Dubai...

SandmanNinja · May 11th, 2008

Over the past few months, I've been reading up on Dubai and the current boom happening over there.

And (almost) everything I see on documentaries on television or read about in a magazine has a 'foreign', non-native influence. For instance, the world famous Burj Al 'hotel'. The shiek flew in an Interior Decorator from Asia to design/decorate the suites and atrium. And the construction teams looked to be non-locals as well.

I mean no disrespect to anyone from that region, but it almost seems that they are screaming, "We have no native culture so we will buy yours".

And I realise you cannot 'grow' native skills in just a few years, but the Shieks have been selling oil for a long time. India is well-known for sending their citizens to other countries to learn skills and then take those skills and experience back to India and then either teach or create industry with those skills. Why do I mainly see Europeans and Americans as Architects and project leaders and engineers?

afterglow · May 11th, 2008

It's a mostly expat city... less than 20% of Dubai's population are national Arabs.

Thiago de Andrade · May 11th, 2008

They just have a few more years of oil left, so they are preparing their future as turistic, comercial, business point or center in the middle-east, and therefore, not looking forward to building a new arabian urban culture, in my humble opinion.
So, the real-estate business is being showcased everywhere, attracting tourists and masses of workers from all over with a very low aesthetic quality of urban and architectural spaces, it´s a kind of second-hand wannabe-avan-garde architecture. Let´s see how long it will hold and stand as a new geopolitical center for the region.
But one thing is right, many other countries in the region don´t seem to care if the oil is going to end, as long as their sheiks or kings still sit on top of billions of petrodollars, so the Emirates are aware of that risk.

Andoy · May 12th, 2008

I think there are now less than 17% locals living here, however the new places that are being built do have an Arabic type heritage style to them, the canals are being constructed along the lines of the old style Dubai Creek.
A lot of the building complexes are using an Arabic style with Wind towers and suchlike.
It is difficult to see this unless you visit here because on TV and in most of the glossy magazines only the extravagant buildings and projects are shown.
check out some of the coastal villa complexes being constructed and you will see they have the Arabic influence in the design.

I think you see mainly European and American architects because they are the ones that put in the best designs for the tenders..

They say the Oil will be depleted within 20 years or so here in the Emirates but countries close like Bahrain and Qatar are also developing at a high rate, Bahrain has been at the front of Middle eastern banking and Finance for the last 50 years or so... and they do not rely on Oil for revenue so much.

All that said however it is a pain living here due to the traffic and rent prices on apartments are scandalous..

SandmanNinja · May 12th, 2008

There is a small town in the middle of the desert here in Australia. House prices (to buy or to rent) were (literally) dirt cheap. Then a big company opened a new Mine there and people from all over the country flocked there. House prices and rental rates went through the roof! Like, 1000% increase. People that had property there before the Mine were sitting on a gold mine (forgive the pun).

I can only imagine Dubai is about 1000 times worse, and on a global scale.

Andoy - you wouldn't happen to have a photo gallery of some of the more 'traditional' architecture of your region?

Andoy · May 12th, 2008

I don't have a personal photo gallery online but here are a few places to search for on google..

this is Al Hamra Fort hotel in Ras Al Khaimah which is about an hours drive outside Dubai..

there is a new development in the "old Town" Dubai... forget the skyscraper in the distance but focus on the new villas in the forefront..
search for Al Barari

there are a more Spanish style villa but to be honest the arabic style villas are very similar to Spanish/Italian/ Greek style housing.. to get the large airy rooms that keep the air cooler..

There is also Dubai, Old Town development.. just search for that

And there is a place called Zaafaran also in what is also in the Old Town part of Dubai..as you can see there is again high rise blocks in the background..

I think because there are so many foreign investors here now that each real estate developer has his own idea as to what will sell and out do the competition.. so some are going for the more traditional style whilst others are appealing to foreign buyers more..

hope the images help a bit.. feel free to drop me an e-mail if you want anything more..and next time i'm out with my camera i'll try and grab some snaps for you..

IHAB · May 12th, 2008

actually, yes. they are focusing on the commercial orientation of that city,dubai i mean was planned in the early 90's to that particular pupose.upploaded some samples of the islamic architectural

IHAB · May 12th, 2008

sorry for inconvinience

amer abidi · May 12th, 2008

look at the difference in the first 2 photos between the desert road in 1990, and the same street now. Incredible!!

http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm

IHAB · May 12th, 2008

some more.............................................. ...........

May 11th, 2008	#1 (permalink)
SandmanNinja Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,373 Name: Joel Callahan	Dubai... Over the past few months, I've been reading up on Dubai and the current boom happening over there. And (almost) everything I see on documentaries on television or read about in a magazine has a 'foreign', non-native influence. For instance, the world famous Burj Al 'hotel'. The shiek flew in an Interior Decorator from Asia to design/decorate the suites and atrium. And the construction teams looked to be non-locals as well. I mean no disrespect to anyone from that region, but it almost seems that they are screaming, "We have no native culture so we will buy yours". And I realise you cannot 'grow' native skills in just a few years, but the Shieks have been selling oil for a long time. India is well-known for sending their citizens to other countries to learn skills and then take those skills and experience back to India and then either teach or create industry with those skills. Why do I mainly see Europeans and Americans as Architects and project leaders and engineers? __________________ -SandmanNinja website

May 11th, 2008	#2 (permalink)
afterglow Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melbourne Age: 34 Posts: 114 Name: Steve Brown	Re: Dubai... It's a mostly expat city... less than 20% of Dubai's population are national Arabs.

May 11th, 2008	#3 (permalink)
Thiago de Andrade Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brasília Age: 28 Posts: 130 Name: Thiago de Andrade	Re: Dubai... They just have a few more years of oil left, so they are preparing their future as turistic, comercial, business point or center in the middle-east, and therefore, not looking forward to building a new arabian urban culture, in my humble opinion. So, the real-estate business is being showcased everywhere, attracting tourists and masses of workers from all over with a very low aesthetic quality of urban and architectural spaces, it´s a kind of second-hand wannabe-avan-garde architecture. Let´s see how long it will hold and stand as a new geopolitical center for the region. But one thing is right, many other countries in the region don´t seem to care if the oil is going to end, as long as their sheiks or kings still sit on top of billions of petrodollars, so the Emirates are aware of that risk.

May 12th, 2008	#4 (permalink)
Andoy Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 7 Name: Andrew Smith	Re: Dubai... I think there are now less than 17% locals living here, however the new places that are being built do have an Arabic type heritage style to them, the canals are being constructed along the lines of the old style Dubai Creek. A lot of the building complexes are using an Arabic style with Wind towers and suchlike. It is difficult to see this unless you visit here because on TV and in most of the glossy magazines only the extravagant buildings and projects are shown. check out some of the coastal villa complexes being constructed and you will see they have the Arabic influence in the design. I think you see mainly European and American architects because they are the ones that put in the best designs for the tenders.. They say the Oil will be depleted within 20 years or so here in the Emirates but countries close like Bahrain and Qatar are also developing at a high rate, Bahrain has been at the front of Middle eastern banking and Finance for the last 50 years or so... and they do not rely on Oil for revenue so much. All that said however it is a pain living here due to the traffic and rent prices on apartments are scandalous..

May 12th, 2008	#5 (permalink)
SandmanNinja Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,373 Name: Joel Callahan	Re: Dubai... There is a small town in the middle of the desert here in Australia. House prices (to buy or to rent) were (literally) dirt cheap. Then a big company opened a new Mine there and people from all over the country flocked there. House prices and rental rates went through the roof! Like, 1000% increase. People that had property there before the Mine were sitting on a gold mine (forgive the pun). I can only imagine Dubai is about 1000 times worse, and on a global scale. Andoy - you wouldn't happen to have a photo gallery of some of the more 'traditional' architecture of your region? __________________ -SandmanNinja website

May 12th, 2008	#6 (permalink)
Andoy Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 7 Name: Andrew Smith	Re: Dubai... I don't have a personal photo gallery online but here are a few places to search for on google.. this is Al Hamra Fort hotel in Ras Al Khaimah which is about an hours drive outside Dubai.. there is a new development in the "old Town" Dubai... forget the skyscraper in the distance but focus on the new villas in the forefront.. search for Al Barari there are a more Spanish style villa but to be honest the arabic style villas are very similar to Spanish/Italian/ Greek style housing.. to get the large airy rooms that keep the air cooler.. There is also Dubai, Old Town development.. just search for that And there is a place called Zaafaran also in what is also in the Old Town part of Dubai..as you can see there is again high rise blocks in the background.. I think because there are so many foreign investors here now that each real estate developer has his own idea as to what will sell and out do the competition.. so some are going for the more traditional style whilst others are appealing to foreign buyers more.. hope the images help a bit.. feel free to drop me an e-mail if you want anything more..and next time i'm out with my camera i'll try and grab some snaps for you..

May 12th, 2008	#9 (permalink)
amer abidi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Jordan Age: 30 Posts: 299 Name: amer abidi	Re: Dubai... look at the difference in the first 2 photos between the desert road in 1990, and the same street now. Incredible!! http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm __________________ "Well I figure it has to be bigger than smaller. Whats the point of designing a concept the size of a hot dog stand? " J.G.

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