The Consequences of Fame
But is it only the architecture?
Over the last 40 years Dubai has transformed from a quiet trading town to a thriving international metropolis. The relative speed with which the emirate has reinvented itself is a testament to its liberal business and neutral political philosophies. Expatriate workers make up an estimated 90% of the population as the figure is expected to reach 5m, lowering the amount of UAE nationals to 1% by 2020.
During the last few years the relations between the UAE and the West, in particular the USA are growing, based on strong and deep historic background as the US was one of the first countries that recognised the UAE federation when launched in 1971 and UAE is a major trade partner to US in the Middle East.
Over the last 40 years Dubai has transformed from a quiet trading town to a thriving international metropolis. The relative speed with which the emirate has reinvented itself is a testament to its liberal business and neutral political philosophies. Expatriate workers make up an estimated 90% of the population as the figure is expected to reach 5m, lowering the amount of UAE nationals to 1% by 2020.
During the last few years the relations between the UAE and the West, in particular the USA are growing, based on strong and deep historic background as the US was one of the first countries that recognised the UAE federation when launched in 1971 and UAE is a major trade partner to US in the Middle East.
The influence of Western civilization is felt on all aspects of life.
In September 2007 Associated Press reported that a Lexington attorney has filed a lawsuit against a United Arab Emirates leader over the use of thousands of children to ride racing camels.
The filing come two months after a federal judge in Miami dismissed a similar suit, saying the case didn't belong in an American court.
According BBC Dubai's ruler has been accused of enslaving thousands of young children for camel races in a class-action lawsuit , while the use of child camel jockeys was banned in U.A.E. 13 years ago.
The lawsuits were brought under a two-century-old law known as the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreigners to sue in U.S. courts in certain circumstances.
The lawsuits were brought under a two-century-old law known as the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreigners to sue in U.S. courts in certain circumstances.
Dr. Habib Al Mulla, who represents the Dubai ruling family - Al Maktoum, called the lawsuits baseless in a written statement.
On December 10th 2007 Reuters reported that the founder and former CEO of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against two senior officials of the festival "for their deplorable and despicable behavior," charging they illegally conspired to engineer his ouster-after which they tried to ruin his reputation by branding him a "racist" and an "Arab-hater," despite the fact that he had lived and worked in the Arab world for 10 years.
The suit charges them with defamation, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy for forcing DIFF founder and CEO Neil Stephenson's exit last February from the film festival that he originated and turned into the most prestigious event of its kind in the Middle East.
Stephenson is seeking at least $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages from both defendants.
On February 1st, 2008 the Financial Times wrote that a US real estate developer is suing a Dubai Government firm for $1bn in damages, claiming its investment in a project in the emirate’s property boom was unjustly cancelled amid a contractual dispute.
The developer, Capital Partners, had in July 2005 made what was planned to be one of the largest foreign investments in the region’s business hub, when it announced plans for River Walk, a mixed-use $1bn project in the busy Internet business park located on prime land near the trunk of the reclaimed Palm Island.
But the deal soon turned sour amid recriminations over the legal title of the plot on which the US developer planned to build apartments, hotels and offices.
The dispute is now in front of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre – a test case for foreign investors seeking to resolve contractual disputes under the centre’s new regulations passed last year to create a level legal playing field for foreign businesses in conflict with local interests.
The United Arab Emirates is a dreamland for many businessmen and professionals around the world, as provides steady work, big fees, bold possibilities and in most of the cases, opportunities larger than any they might find on their home turf.
On December 10th 2007 Reuters reported that the founder and former CEO of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against two senior officials of the festival "for their deplorable and despicable behavior," charging they illegally conspired to engineer his ouster-after which they tried to ruin his reputation by branding him a "racist" and an "Arab-hater," despite the fact that he had lived and worked in the Arab world for 10 years.
The suit charges them with defamation, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy for forcing DIFF founder and CEO Neil Stephenson's exit last February from the film festival that he originated and turned into the most prestigious event of its kind in the Middle East.
Stephenson is seeking at least $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages from both defendants.
On February 1st, 2008 the Financial Times wrote that a US real estate developer is suing a Dubai Government firm for $1bn in damages, claiming its investment in a project in the emirate’s property boom was unjustly cancelled amid a contractual dispute.
The developer, Capital Partners, had in July 2005 made what was planned to be one of the largest foreign investments in the region’s business hub, when it announced plans for River Walk, a mixed-use $1bn project in the busy Internet business park located on prime land near the trunk of the reclaimed Palm Island.
But the deal soon turned sour amid recriminations over the legal title of the plot on which the US developer planned to build apartments, hotels and offices.
The dispute is now in front of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre – a test case for foreign investors seeking to resolve contractual disputes under the centre’s new regulations passed last year to create a level legal playing field for foreign businesses in conflict with local interests.
The United Arab Emirates is a dreamland for many businessmen and professionals around the world, as provides steady work, big fees, bold possibilities and in most of the cases, opportunities larger than any they might find on their home turf.
(by Gergana Mineva, Editor)
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