[The_Virginian]

Talk about Opitmistic, and a thought pattern very contrarian to us here at PeakOil.com!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4746097.stm

"...Thousands of workers, mainly from Asia, work relentlessly day and night to fulfil Sheikh Muhammad's ambitious vision of his city as world capital by 2010.

The cybersheikh, as he is known, is well aware that his oil resources are limited. ...

Tourism and a finance, media and information hub are intended as the new sources of Dubai's wealth."

and the possibly 800 METER tower:

"You know that the exact height is a secret," says Mr Smith. "But it is going to be substantially taller than the highest building, taller than 600 metres."



Copyright BBC MMV

[strider3700]

Well if he can transform his economy into something that will keep his people fed and working when the oil runs out perhaps he stands a chance at not being lynched.

I'm not sure it's the way to go but what else do you do if all you have is sand and some ocean...

The saudi royals seem to be enjoying the ride at the moment but they aren't liked and can't really expect to live long once the oil runs out.

[jaws]

You are a sheikh in a hellhole patch of desert with billions of dollars in capital to invest, and you know your source of capital is running out. What do you do? You're not going to create a sustainable farming industry in the desert. You could do what sheikhs in hellhole deserts have been doing for a hundred years, which is buy assets in other countries. But the problem with other countries is that you don't control them. The Sheikh controls Dubai, he can do with it whatever he pleases. He is sovereign there. So he is doing the best he can do with his hellhole patch of desert. He is taking advantage of Dubai's geographic position to build a future for him to be sovereign over. Maybe it won't work, but as long as he has so much cash, why not try?

[hotsacks]

There's no question who's king in Dubai. Who else could turn a whole Muslim country into a whorehouse?

[bobcousins]

"Of the over 70 towers, which the noble families had erected in the 12th, 13th, and 14th centries, 13 are still standing. The towers, which are all square with but a few narrow and long slots, were exclusively used as defensive annexes of the palaces, not for residential purposes. However, it is very doubtful whether their defensive value was the main reason for their construction. It is much more likely that prestige, wealth, and boastful aggressiveness were the driving powers that made it imperative for every noble family to be the owner of these threatening symbols of superiority."

Erwin Gutkind
"Urban Development in Southern Europe: Italy and Greece"

Plus ça change...

[emersonbiggins]

Technically, an 800m tower would be nothing but stairs and elevators at the lower levels, because of the inherent limitations of elevators (max. ht. 30-40 stories each). Not a pleasant thought.

It might work, though, seeing as this is merely the Sears Tower (bundled buildings) writ large.

[cube]

Dubai has been on a HUGE construction boom. On the surface it looks all good. There are skyscrapers being put up faster then new home divisions in the US. Lots of economic activity: money being pushed around, construction jobs, ect......People buy condos before construction starts and sell them for twice what they paid when the project is finally completed. (aka property flipping)

However once you look below the surface you'll realize Dubai's economic foundation has less substance then the center of a donut. There are literally entire skyscraper apartments that sit empty because the property owner can't find tenants. There are skyscraper office buildings that are also empty because there are no businesses to occupy the tenant spaces. But yet the price of real estate keeps on going up.

sounds familiar? The exact same thing is happening in the US and Britain although not as extreme. Sometimes I wonder where all this money comes from?

[Z]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', 'T')he exact same thing is happening in the US and Britain although not as extreme.

[The_Virginian]

bobcousins,

They had a tower like those pictured (but taller) in Motta Sud Anistasia, Sicily. However they claimed it was "Norman" in origin... hmmm

SOME towers do survive as we can all see, but these are little postage stamps in comparison to an 800 M tower...just how will future genrations use its ruins (a fort i suppose?).


On Dubai,


Yes they are a patch of desert. Yes they would have to de-populate by 95% for sustainable living. No, I don't see a bright future for this tower, unless it guards some spice route form the Bedou'i who will take up the raiding lifestyle once again.

IMHO, the Sultan is acting foolishly, grasping to the Occidental/petroleum based life.