The World puts the map on Dubai

The World Islands
“…The World Islands are a collection of man-made islands shaped into the continents of the world, located of the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It will consist of over 250 to 300 small private artificial islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands. Each island will range from 250,000 to 900,000 square feet in size, with 50 to 100 metres of water between each island. It will cover a total area of 9 kilometers (5.4 miles) in length and 6 kilometers (3.6 miles) in width, surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater. The only means of transportation between the islands will be by marine transport…”



Dubai morphs into Vegas on the Gulf
“…Dubai has been filling in the sea to expand its shoreline, building skyscrapers and ski slopes and generally making the desert bloom. In the process, the emirate's unelected tribal leaders have presented a small-scale alternative to the Bush administration's vision of democratic government as the key to a stable Middle East… This month, Dubai's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Maktum warned his fellow Arab leaders to "change, or you will be changed" at a forum attended by intellectuals, Middle Eastern politicians, business leaders and former President Clinton... People who know the prince said his speech was not a push for democratic reform but meant only to encourage his far wealthier neighbors to follow Dubai's model: using economic opportunities to appease volatile youth suffering poverty, unemployment and despair…”



First freehold properties on 'The World' go up for sale
“…The mix of exquisite beach homes and spectacular Bay View and Sea View residences provide international investors with a first-mover advantage onto 'The World' project, being built offshore Dubai's Jumeirah coastline…”



The Basics about the United Arab Emirates
“…The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the Middle East and comprises of seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain) and was previously known as the Trucial Status…”



Dubai Travel Essentials and Tourist Information
“…Visas required: in advance by all, except nationals of AGCC Countries. All other nationalities require a tourist, transit or visit visa, which can be arranged by hotels, tour operators, companies and private sponsors. Entry is forbidden to travelers whose passports bear Israeli stamps…”



Dubai: A Jewel In The Middle East
“…Dubai is extremely cosmopolitan with expats from almost every country living here. Emiratis only make up 20% of the population. The rest are predominately unskilled workers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Indonesia and other poor nations. A smaller number of experts come from America, Canada, Europe (mostly Britain), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, South Korea and China. Since the population is so varied, English is the common language. All signs and menus are in English. Even Arabs speak English at restaurants and in shops. Some Americans who’ve lived in other countries say they feel like they’re living in the U.S. This might be a drawback, however, if you’re looking for a true “foreign” experience…”



CIA World Factbook: United Arab Emirates
“…The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 30% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, and cheap credit in 2005 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation…”