KIWIPULSE // ROCK YOUR WORLD

United Arab Emirates: Urbanization Of Dubai

January 7, 2008 – 1:05 am | Written by KiwiPulse

   

These pictures were taken by the NASA between 1973 and 2006. They show a dramatic change along the coast of the United Arab Emirates follow the development of Dubai, one of the country’s seven emirates. Dubai’s economy was built on the back of the oil industry, revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for approximately 6% of the emirate’s revenues. Dubai is considered to be an important tourist destination especially for its port, constructed in the 1970s it has the largest man-made harbor in the world. Dubai has over 250,000 foreign laborers, many of whom live in conditions described by Human Rights Watch as being “less than human”. They are not allowed to move jobs and if they leave the country to go back home they will almost certainly lose all the money that they have earned.

Dubai has been called the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. Dubai’s lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping and also on its possession of ancient and modern attractions. Dubai is known for its souk districts. Souk is the Arabic word for market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged.

The city of Dubai is home to more than 1.2 million people and it is still growing rapidly. The city’s emergence as a major metropolis and tourist destination is evident in these images. I want to go to Dubai at least once in my life! What about you?

Source: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]