One Emirate, Two Emirates, Three Emirates, Four

I recently traveled to Abu Dhabi to assist an international architectural firm create a concept and a program for a boutique, luxury resort. I was particularly struck by the differences between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, to which I had traveled four or five years ago.Dubai, as we all know, is always in the (industry) news, for its grand scale of new hotel developments, including those on the Palm and the World and Bawadi, Burj Al Arab, etc. It is the Middle East’s version of the Las Vegas Strip: faux, over-the-top and always adding something new and more grandiose.In the United States, except for the rare few, when we hear of the United Arab Emirates, we think of the excesses of Dubai. It is little known that Dubai has relatively small oil reserves, that the Sheiks of the Makhtoum family have been beneficiaries of the oil wealth in the Emirates and have used that wealth to develop Dubai into the destination it has become. What we don’t know – generally – and don’t realize at all is that the most oil in the Emirates is produced in the largest emirate, Abu Dhabi, that the Al Nahyan dynasty has both overseen the growth of Abu Dhabi and was a principal mover in the creation of the UAE. Its Ruler, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, is the president of the UAE, and is known for far-sighted and progressive leadership.Abu Dhabi itself is a modern city; it has none of the excess of Dubai (well, maybe, one). It is well planned, the streets are clean, the citizens and residents (approximately two-thirds of the population in Abu Dhabi is comprised of expatriates) are industrious. Except for the new Emirates Palace, there is little over-the-top development (and, I suppose the ungodly rich are entitled to one playground!).Just as the states that make up the United States have different characteristics, so, too, the Emirates.In more ways than one, we – as individuals, as an industry and as a country – would be well-served to learn, understand and respect those differences. President-elect Obama, I (and the Emirates, from what I can tell in the newspapers there) hope you are reading.
Posted by Michael Shindler on November 20, 2008 Comments (3)

http://.hotelsmag.com/blog/630000663/post/500036850.html