Comments on: Where is Dubai?

By: Michael L. Weiss

Michael L. Weiss — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:27:46 +0000

I would agree that: The ‘real’ Dubai is in fact the ‘fake’ Dubai.
However, i think Dubai would be a great place to visit.

By: Mealone

Mealone — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:59:04 +0000

If you want to see how Dubai really used to be then have a look at dubaiasitusedtobe.com

By: Green Fin Solutions

Green Fin Solutions — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:16:58 +0000

just think back how was dubai 30-40 years ago? OMG! i dont understand how could it grow so fast? Due to the financial crunch its charm is affected a lot, but i wish it gets its charm back soon. ALL THE BEST DUBAI

By: Skyscraper

Skyscraper — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:46:26 +0000

Dubai is an amazing place.
The Burj Dubai the worlds tallest building will top out next week at 818 meters.
An achivement for mankind.

By: Humble Money » Blog Archive » links for 2008-11-12

Humble Money » Blog Archive » links for 2008-11-12 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:03:21 +0000

[...] BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Where is Dubai? The final gilded age of fossil fuels? Impressive sights from the air…… castles in the sand. [...]

By: tom

tom — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:29:03 +0000

How happy that you survived 9/11 to live to have such adventures!

By: David Brain

David Brain — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:06:39 +0000

My guide, when I went into the Burj Hotel, described it as being a bit like how he imagined “the inside of Elton John’s handbag” to look.

By: Rohan Venkat

Rohan Venkat — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:40:57 +0000

That’s awesome that you got to meet the Sheikh. For all we say about Dubai (it’s the Las Vegas of the MIddle East), and the fact that the Emiratis are overwhelmingly moving to Abu Dhabi, he’s made it a model that all other small rich Gulf nations (including Qatar, where I’ve lived my entire life) are trying to emulate (With less flashiness and sometimes, as with Doha, more priority for sports and education, over tourists).

You have to really see Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain to see what Dubai was, but even out there it’s hard to explain how this was different even 10 years ago (most importantly, it didn’t take 4 hours to get from Sharjah to Dubai)

By: » jeff jarvis on a dubai built on data not oil.

» jeff jarvis on a dubai built on data not oil. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:19:14 +0000

[...] jarvis recently returned from dubai a city he thinks: is either an act of fiction or of the future. I arrived thinking the former; I leave wondering [...]

By: Saving journalism one summit at a time

Saving journalism one summit at a time — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:03:28 +0000

[...] Jeff Jarvis, I too was in Dubai for the World Economic Forum’s inaugural Summit on the Global Agenda. [...]

By: Lbug

Lbug — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:00:15 +0000

It’s all a beautiful mirage.

By: The Morning Pre-Run Rundown | Management Newsfeed Update

The Morning Pre-Run Rundown | Management Newsfeed Update — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:45:38 +0000

[...] Where is Dubai? Jeff Jarvis has an awesome essay on his trip to Dubai. He’s also got some pretty pictures in the post. [...]

By: maximo

maximo — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:57:40 +0000

You’re the typical American provincial academic who gets a teaching post by virtue of specialization! But when it comes to analyzing the world you resort to the obvious cliches.

By: Mick Weinstein

Mick Weinstein — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:31:04 +0000

Jeff, this is wonderful – thank you. I just wish you stopped off here in Israel on the way back… but I suppose your sponsors may not have endorsed that :/

By: Gavin

Gavin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:37:47 +0000

As Kenneth says, try one of the other emirates.

The ‘real’ Dubai is in fact the ‘fake’ Dubai. I first visited there in 2001, and it is even more fake now than it was then.

Still a nice place to visit though. Do you plan to drop in to Mr Newland at The National in Abu Dhabi?

By: Kenneth L. Wise

Kenneth L. Wise — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:20:49 +0000

Nothing in your report makes me want to quarrel. As a three-year US resident in Dubai I also find your fiction v future question relevant. You capture the poignancy of this place. On your next visit try a spin through Hatta, or villages in Ras al Khaimah, or Liwa on the edge of the empty quarter in Abu Dhabi. After such drives you will still have your question. Perhaps the reason is that we are trying to see in a place about 40 years old what we see in Europe that is 100s of years old and in the US at least 150 years old in most places. We are looking at Bedouin tribes who are using their abilities to “read sand and stars” and find their way in endless desert to navigate in concrete jungles buzzing with electronic wizardry. Believe me, they are feeling as unsure as you are, and perhaps more so. http://www.watani.ae is trying to find and revere “the old” but they struggle too.

By: JP Adams

JP Adams — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:23:39 +0000

I wonder what pockets of culture have emerged because of the diverse foreign population. In some ways it reminds me of Chicago during the World’s Fair at the turn of the century. With additional time and some alley strolling I wouldn’t be surprised if you could stumble into some genuine (and possibly new) cultures. Maybe a good day trip on your next visit.

By: David Schatsky

David Schatsky — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:46:51 +0000

Thanks for the report. I appreciate the fiction/future dilemma. I sincerely hope it’s fiction. The Vegasization of the world is not something I could handle well. It’s ostentatiously unsustainable and soulless. To my tastes, anyway. And if I’m in the minority, and mankind makes itself very much at home in such environments? Then I will be rendered an alien on my home planet.