Non-Disney Theme Parks
Topic: ITs Official: BG, SW, DC, Aq. for Dubai

#	Author	Message
41	SuperDry Tue 4/22/2008 12:52a	<<< Especially since there is this other $64 Billion EPCOT-type Dubailand coming with, I believe, 5 other theme parks (Uni/Dreamworks/ Formula One Park,HIT Ent., and a Dinosaur park). >>> I was in Dubai two weeks ago for the first time, and the place is quite amazing. It's hard to put into words in so many ways. Regarding DubaiLand, it is absolutely *huge*. The land area is several times the size of the entire WDW complex, and will house tons of stuff. It just goes on and on in the desert. There's an EPCOT-style park called Global Village that's almost complete. There will be something like a Land Of Arabia park based on local themes. There will be an actual Universal Studios and Six Flags parks (not local knock-offs). And tons of other sporting, shopping, residential, and hotel developments. And, what was talked about at the top of this thread, <<< BG, SW, DC, Aq. for Dubai >>> is not even part of DubaiLand - those developments are completely separate and are taking place on the offshore man-made palm island.
42	davewasbaloo Tue 4/22/2008 2:22a	Oh superdry, you have me frothing at the mouth. I love Dubai, and I think we will be venturing over when these parks are built out.
43	SuperDry Tue 4/22/2008 2:37a	I took a cab ride out to the DubaiLand site. Driving through it, you can get the sense of the scale and scope of the place. It's really hard to put to words what's going on there and how enormous it will be once complete.
44	SuperDry Tue 4/22/2008 3:01a	<<< Take a look at the Dubai Marina disaster to see that - every skyscraper looks the same and they are literally right next door to each other casting shadows over everything. >>> That's certainly true. There is a development in the marina that stretches some half a mile, and consists of dozens of high-rise apartment towers that all look exactly the same and have almost no external features. I guess you could call them "desert style" but by that I would mean "it all looks like a bunch of sand." Thankfully, not everything in Dubai looks like that. But what leemac said about the infrastructure is very true, especially when it comes to transport: there are hundreds of developments going on, many of them high-rise towers, but the civic infrastructure to service them all is lagging behind. I think that part of the problem is that foreign investors don't directly purchase things like roadways, sewer systems, and electrical grids, so investment in these things has lagged. But it's only a matter of time before these things catch up to Dubai, and I think with road traffic in certain areas at certain times, that time has already arrived.
45	leemac Tue 4/22/2008 3:14a	<<I think that part of the problem is that foreign investors don't directly purchase things like roadways, sewer systems, and electrical grids, so investment in these things has lagged.>> True in certain circumstances. However the vast majority of development is being done by Emirati-controlled real estate companies so there isn't much of an excuse there. There is very limited foreign development. Dubai was clear that it wanted to control everything. Hence why the big developers are still controlled by the government - see Emaar, Dubai Holdings etc. I believe that is still the case today although many are listed on the Dubai Stock Exchange (but only minority interests or at best the entire management is sovereignty).
46	SuperDry Tue 4/22/2008 7:46a	I was referring to the purchasers of the individual units of all of those apartment high-rises - aren't those mostly foreigners?
47	leemac Tue 4/22/2008 10:23a	^^ Yup - 80% of UAE are ex-pats. I'm not sure you can hold the leaseholders/freeholders responsible for the lack of civil infrastructure. Ultimately it is the developer and government's responsibility to ensure there are adequate utilities.
48	SuperDry Tue 4/22/2008 11:44a	That's what I was trying to say - I think you may have misunderstood. What I was saying is that because the foreign buyers don't directly purchase the infrastructure, there is a lesser incentive for local developers to invest in such things. Rather, they can turn a quick buck by not worrying about such things and collecting as much foreign capital as possible.

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-48

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Laughing Place Podcast
This week on the LPP - Disney's 2008 Thea awards, Disney's Imax and 3D announcements, Bolt walkarounds and the crew's favorite Animal Kingdom attractions plus reader mail, Brent's Corner, the Captain's Challenge, Stump the Crew and 50 words or less on the new Bond.

What's on
The Latest
LP Guide to Bolt updated
Bolt Across America Cross-Country Journey Culminates at Red Carpet Premiere of "Bolt" 16 week tour visits 32 cities, raising awareness for the movie and for the ASPCA
Beauty and the Beast to be released in 3D in 2010
Disney's New Five-Picture Deal With IMAX to Begin With 'A Christmas Carol'
Buffalo International Film Festival presents a film benefit celebrating Mickey's 80th birthday December 13th
Disney's Hawai'i Project Begins with Ground Blessing
The Lion King to perform as part of 2008 Royal Variety Performance and BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night
Walt Disney Imagineering Earns Four Thea Awards
Travel Industry Honors Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo
The Walt Disney Company Grants $1.5 Million to Reforest Fire-Ravaged Areas in Southern California

Click here for The Latest