UAE Rising

The unrest and uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and other parts of the middle east contrast with the relatively quiet scene in the UAE, which seems to be emerging as a safe haven in the storm and rising to a leadership position in attempts to address the crisis. People from all countries and their money seem to find refuge here, at least temporarily. (The UAE is very successful in keeping its population of discontents to a minimum through its strict visa and immigration controls.) President Obama reportedly called Sheikh Mohammad, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to discuss the situation in Egypt. The official UAE position is one of concern for the threat to Egypt's stability while rejecting foreign attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. How this translates into what we all hope will be a smooth and orderly transition process is, of course, unclear, as the antigovernment protests continue in Tahrir Square.

Life goes on as normal here. Over a year since my arrival in September 2009, Dubai looks better than ever, despite suffering through a very serious economic downturn. All is peaceful in the Global Village, pictured above, where families flock at this time of year to buy sweets and souvenirs from other countries (Yemenis begged us to try their famous honey, while Iranians welcomed us with an impressive array of goodies to sample). Landscaping has filled in at new developments, with flowers and birds adorning the scene; projects that were half completed are now being finished. Studio City, which used to look like a Hollywood movie set with nothing behind the facade, now towers with solid looking buildings and activity, right next door to a gorgeous polo club, which looks to be the center of a sprawling new subdivision of enormous villas for those looking to live the "equestrian" lifestyle. Not far away, in the middle of nowhere, we discover a huge blue metallic blob, which must be a brand new sports stadium, looking to hold 50,000+. Our neighborhood on the Palm Jumeirah boasts several new hotels on the fronds, monumental in size and scope, and a brand new mosque with modernist architectural notes. The Dubai Pearl, a multipurpose development at the base of the Palm, is also continuing to rise with the promise of a bespoke lifestyle.

Nice, if you can afford it! Unfortunately, most people can't, and the wars between the haves and the have nots continue elsewhere.