Dubai threatened

For years, the rumours would surface, sourceless, that Dubai had been threatened. And many would say that the reason that nothing has happened thus far is because Dubai is keeping the radicals sweet. The Associated Press article that details the recently declassified threat in 2002 will open up two schools of thought: one, that Dubai will be safe because nothing has happened thusfar; two, that the radicals must have been paid off. The bombing in Qatar over a year ago resulted in minimal action. However, if anything were ever to happen in Dubai, the repercussions would be huge. The turmoil within the Middle East would spread to the Gulf region. It is unlikely that the UAE would sit back, and funnily enough, I am sure that the US would get involved at a strategic and operational level to rid the vagrants from the region. The Gulf is important for oil, and despite what happened with regard to the Dubai Ports World, the UAE is the West's closest neighbour in a troublesome region.

Although I am skeptical about the seriousness of the threat, you can not help but think that regional strike would create shockwaves of epic proportions, both with the GCC and the rest of the world. A strike, equivalent to 7/7, would be the invitation to finish off militant Islamic terrorism once and for all. Let us just hope that it is stifled before the notion is put into action.

Dubai Ports - the Arab American View

Imagine being Arab in the US, while this was blowing up. This article from the LA Weekly summed it up:

Given that Dubai represents a beacon of progress for the Arab world (some call it the “Monaco of the Middle East”), Arab-Americans were demoralized when their best candidate for American acceptance was rejected. “If the UAE can’t do it, what Arab country will be able to?” asked an Arab-American grad student studying Gulf relations at Georgetown. “If the role model of the region is not even given a fair chance, it’s a deterrent for other Middle Eastern countries.” He regretted the callous superficiality of the whole debate: “It became frustrating when you’re watching the news and facts about the UAE are jumbled,” he said. “Some parts of the U.S. still can’t differentiate between the UAE and Taliban-era Afghanistan.”

The furore just continues, with constant muck raking, false accusations, and misinterpretaion. With Sheikha Lubna travelling to the US to discuss the US-UAE free trade agreement, this is indeed a key turning point, but I'm sure the US will find some sticking points with that as well.

(P.S. Read the whole article - the last line is a classic sum up of pent up anger)

Dubai Property Law......Finally

It was all a case of when. The World's [sic] least well kept secret is finally official. Here is what you need to know:

The Law is called Law No. 7 of 2006.

UAE Nationals, GCC Nationals and companies owned by them can purchase property on a freehold or 99 year leasehold basis anywhere in Dubai.

Expats may be given the right to purchase in some parts of Dubai, on a freehold basis or on a 99 year lease (or usufruct as termed by KT). These areas will be specified at a later date but will probably be limited to where the Emaar, Nakheel and Dubai Properties are located.

If you have purchased before, you can register your property.

Inheritance needs to be registered with property register.

So, all good, on the day after the biggest stock market crash in Dubai's history. Now that this legislation has been passed, expect the money flow from the next level of speculator to shoot into Dubai, the mortgage market to go crazy and the Dubai PR machine to start rolling again with the slogan: Property not Ports.

Grapeshisha Gaffes

I have been doing the Newsletter officially now for over a year, the site has been up for about 2 months, and I've been blogging for little over a month. If you know the site you will know that I have a Q&A section on it where I try and help those who are in need. How it works is either they post a question from the site or they email me. Admittedly, I have been struggling to help with some specifics recently because for some reason they have all been about Sharjah, "find me a place to live" and some visa specifics.

Well, since I started the newsletter I would occasionally get some odd requests, and, increasingly, more and more so. I have collated my favourites for your light amusement:

In no order of weirdness and more or less verbatim, unless it was impossible to understand:

1. How much does it cost to date girls in Dubai?
[Money can't buy you love, well maybe for one night if you go to some places.]
2. What is the legal age of pre marital Muslim s3x?
[Er, not allowed mate.]
3. How much [would] a holiday to Australia cost from Abu Dhabi?
[Depends if you are going bling or not]
4. How much [does] it cost to fly from Barbados to Dubai?
[I'm not a travel agent.]
5. Where is the embassy for the UAE is in London? Im lost and sending this from my Blackberry.
[Astounding.]
6. If I wanted to get a discount at the Emirates Palace, how would I do that?
[Sorry, I don't have any wasta.]
7. Why [is it] that there is traffic and accidents all the time?
[Two words. Ego Driving.]
8. Who decides about Dubai?
[Sheikh Mohammed , of course!]
9. What is the minimum cost to live if I don't want to spend any money?
[0Dhs]
10. I tried grapeshisha but I preferred rose.
[Stick to that then, my friend. ]
11. If I am not Muslim, can I have another wife in Dubai?
[You're just being greedy.]
12. I am doing a geography project. What is the capital of Dubai?
[The World, but it's not built yet. ]
13. Can you source a paper on how Dubai Ports World operates its ports and identify how this could be a risk for the USA?
[No.]
14. Which companies from the Middle East have links with President Bush and former President Bush?
[Ask Michael Moore. I'm sure he is doing a film on it.]
15. I heard that it is illegal to bring drugs to Dubai and you can go to jail. What drugs can you import?
[Caffeine, nicotine, love.]
16. Is there something special about grapeshisha. Is it like drugs?
[Yes.]
17. How often do bombs go off?
[Where, in Iraq?]
18. What is difference between Palestine and Israel
[!!!!!]
19. I have heard that obesity and diabetes levels are similar in parts of the Gulf to America. Can you comment on why?
[Shwarma, chicken shwarma]
20. Could you do an analysis on the cartoons around in your next newsletter?
[Sorry, I don't like jail. And I like Roses of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)]

OK, I didn't reply in the same way as I did just there, but if you did send one of these questions, then please reread what you sent, and you will know why I didn't reply.

There are more, some less amusing, some just rude, some disgusting, and unpublishable. I get the feeling that most of them are legit, which is worrying. - because of ignorance, because of the way they asked the question and some because of what they asked. Oh, and by the way, a number originated from the US, pre and post Port debacle.

Oprah to do Dubai?

It has emerged that the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi has invited Ms Winfrey to do a show from the Gulf to try to alter American public opinion on Dubai and the UAE. Some say that Oprah has become arrogant and self serving, but there is no doubt about it, she is one of the hugest influences in the modern world and no matter what you think of her she has helped thousands upon thousands of people. Oprah is MASSIVE all over the world, including the Middle East with Star and MBC syndicating her show.

If there was anyone to sway opinion, Oprah is the one. A show highlighting what the UAE is really like will be an eye opener for many Americans who know only of terrorism in the Middle East. If Oprah is able to get a grip on what the UAE is, and its standing in the world today, then this could be massive plus to come out of sour tasting sell off of American ports. With talk of other hosts being approached, the UAE propaganda boat will be able to venture to further shores.

I can see it now: "Everyone in the audience today has a brand new Hummer!!"

Food Fights

Time Out are going to be publishing their first food awards in a head to head competition with What's On Magazine. For those that do not know, these titles are a straight up competition for the tourism and entertainment sector, with supposedly What's On winning on distribution. Also, their publishers ITP and Motivate are bitter rivals in the 'MediaMagSphere' of the Middle East. Either way, both magazines are a bit of a muchness to me, worth a 5 minute flick through, and have an occasional top quality article.

These new food awards are a good thing, as long as there is an objective way of judging the categories. At present, when dining out at a restaurant that What's On have chosen to judge (or at a restaurant that has elected to be judged), the diners are given a card to fill in. No score assoicated to a category - 'just fill in your name and you have voted for us'. It is difficult to just say no to filling in the card while you wait for your change, even if it is to give the details of Mr Micky Jackson at the New Neverland Palace in Bahrain. But if you can not rate it and the restaurant controls how many votes it has by forcing you to fill in the form, is this fair? It should not be judged as best restaurant, just "restaurant who was able to get a lot of people to fill in forms".

I hope that the Time Out awards have an objective method of rating the restaurants, fair, non-wasta and truthful. Perhaps they could bring in a chef celeb such as Jamie Oliver to taste all the food at all the restaurants in Dubai. That would keep him schtum for a bit. Pukka.