because we have people breaking ancient tradition of bible or koran. now, you can’t go back and fix it they way it was. what works is shrinkage population in dubai.

Good news is. there’s free healthcare and free cars on airport.

1. They invested heavily on iris scan systems and software and swung it into action but do not have an effective physical border management plan. When dreams crashed people left Dubai through the Oman border..
2. The government’s support for blank check guarantee requirement by banks for loans etc. The moment your employer notifies the bank due to the commitment they have entered into when they gave the salary certificate, the bank immediately cashes your guarantee check, it bounces and they submit it to police where it instantly becomes a case and a record on the exit system. If you try to leave the country you get arrested at immigration.. now examine this. This is a country that does not grant you citizenship or benefits, you have lost your job and are unable to find another one due to the crash in the inflated economy of Dubai… and you are supposed to be in jail?? Imagine if an Emarati is put through this. This naturally has people thinking “me, me” and not “country, country, Dubai..” as this is how it could end up for anybody doing a decent job!
3. The government knows that thousands of laborers are being sent home, visa cancelled and off they go with the clothes they wore to work that day. Most companies, almost all to put it square continue to take advantage of this and ship the very employees that earned the bread for them minus months of outstanding pay and benefits… where is justice here?
4. They say it is tax free here, wait a minute! In a land where you are taxed, they allow you to make your money and then tax you based on your earnings whereas in Dubai they tax and choke you upfront and leave you to survive on remaining liquidity. The licenses, fees, rent, hidden fees, all this adds up big time and most people do not see this unless they have been through it.

The authorities are so heavy handed and there is hardly sensitivity towards people’s needs here in Dubai and the other states. Try opening a business in UAQ or some place and see!! On the flip side, countries like the US have a system that is fair for the most part. You loose your job you get unemployment benefits so who cares about the unemployment rate someone has written here about? You loose your job here in Dubai, you risk being shoved in jail – like a criminal.

The scale in question when you talk about Dubai is very much like noitwillnot put it; not isolated and not dead.

It is afterall one emirate with its neighbors very much able to help keep some sort of liquidity and employment available.

Not for foreign workers as much, that part is very true.

My dad just got laid off a major project over there. Obviously they hit the more expensive foreign talent first.

It’s far from over for Dubai though.

If that sort of unemployment is freaking you out, please take a peak at Florida’s unemplyment stats alone, and you’ll see that Dubai is relatively doing just great!

The problem of nationals in any country not engaging in some activities while having unemployment exposes a social problem. If they hire foreigners in certain sectors being fully employed themselves or well off that they do not need to work in regular jobs or being paid just for being nationals of that country, they would be highly well managed.

I think that the main conflict would be how businesses are viewed, and when borders or lines are drawn for aspirations and needs that are socially higher concerns. the point / the motive / the goal after all is what sets priorities
.

Having been traveling regional a lot in the last few weeks on business, I have to admit that I find Jordan’s market to be quite better in coping with the world crisis than the likes of Dubai (and oh yeah….Dubai’s going through a nuclear economic meltdown). I have to point out, in my singularly humble opinion, that perhaps now is the time for another ‘giant’ to awaken in the region. It is not a mere issue of financial base that would kick start an d ambitious and healthy growth curve, but rather, the ‘Will Power’ to drive our ideas, creativity, and spirit to evolve culturally, economically, and politically.

Despite bits and pieces of isolated imperfections, it does breed a sense of pride when you see Jordanian innovations and master products being marketed globally. I think it’s a about time the likes of “Blue Fig” to start developing foreign outlets. or now that “Fine” tissue paper is literally on every table in every country of the Middle East, why not start developing the first tissue / toilet paper in the International Space Station?

From Books@Cafe, to Falafel Abo Jbara, to argeelet Tche-Tche….we are “ahl el-azm”….and we have yet a long way to go….Hence, on we go ya Urdun ! regardless of what happens to Dubai…we have a homework to do.

Dragon of the 7th Circle

As for benefits for national (in any country), I agree with you in that the government tries to deliver welfare. If the government is advertising for jobs at the Ministry of Finance for instance, let them only hire locals.The government may also pay locals social security, housing and transport benefits which are obviously not available to expats. This is how governments help their citizens. I believe that companies must be free to hire and fire individuals as they see fit.

I am not Jordanian, by the way. But I see your question. If my government was handing out things for free, I would only want my fellow citizens to get these things. However, working to earn a living is not a “benefit”. Surely if a company found qualified, able and willing locals they would not have to go to far flung places looking for people.

How many Emarati men do you know? How many of these guys are happy to be paid $50 a month to work on the construction sites you mention? How many would be happy to sweep the streets, pick up rubbish at 5 in the morning or serve you when you go to Starbucks?

@ ibby, when a discussion about nationals priority to obtain jobs over xpats.. there is a solid unspoken conscience that individuals match theoretically in all requirements, potential, and qualification (say university graduates hired by a centralized operations bank processing transfers, which is considered a bulk employing tank that requires basic qualification of a bank staff. Say construction workers which might be only qualified for their physical abilities) or a much senior/advanced hires with different criteria. When individuals match, priority is given to the national. Some countries do it by force as the case may be in dubai, others do it by facilities and tax exemptions, others just wish for but the outspoken ones in their societies are well founded to block any action or even not to be accountable for doing nothing also. Any government tries to deliver welfare to its people and thats why priority is given to nationals. As a Jordanian yourself, would you like to see a foreigner enjoying benefits in Jordan more than you do for any justification?

You accuse me of racism but identify yours as well. whats that? humor?!

The amount of ignorant dictating people in every discussion sickens me.

Surely it would make more sense for a company to keep or fire employees based on ability, productivity and the company’s needs rather than their nationality. It is fine to employ some token Emaratis for quota reasons while times are good. However, when things get bad, I am not sure having “Hamad”s and “Jasem”s running the show is the best way to survive the crisis.

BTW: Yes, I know. The last sentence was probably racist.

Enjoy the good news!

Does anybody still have doubts?

I wonder, is the romantic tale of Dubai really over?

Why “really” over? Nobody said it’s over, and it’s not.

Can it survive the global recession? Can it be revived? Or will it become an abandoned amusement park with cobwebs on the ferris wheel? Will it end up sinking and becoming a mythological city like Atlantis?

Yes, yes, no and no.

More importantly [for us], will Dubai’s loss end up being Jordan’s gain? Even just a little?

No, not even a little.

“opportunities to thousands of us “, tell that to the people of South Asia (Pakistanis, Bangladeshi Indian ans serelankans about opportunities.
in my opinion in opinions of millions ,it’s called slave labor!

Bit I really appreciate that you took the time to reply.

If Dubai is going to dissovle, I and you should start worrying about people in jordan and the rest of the other arab world because they will bite the dust! If after all these investments in infrastructure the city will disappear, it would be a lot easier for places like Lebanon, syria and egypt to turn into dust! They have been covered with it for so long anyways.

I think we deserved Saudi in the eighties!! Because now, we are cursing the very city that gave opportunities to thousands of us which we will otherwise only dream of!!

Possibly. After all, Jordan is built on the misery of others….

You are a racist.

Here is for you, Mohanned.

So the greed of the banks was charity?

No, the generosity of the government toward minorities was charity, and it is precisely what allowed greedy bankers to do what they did.

But the banks can’t win, can they? They were accused of being too greedy when they didn’t give enough money to low-income minorities. “Redlining!” the liberals used to scream. Now they’ve foolishly reversed themselves. “Predatory lending!” is the battle-cry of liberals now.

That’s a major difference between leftists and conservatives (well, okay, old-fashioned conservatives, and not semi-liberal multiculturalists like Bush and Rove): conservatives realize greed is pretty much a constant factor in human nature. It isn’t necessarily a good thing, but it isn’t going away any time soon. Any given individual may be more or less greedy at any point in his or her life, and any given individual may be more or less greedy than another, but collectively greed is a constant. Therefore, greed isn’t much of an explanation in itself for large scale phenomena. The folks on Wall Street were as greedy in 1960 as they were in 2000 and as greedy in 2000 they will be in 2040. The housing crisis didn’t happen in 1960 or 2040, it happened now. What changes isn’t the amount of greed, but the ability of the greedy to do what they will. Liberals don’t grasp that, and that is why the are always resorting the explanation of “Greed!” as an answer to the very problems they worked so hard to create.

If you want to understand the roots of the housing crisis in the United States, I recommend reading every story tagged ‘real estate’ at the blog to which I just linked. There are many, many pages of illuminating–sometimes quite funny–posts on the topic.

When everything looked happy and danddy Dubai was rated as a smart model, and the vision that all other Gulf states should aspire to. The diversification of their economy made sense to people and everyone wanted to do the same! But now, you hear those same voices questioning Dubai’s route and calling it a salt city that will dissolve! I bet you that at least 70% of those questioning Dubai dreamt about working there, but now it is smarter to go with the flow and pretend to have been smarter!

Those who pointed to Cyclone and Casinos did rightly so because probably this is what they were looking for when they went to Dubai. Or at least this is the message they got from their friends living there. This says nothing about the city’s capability but says a lot about the mentality of those people!

To all those who complain about Dubai’s model, I ask you to name 100 multinational companies that have headquarters in the Middle East, and I assure you that 90 of those will have their headquarters in Dubai. Nobody here mentioned anything about Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Healthcare City, Jabal Ali Free Zone, or Jabal Ali port “The biggest and the busiest man-made port in the world”. If Dubai was stupid, I don’t think you suggest that all these corporations were as stupid!! Companies like Canon, Siemens, Microsoft, 3M, Dell, i-mate, Schulmberger, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Chrysler, BBC, Forbes, CNN, CNBC, and the list goes on! All these companies have invested to be stationed in Dubai! I don’t think you suggest this is part of your Salt city!?!?

Dubai has problems like every country or city in this world! They have to work out a scheme to help people settle in in bigger numbers. Although I don’t agree with the idea of no belonging! A lot of Europeans, Asians and Arabs plan to stay here for years to come because of the lifestyle, the opportunities and the safety and openness this city provides!

And talking about corrupted regimes!! I really don’t understand where did the gentleman get the idea that the UAE’s regime is one of the most corrupted in the Arab world?! Who are you comparing it to? Egypt, Lebanon, KSA, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, …etc? Whic countries exactly are you comparing it to? If what you say is true, I would love to have a “corrupted” government in my country that will provide me with such a high standard of living that will stop me from being an “expact” looking for a future for myself and my family outside my country!

And about Jordan benefiting!! I really don’t see how?!?! Those hundreds of thousands working abroad in UAE and other Gulf states will go back to jordan with their tails between their legs driving inflation with their temporary money just like the wave from Kuwait and Iraq did! We simply don’t have the infrastructure or the mentality to be an alternative!! If anybody is going to be an alternative it will be Qatar or Abu Dhabi! WE’ll just sit and continue what we do best!! Complain and rain on other’s parades!! I think we got addicted to the fact that every disaster that happens in the neighboring countries ends up beneifiting us for “awhile” just like what happened in Iraq and Kuwait! And the truth is that we get screwed eventually!

What happened in Dubai is a result of a global situation that affected every country! I don’t see anyone calling Iceland a corrupted country?! The whole country went broke! If this crisis never happened Dubai would’ve stayed the model to follow!

Bottom line is, Dubai will not disappear or become a ghost town “Which is not currently the case as some would like to suggest”. It will slow down, just like every other place. They will definitely go slower in their development plans. It will have some problems that they will have to sort out. But once this crisis is past us, the same people who cursed the City and its system would go back to wishing they were there!

They dared and they got rewarded. and now they suffer a bit like everyone else! At least they dared. In other places in this Arab world we suffered from the moment we became helpless and useless countries, and we’ll continue doing so for as long as we have this pathetic mentality!

You are a racist..But let me ask you this: YOu “had” to? So the greed of the banks was charity? Oh wait, them banks are managed by minorities..And those who bought the bundled loans in the secondary markets were also minorities…

Yes, banking has been and should remain a conservative business. In the States we are feeling the heat because the politicos and the bank thought it was a grand idea to grant credit to those who weren’t creditworthy. After all, we had to turn those low-income minorities into the proud owners of houses with marble counter tops somehow!

In the long run (i.e. after the oil is gone), the UAE probably has more promise than most other Gulf States, but it’s going to be a bumpy road until then. Good luck weathering the storm.

Dubai is not only fake but a city of salt soon to be dissolved..

Alurdunialhurr,

I don’t share your pessimistic view of capitalism generally, but Dubai really was a bubble that never made much economic sense. I agree with your assessment. Adios, UAE!

to tell you the truth i see Dubai,as a small US OF A,the us was formed with armature entrepreneurs who were ready to leave everything for a dream!and with there own hands they made that dream come true…

every single thing in life has a cycle,has growth,peak,decline…but the cycle does it end?
it’s always up to the people,never the oil,never the system,never the money!!!

and i do put high hopes on these people,because they’ve given up alot in there homeland,i don’t think it’s for nothing..they won’t just let go easily!

Naseem,thnx for the great blog doses man