Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

In a place where discussion rarely breaks out beyond night-time chat shows and the closed walls of the majlis, Mishaal al-Gergawi, a young government official and media commentator, last month gave a talk on the city he loves, in a rare moment of civic debate.

In a potted history of Dubai from its emergence as a tax-free centre at the turn of the 20th century, he outlined the mistakes of recent years and explored a roadmap for revival in a city where the vision of the future is usually received, rather than debated. He lambasted the lieutenants who surrounded Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler. He said they had cut corners as they competed for the sheikh’s favour, driving up the emirate’s debt to unsustainable levels in the process.

Mr Gergawi went on to talk about a long-term residency programme, so that second- and third-generation expatriates become greater stakeholders in the emirate, and reforming recruitment practices to introduce better standards to the labour market.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/be4c185c-1...nclick_check=1

Re: Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

[QUOTE=Autonomy;8325909]Mishaal al-Gergawi ... lambasted the lieutenants who surrounded Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler. He said they had cut corners as they competed for the sheikh’s favour, driving up the emirate’s debt to unsustainable levels in the process.

Any relation to Moh'd Al Gergawi, that most trusted of lieutenants who runs Dubai Holding and The Executive Office?

Re: Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

All power to the young gent. There were a small minority of students at the HCT who held similarly enlightened views and actually debated ideas of political philosophy, ethics and culture - a small pool compared to what you would expect in a Western college, but they are out there. Just too damn few of them.....

Re: Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

Did Dubai exist at the turn of the 20th Century (i.e. 1899/1900)?

Pedantry aside...sounds promising. Where were these people when the crazy people had the ear of Shk. Mo?

Re: Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

I think it did, was part of the Trucial States.

Re: Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

I was listening to Mishal the other day on Dubai Aye...Him and Wael Al Sayegh are outstanding...

Re: Dubai offered an alternative future - interesting article
 

Thanks for that, Confi. Just checked out Wael Al Sayegh - check out the:

Abaya Flirt poem:

http://www.waelalsayegh.com/poems/abayaflirt.html