Abu Dhabi and Dubai Blog

Interview with Dubai Metro boss:

Contrary to expectations, the average number of passengers using the Dubai Metro has gradually been increasing since its launch on September 9, thanks to some quick measures taken to improve various services at the Metro stations, a senior official has said.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/dubai-s-commuters-getting-used-to-the-metro-1.522049

This is a couple years old, but still a relevant and under reported topic. Brain Ross of ABC investigates:

Less than a week ago, a 15-year-old sex trade victim turned to Dubai Police to free her from her captors after she managed to escape with the assistance of a client. Captain Ahmad Obaid Bin Hadibah, Head of Dubai Police’s Department of Combating Human Trafficking, told Gulf News the section handled 15 cases of human trafficking in the first nine months of this year, which is close to the figure dealt with in the same period in 2008

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/dubai-turns-up-heat-on-human-traffickers-1.512618

The entire journey – starting from the welcome lobby at The Dubai Mall through a 65-metre travelator to the vertical travel in a double-deck elevator to finally watching the world uninterrupted from Level 124…a ten-part journey, ‘At The Top’ starts at The Dubai Mall, where visitors can buy tickets at a welcome area featuring abstract, monumental fields of LED displays, reflecting the original three-core design inspiration of Burj Dubai.

Travelling at a speed of 10 metres per second, the journey to Level 124 will take approximately 60 seconds. When the doors slide open, guests will be welcomed with floor-to-ceiling glass providing unobstructed 360 degree views. Visitors can also adventure outside onto the open-air deck to peer into the distance or down to the streets below.

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/9/28/124811/915/travel/The+Impossibly+High+Burj+Dubai+Will+Have+124th-Floor+Observation+Deck

A development that was meant to send Dubai’s star into the firmament of First World cities has been left to the mercy of the waves and the baking winds.

Mile after mile of breakwater built from boulders brought hundreds of miles by ship has been laid, but inside its man-made lagoon, work has completely stopped.

The expected map of the world of 300 islands is instead a disjointed and desolate collection of sandy blots — a monumental folly just out of sight of Dubai’s shore.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/extravagant-dubai-island-project-sinks-under-weight-of-the-credit-crunch-1884856.html

Coinciding with the launch of the Dubai Metro, the five star Address Dubai Mall Hotel has now opened for business.

The luxury hotel features 244 elegant guestrooms and suites, all offering views of Downtown Burj Dubai.

A selection of international cuisine is available at the hotel’s five contemporary restaurants and lounges. Highlights include Arabic specialty outlet, NA3NA3, the trendy Amatista lounge offering a blend of Arabian and modern decor; the poolside restaurant Cabana offering cocktails and upbeat music; and Karat, the lobby lounge. Ember, the hotel’s signature outlet is soon to open.

http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/article-5666-the-address-dubai-mall-opens/

With many dreams already realized or taking final shape, architects are also envisioning next-gen green structures that will not only make Dubai a loved tourist destination, but will also make it a leading example in green design. Here is a list of 15 such ecofriendly structures envisioned for Dubai:

http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/15-eco-conscious-structures-envisioned-for-green-dubai/

Here’s a little editorial about the delayed opening of the Burj Dubai, and the upcoming metro system launch. Not much new information, but a lot of cool photos.

Construction on the Burj Dubai, the 206-story luxury residential and office tower–space will supposedly go for $3,500/square foot and up–is running behind schedule, and will not be complete by September. So the metro–which features a “Gold class” section for “VIPs”–will debut alone and therefor won’t get anywhere close to as much media attention.

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/07/28/in-teetering-dubai-new-metro-and-worlds-tallest-building-about-to-debut-photo-tour/

Adil Khalid, the UAE’s lone Olympian in sailing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, rues the fact that he doesn’t have a structured training programme to date – but he can’t hide the enthusiasm as he speaks of Dubai’s bid for the Olympics.

http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Olympic/10327577.html

Dubai authorities on June 19 banned demonstrations by Iranian immigrants who have been protesting for four days in the Arab emirate against the presidential election results in Iran, Gulf News reported.

“We don’t want the power struggle between the two conflicting parties to be fought over here,” the newspaper quoted Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim as saying.

http://finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40588&Itemid=13