Re: How is business?
 

MoE and Dubai Mall packed as always. Made the mistake of going to Dubai Mall on Friday evening and it was mobbed. Wish I had a hockey stick to force my way through the crowds going to/from the metro.

But it was obvious many of the people were UAE residents out for an evening at the malls and not necessarily shopping. Whole groups of bachelors duded up in their best taking photos next to potted shrubbery. It's funny (in a painful way) that they've dressed up to try to fit in but you can still spot them from a mile off.

The DSF sales were pretty shite anyway but some stores have major bargains on. Snapped up some good deals at Jigsaw.

Using the big malls as an economic indicator is fraught with difficulties. They are more than just malls as they're entertainment destinations for a large range of people for multiple reasons. The default town centre for a city that really doesn't have any. The last recession barely affected the malls (so it seemed).

Re: How is business?
 

Deira City Centre has the most hoardings up I've seen in the 18 months I've been going there.

Re: How is business?
 

https://www.zawya.com/story/UAE_to_c...=free-homepage

Wonder how long this translates to higher DEWA prices

Re: How is business?
 

For who? Locals only pay circa 1% of what expats do. Although we all pay the same for fuel.
I think some dummy throwing may occur if they try and increase the cost to the locals.

Re: How is business?
 

Brunch was dead at the weekend, bizarre.

Re: How is business?
 

I wonder if it was the marathon. This was my thinking on why downtown area was dead?

Re: How is business?
 

Maybe, we weren't in Downtown but must explain some of it.

Re: How is business?
 

Brunch is always a marathon.

Re: How is business?
 

Abu Dhabi centre was dead this weekend. Ie prime time Friday, driving around corhnise, etc not a car in sight.

Re: How is business?
 

I couldn't help but laugh at your comment. Bounced cheqs - drunken behaviour - etc.

Re: How is business?
 

We're very busy , a full order book for this year construction wise and picking more work up for 2017 . It's the reason i'm back .

I see a fair few firms construction wise are taking projects in a very specific way as everyone just got wiped out last time . I was actually surprised at how much work was around to be honest. It's still very obvious that payments are an issue but there's work around for the good companies.

I've never seen as much traffic though , i've been in and out of this city for 20 years and worked here 4 times and the traffic is dreadful , not sure what they're doing or where they're going , they can't all be recruitment consultants living in the Marina ;)

Re: How is business?
 

I can't understand the traffic everywhere. I really don't see large road or interchange works going on that would cause so much mess - but a mess it is. Would love to know where these people are going and what they are doing - the roads seem busy all the time.

Re: How is business?
 

Banks are suffering - quite an eye opener in the national - Banks admitting the amount of toxic debt they have on their books.

UAE lenders’ bad debts start to weigh on financial results | The National

Re: How is business?
 

Dubai villa oversupply leads to 18% drop in prices at The Springs

Dubai villa oversupply leads to 18% drop in prices at The Springs | The National

Re: How is business?
 

Buying price but still not a lot of sign of rental price drops.