5 Reasons why the World Cup is like Dubai.

Do you love tenuous links between anything and everything? Is Dubai really like the World Cup? Is there really a similarity between the wow of Dubai and the wow of the world cup? These are our top 5 reasons why Dubai is like the World Cup. Humour us please.

1. There is a history of non delivery




Ever been waiting and waiting for the big day? The big day to receive your keys to your new apartment. And then find out that the company has gone bust and there will be no apartment. And then with the meltdown of the global economy, many real estate companies got hit hard. No customers, no sales, no building, no apartment. In the World Cup there is a different kind of non delivery. This year, three big teams have not delivered, notably France, Italy and England.
Dubai Real Estate Crash
World Cup Failures


2. There's always a scandal




Dubai seems to be associated with more scandals than it should really have with thing sometimes blown out of proportion, from Dubai Ports World to the sex on the beach escapade. While there are always scandals at the World Cup, the 2006 final with Zidane headbutt is most memorable
The Hamas Assassination in Dubai
The Zidane explanation



3. Bad People Management, on occasion




Dubai employs/has employed labourers from the Indian subcontinent. Whilst they are probably earning more money than they would have back home, many have had to pay loansharks to get to Dubai, and there has been much discussion regarding the non payment of workers to the point that Human Rights Watch haven't liked what they saw. This year, Raymond Domenech couldn't control his French team - an he had a full scale revolt on his hands. The positives are that things can only improve for both the French and the labourers in Dubai.
Human Rights in Dubai
French Revolt at the World Cup



4. The Wow factor



Having the tallest building in the world is an amazing achievement. As is having the ball skills of Brazil.
Burj Khalifa
Brazil Skills



5. Superstars



Sometimes names get associated with events and places. There is only one name and one visionary of Dubai and that is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Nahyan. And for the World Cup and Football in general, the forever poster boy remains Pele.
Sheikh Mohammed
Pele

OK, OK, they aren't that similar, but just remember, the Dubai World Cup is something different - the world's richest horse race - for jockeys, trainers and owners - is the equivalent of winning the Fifa World Cup!