We have put together a selection of maps of Abu Dhabi and maps of Dubai for those looking to locate where things are. They range from both google maps to the governmental ones. The new Abu Dhabi map from Belhane is particularly impressive.

Maps of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UAE

We have covered the 99 before but it appears that there are more on the horizon, and in the not too distant future it is not crazy to think that you could have an Arab Batman V Superman type mashup all backed by the Marvel, who of course are setting up a theme park in Dubai.

So when a man has a dream:

Mr Bakhit not only honed his drawing skills, but he also developed his first story, a tale about a gang of Arab children in the year 2050. He became increasingly convinced there was not only a market for his stories and characters but that there was a real hunger among young Arabs for indigenous content and for home-grown superheroes who would speak to their aspirations and talk in their language.

....a superhero will be born.

It looks like it will be Kuwait V Jordan in the first of the Arab superhero wars. Lets hope that whoever wins, Teshkeel or Aranim that this is a new era.

A comic-book hero for the Arab world

In years gone by, camels would be traded in the desert as a form of currency. "I will reward you with 1000 camels" or phrases of such nature. Whether at this point in time, actual camels were used or the promise of camels is not known, but either way, the camel has a sort of value of currency, bartering or otherwise.

These days, camels are traded in the the camel markets, either as a sort of livestock for their meat, their milk and increasingly, for their supposedly health camel milk ice scream. (Go to Al Ain to see them traded) They are also used in racing, not jockeyed by kids any more, but by the robojockeys.

With the increase in the price of oil, something else is happening:

As the cost of running gas-guzzling tractors soars, even-toed ungulates are making a comeback, raising hopes that a fall in the population of the desert state’s signature animal can be reversed.

“It’s excellent for the camel population if the price of oil continues to go up because demand for camels will also go up,” says Ilse Köhler-Rollefson of the League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development. “Two years ago, a camel cost little more than a goat, which is nothing. The price has since trebled.”

Interesting times for those with camels, who have endured years of camel snorts.


Camel demand soars

Is the Palm really all it was cracked up to be? Or is the first Palm island in Dubai a plum?

The Guardian give their own view:

Multimillion-pound villas have been squeezed together "like Coronation Street", air-conditioning bills are hitting £800 a month and persistent snags have led some to joke it is more "eighth blunder" than "eighth wonder".

Pitfalls in paradise: why Palm Jumeirah is struggling to live up to the hype

Visions of what Masdar (the zero carbon, zero waste city) in Abu Dhabi.



From If you Build it (Slate Magazine)

Up until now, the freezones of Dubai have operated perfectly well as a sort of offshore haven operating within the UAE. But if the UAE is going to look for sustainable growth for the whole economy, it needs to lift some barriers on foreign ownership. Currently if you are setting up a company in Dubai, you need a local partner who take 51% of the company. The perception of this is risky, as you believe that you are losing more than half your company, and are never in control. More often than not, it does work well, and the local partner will be active in opening doors for the company, as it is in his own interest. It may work that that the local partner (who has to be a UAE National) may be a sleeping partner and just take a small amount every year for doing nothing but put his name to the company. Some are more active, and are looking in royalties or profit share. It's a difficult situation.

Over the last few years, there has been much discussion about changing this structure. Indeed, there have been many who now find it too expensive to set up in the "free zones" some of which which neither have the space or capability to deal with such companies, even though these continue to open up all the time all over the UAE. Some have been holding out for the new law believing it will offer 100% ownership of companies.

The reason why this has taken so long to come to fruition is that many believe that opening up too quickly will be for those with local businesses. However, by the end of the year, according to the Economy Minister, Sultan Al Mansouri, a new companies law will be in place. Will it offer 100%? Yes and no. It is likely that 100% ownership will be offered in sectors that benefit growth of the UAE and local economy. Where this is not the case, it will probably increase somewhat to a ceiling level of 70-75% or in other cases remain at the 49% law.

The Companies Law 1984 needs to be updated for a changing modern business climate, and we will find that it will tackle more than just foreign ownership.There will be coverage of corporate governance as well as public offerings - allowing firms to retain control of their company and float less than 55% of their equity of the stock exchanges.

The change in foreign ownership will be a big step in realising Dubai and the Abu Dhabi's plans for the future. It will be interesting to view how far that goes.

You have always got to listen when Queen Rania has something to say:



Her open debate on youtube is remarkable.

Aside, here is something on women doing business in Dubai

Peter J Cooper has now set up a blog - and this will be the blog to watch. More insight than blog, it comes with the backing of a wealth of past and present experience. It is my new must read, although I'm sure he doesn't care too much for Grapeshisha or any of the other blogs out hear, bar John Chilton, "the emirates economist", and he does have some views that are valid but probably don't gain the backing of the UAE Community Blog.:

Blogging is not an alternative to the established media and needs to be treated with a measure of skepticism. Who is the blogger? What qualifications do they have to blog? Who is checking their facts?

Peter J Cooper - Arabian Money