German Car Zone

Huh?

That is certainly true Rob, but my point was that there still might not be enough interest to make the whole project profitable. Undertakings such as these don't have universal approval - one point to consider is the increasing environmental awareness (even among the very rich). With the construction of artificial islands and large air-conditioned (or, in the case of the indoor ski slope, refrigerated) building complexes in the desert, Dubai is very much going against this trend. According to a recent WWF report, the UAE already has the heaviest 'ecological footprint' (per capita) of any nation and I fear that figures such as this will eventually mean that Dubai will not be such a 'cool' place to visit after all... I'm just thinking that what they're doing is very risky and that something less excessive would have been a safer bet.

Interest? If there isn't any these guys in Dubai can sustain themselves no matter what.

The reason why they can undertake such massive and excessive projects is because they have the ability and resources to... Singapore would dream to build such monuments, but we simply do not have the space nor the money to do so. Or rather, we are more careful and cautious in the way we use our money because we don't have endless wealth, after all. Singapore is taking a softer bet with Integrated Resorts - but as it is, the wealthy will be attracted to the more extravagant and more extreme attractions in Dubai in the long run, IMO. That is why they build excessively, because there's so much competition around they're trying to keep themselves on top of the game.

Dubai is far less reliant on oil revenue than its peers in that oil-rich region. Dubai's boom is tied to property development and tourism.

Rob, I've never seen you in an F1 thread!

That's right. It's like the focal point of all Middle East - a very unusual mix od old as well as new (due to its staggering development pace) - when I was there, there were gleaming towers, nice cars, paved roads... And there were also no transit system, little/no public transport nor well-planned townships.

I agree with you the transportation is just starting to develop in Dubai, If you have the chance and visited Dubai in next year ther metro Dubai is going to be almost done. It going to route you through from Dubai airport to all the new projects and most places in Dubai.


http://www.rta.ae/dubaimetro_001.asp

Check the sit and the photo gallery and the maps avaiable to have an idea..

Thanks

Dubai havent forgot their heritage and traditions we still revive it as any other people from other cultures and tradition.

These projects are not tend to make profit in the short run, Our Rulers tend to be known of their vision not for the short run. Everything they tend to do is for the long run.

By 2010 the tourists expected to be visiting dubai is approaximately 10 million tourist.

Keep in mind that Dubai is a developing city still and have to build such infrastructures to compete and stay an attractive destination.

Thanks

Wow, that's an exciting development indeed... It looks like Dubai has got everything covered and planned out.

Dubai actually is aiming for a little bit of family tourism. If that wasn't the case they wouldn't be building amusement parks, aquariums and other things of that sort.

Sure, but oil is what is funding those projects in the first place -- the middle east would crash if it was not for the oil -- the only truly productive country in the region is Israel.

Ah, OK, I guess even the very rich have families