britexpat76

I agree, I much prefer AD, though I disagree its better to try and fail like Dubai did?? The situation there is Dire with 10's of thousands of people in construction either not paid or sent home and a similar amount owning property worth half what they paid for it.

lanarkwitch

Ad isn't that much different mate, they just didn't publicise it as much. Almost everyone we came here with over 4 years ago has gone home due to the lack of jobs, across many sectors in AD, I myself was let go Dec 2011 and have only just started to get replies from job applications it's been dire

britexpat76

To be fair, most people I know have left too. My point is that AD didn't encourage everyone to get up to their eyeballs in debt, it was always more conservative. Dubai was built on false promises to a lot of people, who in turn got slept along with it without thinking of the consequences (That's from the Leadership of the Emirate down).

Obviously the guys at the top are still ok having not paid their bills but they shit on everyone else.

scrubbedexpat141

Dubai had to try though, AD has the wealth, Dubai didn't/doesn't to the same extent, they had to do something.

Blue Cat

they did tourism

lanarkwitch

I don't believe it was any different re attitudes to debt in AD, but I do believe the average western expat age in Ad to be quite a bit higher than Dubai. I feel old in Dubai yet was considered fairly young for AD, from that you might gather that older more experienced types were less likely to get involved in too good to be true schemes, credit card debt and so on as most people there seemed to be thinking more about retirement options than living the high life, Dubai seems quite different in that demographic.

When we arrived in 2008 we came to clear our feet and I found the idea of have a cc limit of 100,000 AED absolutely abhorrent, it was all set up by the company prior to us even arriving, on his first day at work the bank guy arrived to hand over his bank and credit cards as well as chequebook for both of us. We were stunned. Within 3 months he'd been let go, but was v lucky to find another job and I got one before I arrived here as well, so that kept us on track, the following year we made a decision to move to a studio apt to really square away some cash in the event that things went totally pear shaped, we were sensible, have no debt here, even our car is paid off and we've managed to save a bit as well.

We could have got into piles of debt, but we chose not to and everyone has that choice.

lanarkwitch

Agree Scamp 100%

lanarkwitch

Yeah thats true x

auzdafluff

Dubai's economic infrastructure is light year's ahead. Many of the industries based in Dubai will never move headquarters anywhere else now. They may open branch offices, but I can guarantee you that you'll never see any of the companies based in Internet City move to AD or anywhere else in the Gulf. You'll never see the media/pr/advertising companies move. You'll never see the logistics companies move. They're just a few of the lifeblood industries that give Dubai a massive edge over AD and every other city in the Gulf.

Once the oil runs out, the boot will definitely be on Dubai's foot.

And for anyone suggesting AD will be able to overtake, I point to the media industry. There is not a single media company in AD that has chosen to set up there without receiving huge levels of financial help from Two Four 54 – which can shout from the rooftops it isn't still funded by the AD government all it likes – still receives a lot of funding.

The Dean

In purely mathematical terms - yes (GDP calculations etc).......... but genuine economic growth is not going to happen because you or I buy a frappucino in Starbucks.

The bigger picture is one of boundless optimism at official levels - at least officially - but to really grow, Dubai has to start making things that it now imports, while persuading more tourists to come here even though for most people it is horrendously expensive and they are struggling to make ends meet in their own recession-hit economies.

"I think I'm about to be made redundant, I can't afford to buy a new washing machine even though my present one is falling apart, and the house I live in is worth about 30 pct less than the mortgage I owe on it........ I know - I'll go on holiday to Dubai!!!"

britexpat76

The original post I disagreed with was Dubai is light years ahead of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi is far better managed (Albeit it has more resources) Dubai was built on debt, and is still in the shit. 10/10 for effort but when you are building the worlds biggest this and that and have no way to pay for it it makes you look a bit of a tit.

lanarkwitch

Like what, unless they have some idea of an area of specialisation it's prob going to continue to be cheaper to import them.

Holidays over washing machines... I know loads of people like that man!

lanarkwitch

It's a good point, AD has very much gone for a slower approach that has always been evident in the 2030 plan.

Miss Anne Thrope

A Groupon massage?? Isn't that kind of thing illegal here?

co durham boy

Dubai has built itself a place on the expat map and is a tremendous hub for business and travel .

It's getting closer to H.K or Singapore year by year and some would argue it's already there or even a better place to be .
Of course the place was built on debt but then it's built and that's the main point .

Extra infrastructure will be put in place and i see growth in construction 2013/14 in Dubai with Governmental released projects . The envy between the two Emirates will always remain but A.D in my opinion would never catch it's more wayward , chance taking younger brother .

Every city in the Gulf harbours it's dislike for the Emirate of Dubai in some way shape or form yet everyone of them takes something from Dubai in it's planning or infrastructure .

I first came to Dubai in 1993 for a short 6 month construction project and the place had a buzz about it then , you always knew these guys had something about them .

Dubai is the exception in the Gulf , the rest are just like for like bog standard Arab cities .