Dubai - The Red Light City

@zeemax..indeed..no industrial setup is existing which makes Dubai like a the skin of apple over a barrage of resources untapped. Although they have amassed wealth and shown it to the world.
The vulnerability can be seen with the fact that the aftermath of the quakes in kashmir, followed by one light jolt to Dubai sent the estate market crashing and for many days to follow.

With the inception..of 2006, it seems the international political agendas have taken a shift towards Pakistan with enmity, having Kalabagh Dam cancelled, with the favour of Uncle Sam. India, America now it seems are bent to get Musharraf expendable to delay GWADAR. As it has to be delivered to the Chinese in 2007. So its bang bang time for both preclaimed-media-pumped-professed Asian Tiger a.k.a India and America to hold on to its inflated-balloonish-like economic influence.
American economic influence has reduced to 30-40%, i.e. China accounts for this chunk of cake.
Gwadar was the dream of Russia, and it got disintegrated for this dream, when there were 2 superpowers. America too needs two superpowers at a time to have it see the same russian fate, and China is supposed to be the sleeping partner with eyes open, to play this role and which it would.

The bloodshed of Karachi which went through 90`s has the rumour that it was Dubai money, Indian intelligence and local firemen to have caused it, and Karachi plunged into darkness of unrest and disarray.

Gwadar is both ray of hope as well as a vice for many. Pakistan seems to be ready to pay the price for it.
Strength is not fortifying castles, but sustaining and surviving when being surrounded and wounded by 5-6 people.
America stands as it has left agents to disrupt the political structure of EVERY country. Pakistan stands after engaging with Russia, still in cold war with India allying with Afghanistan and the enemies from inside and list goes on. Susceptibility or strength to see face to face, eh..?
India hogs in `FREE-INVESTMENT` from its allies, Pakistan has to arrange conferences to raise money even for the quake victims, let alone investment.

Time seems to stand by Pakistan ahead, long live Pakistan.

Well, I grew up in Dubai and the changes I have seen are amazing. Yes, perhaps, like all big cosmopolitan cities there might be a few problems. No civic or even security ones as such, but maybe prostitution might be one of them. I use the word `might` because I have spent two decades in Dubai and never really *seen* the prostitutes or liquor stores. Like any place, if you are out to buy something, you will be able to find someone who will be happy to supply to you. Liquor has always been available to those who want to drink it but it is rather hidden, unless you go to the clubs and bars. Dubai is a secular place - the beauty of which lies in the fact that you can be who you want to be. If you want to be into alcohol and sex, you can. If you dont want to, you literally will not see it on the streets. In no way am I an apologist for Dubai. I grew up there not feeling muc patriotism, but I feel as if I must defend it in this manner, for it is not the way that this Mr Saleh has described.

Dubai is on the right track... Sheikh Mohammed is doing the right thing. Once you have captured the market, it is feasible to assemble and even manufacture... in Dubai or even elsewhere... And look at the allied industries developing... Banking... Shipping... Insurance... Advertising... Media... Tourism... Hotels... the list is endless... Wish more leaders will follow the success of the Dubai Sheikh.

Reply Saminashah #15

behain, d not talking tot his soandsos. U r only encourage.

Interesting. Russian prostitutes are taking over from the Indians.

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AmericanExpress,

I give you negative 15 stars!

What is the point Amin?

I am lost.

Asfand

I was in Dubai in June after about ten years and it saddened me. Someone was correct in the comment that Dubai has started importing women. It is to cater for the travelling beusinessmen. That`s not the way to go. Better way is to provide the infrastructure and let the business decide if it wants to come, instead of luring capital through women.

Dubai is desperately trying to get big business in, but there`s no large scale manufacturing, only triangular trade taking advantage of the Jabal Ali Free Zone. All the big names are there but what good is it in the long run ? They`re only taking benefit of the strategic location and the tax cuts. Nothing is manufactured, only assembled or trans-shipped. Sheikh Mohammad is making a big mistake.

Now the race is on between the Russians and the Chinese. If anyone has been to the Cyclone Club recently they would know it`s now completely dominated by the Chinese. The Chinese (particularly Shanghainese)are there in big numbers, and competing with the Russians. The edge the Chinese have is that the Russians are there only for the flesh trade, while the Chinese are taking over the small businesses which the Indians used to dominate. The Chinese families move in, buy up a grocery store or something, the husband and wife and the kids all work in the store, while the daughter goes out in the evening. That`s how they will eventually take over the Dubai scene. The Russian girls, no matter how stunningly pretty they are, would be no match for the work-ethic and ruthless determination of the Chinese.

Rumours in Ramada is Russian. Has anyone been upstairs to the Pub ? There`s no rif-raff there and live music. That was my haunt during my sojourn there.

However, it is true that Dubai has become the red-light district without match. One can meet girls of all colours and nationality there. I even met some girls from Seychelles there for Heaven`s sake. All there for the taking. All they want is your money.

However there`s a very nice Indian club in the Hotel Sea-Shell Inn in Bur Dubai. They have instituionalised `Mujra`. There are live singers singing classic Indian songs, and three girls dancing on the floor. Throwing money is not permitted and when you want to give a tip you just have to point to the girl and write the amount on a slip. That`s it. The amount is added to the bill and the girl gets that amount before closing time.

Can you imagine I met Roger Daltry of The Who there ?

Rgds.

Re: # 12
Is it ``Sea Shell Inn`` or ``Rush Inn`` ? coz last time i went to cyclone after 1:30 am & they were closing. cab driver took us to ``Rush Inn`` hotel where there was mujras going on upstairs. lucky we met an educated nice lady traveling alone from isb to london alone but trnasiting for 2 nights in dubai for pleasure. walaallaalla....

#9 by Banjaara on September 15, 2002 8:10pm PST
You can try the Jules bar at Le Maridien near the Airport and Rumours at Ramada on Mankhool Road also besides enjoying Cyclone.

While you might be right of running from one end of Abu Dhabi to another in 45 minutes, you have to be mindful of the Radars that don`t catch you for going over 120 KPH.

I don`t think the article is supposed to highlights any problems but just the fact that cities change as their priorities change. They learn to adapt to new conditions that they come accross. For some this might be a good change while for others it might not be such a good one. To each his own.

``People no longer restricted themselves to the Diera side of Dubai, Bur Dubai has become more vibrant.``

Bur Dubai was always the hub of Dubai and the creek was the life stream.
The Ruler`s Palace in the Bastakia District,the Covered Bazaar,the Hindu Temple and the Shia Mosque on the Al Fahidi road on one side and the
Textile shops on the other side of the road were ``the place`` in the early seventies, while the Deira side was a barren piece of land except the
Dubai Library,The Custom House, where Mehdi Al Tajir used to charge
``chungi`` from the Dhow operators and the Qadir Hotel were the only
sign of life.Deira construction started after the formation of UAE in December 1971 and in ten years the barren landmass was a modern and
planned city,thanks to petro-dollars used sensibly.Custom House is no more,in its place is The Sheraton Hotel.The Library has since been renovated and is still there.
Calling Dubai ``Red Light City`` shows your ignorance about a real Red
Light City.You must visit Bangkok,Bombay,Pattaya andColombo and then
offer your opinion.

``You might want to visit the nightclubs that are dotted across Dubai from Jumeriah Beach to the Airport.``

You are wrong again.There are no night clubs on this whole route from
Jumairah to the Airport.Unless you are talking about `` The Cyclone`` located in the Al Nasr leisureland,which is on a side lane whose name
I can`t recall at the moment.The Night Clubs are located on Bani Yas
Street, Deira and around Clock Tower in all those ``Tourist Class Hotels``.

``A friend of mine had told me that she lived right across from the Bank, so I assumed that it must be a small town, may be not more than a few road each side. How wrong I was.``

Till date,there are SIX main roads in Abu Dhabi intersected by smaller
roads forming a grid like pattern.The main roads are: Corncihe,Shaikh
Khalifa,Shaikh Hamdan,Shaikh Zayed,Jawazaat and Airport Road.The entire city can be traversed in a car in 45 minuits,I wouldn`t call it a big
city.

Regards.

UmerMurtaza #6: I guess the author uses asaleh1 name for interacting at chowk and has written couple of good posts about forex reserve. I hope to see him interacting more frequently giving his insight and opinion. The rating is the average of several ratings. It will be biased one way or another, if few people choose to rate. Simple statistical issue. Only large number of ratings cancel out the bias or subjective rating.
Once Z. A. Bhutto realized the potential of Dubai and wished to create a little Dubai on an island off Karachi. Too bad, Pakistan did not follow through this fantastic idea - to attract money from around the region.

Let me get this right. This article gets a damn good rating...and for what?

No offence, brother, but there was nothing in this article. I can talk about how they want to McDonaldise my peaceful, green neighbourhood: They want to replace the posts with giant fries. They would substitute lettuce for leaves any day. They want to line pavements with baps and sesame seeds. They don`t wanna see animals drinking from the lake. They would rather have 4% protein- 96% water burgers on legs….

When I said (on its 5th Birthday) that Chowk was one year closer to its death, I had meant it in a good way, as in a metamorphosis. But there`s something funny going on about Chowk, like new management or some deal that`s being pushed or pulled...I don`t know...

Umer M.

dubai?...please...

Russian men tried so hard to get to warmer waters in the past but guess what? Russain women got there without fighting!
Bangkok is still better than Dubai; they have orientals instaed of Russians!