Jim Krane

A very well written account of how the entire Emirates region was transformed overnight from a poverty stricken stone age backwater to super rich economic powerhouses largely due to the effects of oil wealth and the skill, vision and erudition of their far sighted rulers especially the ones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The main focus then shifts to Dubai and chronicles the life and times of the Al Makhtoum clan that has reigned over this city state since the earliest of times. Far short on oil compared to Abu Dhabi, this clan managed to transform Dubai into an economic superpower through sheer skill and business acumen. Investing in large capital projects like Ports, Airports and Infrastructure while the Moolah was still plenty. Dubai got to reap the enormous benefits from this during lean times and they turned out to be very prescient and far sighted investments.

Later on a lot of such investments were added to this list including the world's tallest building, the diamond bourse, the Burj Al-arab hotel, exotic and innovative reclaimed real estate like the Palms that rose out of the sea and the list keeps growing. Dubai is also the most liberal emirate. The things that go in this freewheeling capital of middle eastern capitalist excess would put other such metroplises to shame. It is literally a modern day version of a typical 1850s gold rush town. Dubai has made it the motto that anything goes as long as it is related to Business and making money. Sometimes there are very thin lines between legitimate and downright criminal activities like smuggling drugs and contraband. If such activities continue unfettered and unchecked it could prove the undoing of this glitzy capital.… (meer)

A very well written account of how the entire Emirates region was transformed overnight from a poverty stricken stone age backwater to super rich economic powerhouses largely due to the effects of oil wealth and the skill, vision and erudition of their far sighted rulers especially the ones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The main focus then shifts to Dubai and chronicles the life and times of the Al Makhtoum clan that has reigned over this city state since the earliest of times. Far short on oil compared to Abu Dhabi, this clan managed to transform Dubai into an economic superpower through sheer skill and business acumen. Investing in large capital projects like Ports, Airports and Infrastructure while the Moolah was still plenty. Dubai got to reap the enormous benefits from this during lean times and they turned out to be very prescient and far sighted investments.

Later on a lot of such investments were added to this list including the world's tallest building, the diamond bourse, the Burj Al-arab hotel, exotic and innovative reclaimed real estate like the Palms that rose out of the sea and the list keeps growing. Dubai is also the most liberal emirate. The things that go in this freewheeling capital of middle eastern capitalist excess would put other such metroplises to shame. It is literally a modern day version of a typical 1850s gold rush town. Dubai has made it the motto that anything goes as long as it is related to Business and making money. Sometimes there are very thin lines between legitimate and downright criminal activities like smuggling drugs and contraband. If such activities continue unfettered and unchecked it could prove the undoing of this glitzy capital.… (meer)