As seen on 60 Minutes Dubai Inc. reported by Steve Kroft.
The Biggest Story in the World — Dubai – home of the world’s largest construction site and one of the most amazing stories in our world today.

While millions flock to Dubai annually, from an American perspective it’s “the Middle East we don’t know”.

Still surrounded in misunderstanding by so many in the US, the massively positive story of Dubai and Middle East 2.0 is the real story of change in the Gulf.

It is a story of peaceful, constructive excellence and the pursuit of dreams. A story very much in line with true American values.

Dubai is a city in the emirate of Dubai which is part of the United Arab Emirates or UAE in the Persian Gulf. The UAE is part of the GCC, Gulf Cooperative Council, an economic group of nations along the lines of the European Union (EU). The GCC includes the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The growth in Dubai is representative of the growth in the region. While many in America associate the Arab world, the Middle East, the Gulf or sadly Islam and Muslims with terror and terrorism, war and violence, the real story of the Middle East is what is going on with construction, commerce, art, development and millions of people making a better life for themselves.

There is clearly a big difference between the perceptions of Iraq or other areas in the region and reality. Some people tend to think that Iran, the UAE, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are all the same – the region is as varied as the Americas.

Richard Branson, Tiger Woods, Martha Stewart, Madonna and Donald Trump all have business ventures in Dubai. The area is known mostly for real estate but many other projects continue there daily.

UAE. Dubai Outlet Mall has appointed Mediastow as its regional media intelligence agency. The move is part of a strategic plan to strengthen its presence in the UAE market by getting better media intelligence on the shopping industry in the Middle East in general and UAE in particular.

“Market trends have identified the Middle East region as one of the fastest growing as far as shopping is concerned,” said Vishal Mahajan, Director, Dubai Outlet Mall. “Considering Mediastow’s extensive experience and media knowledge in the region, this partnership will help Dubai Outlet Mall to effectively promote its expertise and product differentiation.

Dubai Outlet Mall is poised to dramatically increase its market share in the months to come through a well orchestrated media communications campaign.”

Being the first completed retail project at the DUBAILAND® development, Dubai Outlet Mall, which commenced operations in August 2007, is the ultimate value shopping destination in the UAE with big brands and big savings every single day of the year.

Dubai Outlet Mall has introduced the ‘Outlet’ concept for the first time to this region with savings between 30% to 90% on over 800 premium and top fashion brands.

Mohamed Elzubeir, Founder and Managing Director, Mediastow, said: “Mediastow has successfully handled media intelligence programs for a number of reputed companies through a professional approach and extensive reach of the regional market. As a media analysis agency, we are well-versed with the shopping industry.”

He added: “We are extremely pleased to partner with Dubai Outlet Mall as a leading client. We are a media intelligence agency that is led by credibility, which is crucial to the success of any media intelligence and research company in the Middle East considering the highly competitive environment we work in,” added Elzubeir. “We are in a strong position to tailor specific monitoring solutions for Dubai Outlet Mall.”

“We are very active with our marketing strategies, including PR, to increase the awareness of Dubai Outlet Mall, the first and only value shopping destination in the region, and Mediastow is assisting us with our media monitoring and progress in this regard. With the current global economic challenges, more and more people are converting to ‘outlet’ shopping and being delighted with the savings to be made on our premium and top fashion brands.” concluded Vishal Mahajan.

Dubai has received interest from sovereign wealth funds ‘beyond the region’ for the second tranche of the $20 billion bond it expects to launch this year, the emirate’s finance chief said on Friday.

‘Immediately after the issuance of the first tranche, we did receive interest from entities beyond the borders of the UAE. Our only issue is that… we will not issue the second tranche until it is needed,’ Nasser al-Sheikh told Reuters Financial Television on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at the Dead Sea in Jordan.

‘We are in talks with some sovereign wealth funds and some financial institutions who have expressed their interest… We have continuous dialogue with a number of them… beyond the region.’

Earlier this month a member of Dubai’s financial crisis committee said the $20 billion bond programme will be sufficient to stimulate the Gulf emirate’s economy, hit hard by the global financial crisis.

Asked when the Dubai government would begin to invest again, Sheikh said: ’2009 is a year of stabilisation for us — stabilising the economy, the government stepping up and supporting some of the corporates that have been playing a strategic role in the evolution of Dubai.’

Sheikh, director-general of Dubai Department of Finance, said the priority now was to ‘reactivate’ Islamic mortgage firms Amlak and Tamweel and then start a merger process.

The fate of the merger of the two firms has been under review by a federal government committee this year since the United Arab Emirates government announced in November it was merging them with two state-controlled banks.

The Islamic home financing companies developed their businesses during an economic boom in Dubai that was kicked off by the emirate’s decision in 2002 to allow foreigners to invest in properties on a freehold basis.

They ran into trouble when the global financial crisis brought the boom years to a swift end in Dubai, prompting the government to say it would merge them with two banks to form Emirates Development Bank.

‘Their intentions have changed. We were working on the merger, the merger was the priority but now looking at the importance… they realise how important Amlak and Tamweel are to the Dubai property sector,’ Sheikh said.

‘Priority today is to reactivate both companies because both companies have not been extending mortgages for the past 4-5 months,’ he said.

Dubai World has announced that it is investing in a game park in Zimbabwe as part of its on-going expansion plans into Africa, despite confirming the postponement of future construction developments in the Gulf.

The government-owned entity sees Africa as a prime place for future investment, and already holds major stakes in three game reserves in South Africa, according to a report in UAE daily The National.

Zimbabwe has become more attractive to international investors since February’s power-sharing arrangement was set up between the president Robert Mugabe and the former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

“The game parks are basically nature reserves. Part of it is the social responsibility that we feel towards being in a country, but also part of it is investment,” said Dubai World chairman Sultan bin Sulayem at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai yesterday.

“Africa is a very interesting place. It is a place where you can see growth. In Africa, you will see double-digit growth. Africa is virgin, Africa has so much charm, nature. This is something that we know we can add value to,” he added.
Sulayem said Africa’s “scenery would fit” Nakheel Hotel’s One&Only brand, which had opened its first resort in Cape Town last month.

At the same conference Sualyem confirmed Dubai World’s announcement in January that it would be delaying all new developments, including the world’s tallest tower, concentrating instead on completing already started projects.

“Anything committed to we shall finish it, everything that cannot currently be financed will be delayed,” he said.

“The tower will be delayed until the market changes. You can’t build something like that in this kind of market,” Sulayem concluded.

Other Dubai World projects in Africa include a string of first five-star hotels in Djibouti, which started with the Djibouti Palace Kempinski in 2006 that has seen good returns since opening.

Last year, Dubai World bought a 50% interest in the Kruger National Park concession owned by Singita Game Reserves.

The Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said on his website www.uaepm.ae that worst of financial crises is passed and he declined all the rumours that he had been ill were part of a “psychological war” against the Gulf emirate .

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also vice president and prime minister of UAE, made the comments during an online exchange with local and international Arab news outlets. The online question-and-answer session, posted over the weekend, was Sheik Mohammed’s first such exchange in eight years.

“The rumours about me are part of what resembles a psychological war against Dubai over the past months … I am well, praise God, and my health is in the best form”, said Sheikh Mohammed.

Dubai’s decision to allow foreign investment in property in 2002 kicked off a regional property boom, but it has since suffered under the global financial crisis.

Sheikh Mohammed added, “We did not at any time feel that the financial crisis is a threat. The worst is over and behind us. Since the eruption of the crisis, we did not hear of any state-owned bank or company announcing bankruptcy. None of the economy sectors was broken.”

“The measures we have undertaken so far have shifted the UAE economy from crisis mode to solution mode. We are currently implementing plans and programmes of action to ensure recovery”

According to GulfNews report, “Top business community leaders have said they are upbeat about the UAE economy after the country’s leadership affirmed confidence in weathering the financial storm, and noted that it will help create stability and bring back confidence in the market.”

“Shaikh Mohammad’s responses have& put an end to all speculation concerning the national economy and the local market conditions. It is time for us to come together and demonstrate unilateral support for our government,” said Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of Dubai Real Estate Corporation.

Sheikh Mohammed said, “We are confident that our national establishments’ abilities, combined with the economic measures undertaken by the government, will lead to economic growth this year.”
He said Dubai would not introduce income taxes as a way of financing any budget deficits. and more important our tourism industry was in “good shape”.

After been reported 324% Pear Trade growth for year 2008, Now everyone is talking about the Perfume and fragrances market in middle east especially for UAE.

The worldwide fragrances and perfumes market is projected to experience moderate growth and is heading to reach Dh126 billion ( $33.6 billion) in 2012, reported Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organizers of the Beautyworld Middle East, scheduled to open from June 7 to June 9 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Although the western world dominates the global fragrance and perfume market, the low penetration markets of the Asia-Pacific, and largely the Middle East, present the best business opportunities.

”According the latest research Europe captured an estimated 46% share of the global demand in 2008, but the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa represent the fastest growing markets in the fragrance industry, with CAGRs of 5.5% and 6% respectively for the next five years,” said Elisabeth Brehl, the Managing Director of Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

Growth in the Middle East represents huge untapped opportunities to large international players. Given the increasing willingness among the women and men to use an outstanding brand to enhance their image, opportunities abound in this region. Unlocking the potential is Beautyworld Middle East, the largest international event for beauty products, cosmetics and perfumery in the Middle East.

The use of fragrance in daily life has been an integral part of the Arabian culture. The history of scent and its traditions are nowhere more established, than in the Middle East. Anointing one’s body with traditional oil-based scents is favourably encouraged in the Arabian culture, and is also associated with the faith of Islam. In Saudi Arabia alone, close to 84 per cent of women use scents everyday.
Andrea Werner, the Senior Show Manager of the Beautywolrd Middle East added, “The Arabian Peninsula has the world’s largest consumer per capita spend on perfumes. The perfume market for the premium brands is estimated to be worth Dh 991 million (US $270 million) in the UAE alone, accounting for over a fourth of the Middle East’s Dh 3.67 billion (US $1 billion) share of the perfume market.”

The Amazing sight up there this morning was totally unbelievable with the snow-capped Ras Al Khaimah’s mountain and the entire area covered with fresh, dazzling white snow. The snowfall started at 3pm on Friday afternoon and heavy snowfall began at 8 pm and continued till midnight, covering the entire area in a thick blanket of snow.


The temperature on top of the mountain cluster remained extremely cold during the daytime on Saturday with the temperature rising to just 1 degree Celsius in the afternoon. “Much of the snow was still there even when we flew back from the mountain this afternoon. It is still freezing cold up there and there are chances that it might snow again on Saturday night,” Major Al Yamahi added.

The Jebel Jais mountain cluster is situated around 25kms from Ras Al Khaimah City and normally has significantly lower temperatures even during the peak summer months. Ras al-Khaymah, literally “The Top of the Tent”) is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It covers an area of 656 square miles (1700 km²). Ras Al Khaimah is in the northern part of the Persian gulf and approximately 100kms from dubai.

Ras Al Khaimah has plans to capitalise on the attractive climate and spectacular scenery of Jebel Jais by building a mountain resort and ski slope on top of the mountains.

Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is set to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the ‘world’s most inclined tower.’ It will lean 4 times as far as Leaning Tower of Pisa.


Capital Gate will accommodate the 5-star Hyatt at Capital Centre hotel and will provide the most exclusive office space in Abu Dhabi. The tower forms a major part of the Capital Centre development, a $2.2 billion business and residential micro city being constructed around the thriving Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The new 200 room, 5-star hotel to be operated by Hyatt International will open in late 2009 and will be the first Hyatt operated hotel in the UAE capital. In recognition of its significance and its stature, Hyatt International has named the hotel ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre’. It will be one of the most exclusive business hotels in the world. Hyatt International already operates 3 luxury hotels in Dubai, UAE under the brands Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency.

Capital Gate leans westward an astonishing 18 degrees; by comparison the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans less than 4 degrees. Because of its unique posture, the tower is being constructed on top of an incredibly dense mesh of reinforced steel. The dense mesh sits above an intensive distribution of 490 piles which have been drilled 30 meters underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind and seismic pressures caused by the lean of the building.

Its graceful, asymmetric diagonal structure, known as a ‘diagrid’, supports the tilting external load of the building and we believe that this is the first building in the world to use a pre-cambered core. Other diagrid buildings include the Hearst Tower in NYC and the “Gherkin” in London.

Besides being believed to be the ‘world’s most inclined’ building, Capital Gate also features 728 unique custom-made diamond-shaped glazing panels. Due to the structure’s curving shape, each pane of glass is different and each will be fitted at a slightly different angle.

The Dh25 billion system’s radar is supplied by US defense company Raytheon. The advanced anti-missile system would be used to defend infrastructure and logistics in the UAE from any hostile action.

Retired General Khalid Abdullah Al Buainain, former commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense said deployment of the system, which could take three years, would defend the UAE against all missile attacks.

“The UAE is not under imminent threat from any party nor is it a party to any arms race for real or apparent military supremacy. The building and deploying of advanced anti-missile systems is meant to protect the nation’s most valuable assets and to maintain security and stability”

The UAE, he said, will be the first country in the world to be armed with the anti-missile THAAD or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, developed and built by US defense company Lockheed Martin.

“The THAAD anti-missile system is only deployed and operated by the American forces in Poland and Israel, but in the case of the UAE, it will be possessed and fully operated by Emiratis.”

“Unlike the Patriot missile system, which could only defend against 1,000 km ballistic missiles, THAAD is the first system designed to defend against short and intermediate range ballistic missiles both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.”

Al Buainain said the system would include anti-missile interceptors, launchers, fire control and communications systems, radar and training.

He stressed the system complements the lower-aimed Patriot missile defence system, resulting in a layered defence that ensure a very high probability that ballistic missile threats will be destroyed.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a federation of seven states situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The seven states, termed emirates, are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.

The UAE, rich in oil and natural gas, has become highly prosperous after gaining foreign direct investment funding in the 1970s. The country has a relatively high Human Development Index for the Asian continent, ranking 39th globally, and had a GDP purchasing power parity of $164.4 billion in 2007.

Before 1971, the UAE were known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a nineteenth-century truce between Britain and several Arab Sheikhs. The name Pirate Coast was also used in reference to the area’s emirates in the 18th to early 20th century.

The UAE was only established thirty seven years ago; the emirates bonded together and became one united country, which has evolved into a modern, high-income nation. for more detail and complete history of Dubai please visit Wikipedia link here.

UAE National Anthem

Thousands turn out at Dubai’s Beach Road for National Day March

UAE residents speak about their country on National Day


Dancing performance outside Festival City Dubai

Traditional Arab Dance [Kids Performance]