Building Takes More Realistic Pace in Dubai

Once the site of a seemingly endless string of outlandish building projects, Dubai has shaken off the dust from the market crash and resumed building less flashy projects at a steadier pace.

1 minute read

September 30, 2010, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Glamorous whimsies like the giant man-made island shaped like a palm tree are giving way to more pragmatic priorities meant to revive Dubai's status as the dominant trading hub between the industrially advanced West and the oil-rich Middle East.

'While the world was languishing in recession, Dubai didn't pause for an instant in building an airport and a huge network of logistics,' said Jim Krane, author of 'City of Gold,' a history of Dubai. 'So when the recovery comes to the global economy, they should be ready.'"

Even though the recession hit Dubai hard, it remains one of the better positioned economies in the Middle East. That confidence has helped building progress.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 in The New York Times

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