecting a beachfront lifestyle."

We have appointed a renowned master planner and architect who is putting together final touches to plans that will be one of the best that Dubai has seen."

The development will add to the existing beachside environment, which is synonymous with new developments in the UAE.

"The new project will further extend Dubai's coastline and provide additional opportunities for the beachfront lifestyle."

So there we have it. The standard press release phrases, and as usual not quite telling it like it is. This is not 'adding to the existing beachside environment' but taking it away.


Development gone mad. Taking away one of Dubai's major tourism assets, depriving residents of one of our major relaxation areas.


The press release is in Gulf News here.

The beach is gone

Is the last 'free' part of the beach near the Burj Al Arab disappearing?
Read about it at Seabee's blog over here

Upside Down Tower in Dubai

click above for larger image

Have you heard about the (Upside Down Tower) in Dubai?

Read More ...

Wall Street Journal: Massive Projects Attempt To Lure Business, Tourists; Can Demand Meet Supply?

Link ($):

"It boggles the mind how many Lagoons-style projects are under way in Dubai," says Bill Kistler, president of Urban Land Institute in Europe, a nonprofit real-estate research institute based in Washington, D.C. "Dubai wants to become the Singapore of the region and they're well on the way to doing that."

Other projects include Dubai Waterfront, a beachfront project larger than Manhattan being developed by local developer Nakheel LLC which is partially state-owned. Nearby is Dubailand, a three billion square-foot entertainment and leisure project being managed by the government's Dubai Development & Investment Authority. Many of the attractions are expected to open in 2008.

Instability elsewhere in the Middle East has helped attract businesses and tourists to Dubai, says Mr. Kistler. If the Middle East stabilizes, Dubai could lose business to other fast-growing emirates, such as Abu Dhabi, he says. The United Arab Emirates has grown to become a significant international business center in recent years due to its reputation for being one of the most successful and stable nations in the Arab world, as well as one of the most liberal. (Each emirate is controlled by a ruling family.) However, says Mr. Kistler, "whether there is an appetite to fill all of these new offices and apartments remains to be proved."

"You have to look at Dubai with different optics because of the sheer scale of development. They're building for the next generation," says Urban Land Institute's Mr. Kistler. "I went to visit one Dubai developer recently and it was like a Harrods' sale, there were so many people. I thought perhaps that a tour bus had just come in, but apparently this was just a typical day in their sales office."

The Emirates Economist has more on Dubai from Mr. Kistler.

UPDATE - A project that "represents the desire of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prince of Dubai." This Hydropolis project has been long dead hasn't it?