What is Digg?163 Comments
- darkchild82, on 11/21/2008, -21/+91Dear Dubai,
Enjoy while it lasts. I heard oil is at $50 and going south.
Sincerely,
- Rest of the world - darkchild82, on 11/21/2008, -5/+43I'm not an idiot because I lived and grew up in the Middle East for nearly 16 years. I know about Dubai and most gulf states and I'm also aware of the fact that Dubai's income is mostly derived from tourism and not oil.
BUT the crazy projects they have been undertaking in the past few years is all thanks the high price of oil. Dubai isn't "without" oil at all, it just doesn't have as much compared to Saudi Arabia but the United Arab Emirates (of which Dubai is one emirate) has enough oil for the rulers, through their companies such as Nakheel, to then re-invest in Dubai since it is the commercial capital of the U.A.E.
I'm not a "loser" because the "US economy is in the gutter" because I'm not American... but I stand by what I said because Dubai is going to face hardships in the next few years. Simply because all that they have built and continue to invest in caters to the extremely wealthy. And going forward, there are not going to be too many who are going to come to an Islamic state to blow their hard-earned/stolen/misappropriated cash. Some will but not all. - HeDiggMe, on 11/21/2008, -0/+30Was it hosted by AIG?
- luseton, on 11/21/2008, -1/+25They don't rely on oil. Tourism is their main industry.
Also the oil guys where making a killing even when oil was at $30.
They have money to burn because they were smart not to spend 10 billion every month on another country. - 13ohemian, on 11/21/2008, -1/+25I live in the UAE (where dubai is)
UAE doesnt rely on oil as much as it does on tourism...
so even if oil prices fall they wont be affected much..
all this is done for tourism. - rrife, on 11/21/2008, -0/+22That's a recession for them.....they wanted to spend $200m.
- ogremidget, on 11/21/2008, -1/+21My buddy works for a company that builds roller coasters. He says they are swamped at work simply because Dubai wants so many coasters.
Sounds like Dubai is building a Disney Land or a Las Vegas, which will then bring the tourists in when the oil runs dry. - anjolly1, on 11/21/2008, -2/+18Impressive but still not as impressive as the Beijing Opening ceremony.
- xM55, on 10/02/2009, -6/+22It's a promo party, as in they're using it to convince guests to invest. Jeez, take a Business 101 for christ's sake.
Now digg me down because, for some reason, despising corporate America (yes, those individuals who worked their asses off to get where they are) has become somewhat of a cult on digg. - AFelsinger, on 11/21/2008, -5/+20oh Dubai... such a silly place
- orlyfactor, on 11/21/2008, -3/+18You just got told, damack.
- PCloadLetterWTF, on 11/21/2008, -2/+14Normally I don't like to go all grammar police on people.... but when you call someone an idiot and then use the incorrect form of "you're" it at least needs to be pointed out... sorry.
- havek23, on 11/21/2008, -0/+12Dubai actually has no oil, they're just surrounded by countries who do and use Dubai as a playground. Now that they are established as a playground though, people from ALL over the world can come and it will no longer be fueled by solely oil money.
- mmx2000, on 11/21/2008, -0/+12Sweet... 50 pics that are 2"x2" at my monitor's resolution, and I get to click 50 times to view them all! (After I wait 60 seconds for the viewer to even load).
Cool pictures but a horrible presentation. - Homerr, on 11/21/2008, -0/+12That's a lot of hookers and blow.
- SirChasm, on 11/21/2008, -0/+12Come on now, for Dubai, 20 million is pocket change.
- glasnostic, on 11/21/2008, -0/+11not Disney Land OR Las Vegas, its a Disney Land, stuffed in a de-boned(no gambling) Las Vegas, stuffed into a Mall of America, dipped in Tokio Tempura batter and fried in a vat of pure Hollywood fat.
its like a turducken of development. - Mesimeris, on 11/21/2008, -1/+12Around 2000, most of which are paid barely enough to survive (when not working 12 hour days).
How do I know this? I was one of them.
***** Atlantis.
***** them hard. - Harabeck, on 11/21/2008, -0/+11Only 20 million? Things must be getting really bad there. Soon theyll have to downgrade from diamond toilets to gold ones. Poor Dubai =-(
- dukksoup, on 11/21/2008, -2/+12How many slaves does it take to throw a Dubai party ?
- 13ohemian, on 11/21/2008, -2/+11Its not , i live in dubai , dubai relyson tourism , hell loat of foreigners came to see it , dubai relies more on tourism than oil.
- alperea, on 11/21/2008, -0/+9Disgusting? That's freaking badass! Are you a quaker or amish or something?
- chrissku, on 11/21/2008, -0/+9Isn't Wesley Snipes going to prison? I'm surprised that a judge would allow him to leave the country.
- louiebaur, on 11/21/2008, -1/+10This from space would look like a massive jellyfish: http://www.aol.com.au/news/gallery/atlantis-openin ...
- dicer999, on 11/21/2008, -0/+7I live in Dubai. It really isn't as bad as you'd think, but it's days are numbed. The Sheiks are going to run out of oil and drive themselves to poverty with the crazy stuff they are doing. It's pretty cool right now though :)
- upick, on 11/21/2008, -0/+7I think the title was a big modest,
Its was a grand opening thats for sure, the fireworks alone was awesome! - vertigo32, on 11/21/2008, -1/+8@HyperionHK
It is a reasonable idea to diversify away from oil and into tourism. In that regard, Dubai / UAE is ahead of the game compared to the rest of the Middle East.
However, the question remains that once the oil money dries up, who is going to be visiting? Most Westerners aren't interested in getting sentenced to lashes for wearing too short of a skirt in public or getting jail time for any public display of affection.
When it comes to tourism, being the most progressive Arabic country is like placing first in the Special Olympics... - Jelfish, on 11/21/2008, -0/+6My guess is that laws will change to benefit tourism. There's no way they'd let such a huge tourism potential go to waste that easily.
- SavageIndustrie, on 07/25/2009, -0/+6I bet that would confuse the ***** out of aliens!!
- jjohnstn, on 11/21/2008, -1/+7And where exactly do you think the money invested in Dubai comes from? Oil. When the oil sheikhs have less money, they visit and invest in Dubai less. Same as resorts here falling on hard times during this economic downturn. Even millionaires/billionaires have to watch expenses, it's all relative.
- pathouston22, on 11/21/2008, -2/+8Jealous much?
- ScaryUK, on 11/21/2008, -1/+7The Middle East hasn't been affected by the credit crisis as much as the 'west' because Islamic banking doesn't loan money in the way that the rest of the worlds banks do - they (the customers and the banks) cannot benefit from interest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3548656.stm - shortcircuit13, on 11/21/2008, -2/+7The bit where every firework was real, including during the CG scene spliced in to get around no-fly restrictions, since real fireworks were set off in sync with the CG.
Arrogance in ignorance. How predictable. - inactive, on 11/21/2008, -0/+5He cant pay his taxes, but he could spend money on a party. :/
- HyperionHK, on 11/21/2008, -0/+5This is true, tourism is really why they build all this crazy stuff. It's some smart thinking. Sure they do get a lot of money from oil, but they realize that the oil won't last forever so they spend all that oil money building crazy stuff to bring tourists in. Pretty good idea I think.
- YZBot, on 11/21/2008, -2/+7Oh, they'll feel it. They'll find out when they can't find tenants for all of their skyscraper projects. They already have vacancy issues. It will be bad for a while.
- gandre, on 11/21/2008, -0/+5Please take me in oh great Dubai, I'll hook if I have to. All this ***** is so awesome.. that's the ***** way to live
...
damn looks like their constant advertising is having an effect on me... - Lordy1952, on 11/21/2008, -1/+6Recession? only in America
- inactive, on 11/21/2008, -0/+5Nice to see the money invested in solutions to world problems.
- davewashere, on 11/21/2008, -0/+5I read yesterday that real estate prices in Dubai have dropped 40% over the past year and several large construction projects have been halted. There's a surplus of real estate and not nearly enough demand for it.
I think investors in Dubai have been too quick to ignore how Sharia Law will stifle potential profits. Although Dubai is already an established resort destination for many in the Middle East who already live under Sharia Law, in the past decade they've been trying to attract tourists from the west. How well is that going to work in a place that forbids gambling, drug use, and women trying to look sexy? Those are the pillars of western civilization! Are people really interested in taking a 15 hour flight to a desert city on the other side of the world for the chance to go to a nightclub that Samantha Ronson was once paid to DJ at? - vertigo32, on 11/21/2008, -0/+4A playground where you go to jail for any unmarried display of affection in public and get lashes if you leave your hotel after having a drink or two?
Sounds wonderful.
The only reason they are doing well now is that they are surrounded by super-wealthy oilmen who need a place nearby to party. When the oil dries up, so will the tourist industry. - inactive, on 11/21/2008, -11/+15Yeah. I can't believe they had the gall to voluntarily sell us their oil!! How dare they try to profit off their natural resources without looking out for our best interests!
- Gravey9, on 11/21/2008, -0/+4Im usually not impressed by pictures of fireworks but that was amazing
- ElectricRebel, on 11/21/2008, -2/+6Dubai... A place in the desert with no natural resources. Although they lack oil themselves, they depend heavily on being the piggy bank for their oil rich nearest neighbors. The world economy is going to shift away from oil from here on out, so the money will stop flowing through Dubai in 20 years or so. They know this so they are trying to rebuild around tourism. Unfortunately, they live in a country where many things that tourists like to do are illegal and will get you put in jail for a long time. Also, it is in the ***** desert. Basically, they are building a gigantic unsustainable playground with the money that is going to run out soon.
Hmmm. Is there a long term predictions market on this issue? I'd like to bet that in 30 years, Dubai will be a ghost town (or a shanty town with really big shanties).
Any takers? - koldmilk, on 11/21/2008, -0/+4You didn't get one? I thought everyone got one?
- apackofmonkeys, on 11/21/2008, -0/+4I agree with your sentiments, but the OP really didn't say anything that your reply corresponds to.
- inactive, on 11/21/2008, -0/+4A worm found inside a woman's brain is disgusting.
- eSentrik, on 11/21/2008, -0/+4Why was spending their money on R & D not an option? Why are they trying to make the next Vegas or Hollywood? Why not be the next silicon valley or something? Why is a frivolous party town the answer? Why, why why??
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