BULGARIA Frankfurt · ALB. 13h Skopje 6hIstanbul New York
MACEDONIA
Tirana
GREECE
iterranean Sea - Banghazi
Crete (GR.)
CYPRUS
Beirut LEB.
Beirut3h
SYRIA Damascus
8.5h
IRAN KUWAIT
Persian BAHRAIN Gulf
SAUDI
Manama Doha Riyadh
Aswan
QATAR Red Sea
ARABIA
Jiddah Mecca
Kabul Kandahar ¯
Jaipur
OMAN
Abu Dhabi
¯ Karachi
Muscat
Ahmad
OMAN Mumbai
2h Mumbai (Bombay)
2006 UN Political Map
Djamena
8h
CENTRAL
Aden DJIBOUTI
Gulf of Aden
Djibouti
Addis Ababa
Socotra
(YEMEN)
Arabian Sea
Berbera
ETHIOPIA
Johannesburg
8.5h
Singapore
7.5h
LAKSHADWEEP (INDIA) 69
68
Lagos
Sanaa
Asmara
SUDAN
Pu
YEMEN
ERITREA
Khartoum
AMO
CHAD
New Delh
PAKISTAN
Port Sudan
Omdurman
Lahore Hong Kong 8h
Shiraz ¯
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Line Actu Cont
AFGHANISTAN Islamabad Quetta
Kuwait
EGYPT
1972 Line of Control
Gulf Survey
Gulf Atlas
Edited by AMO
Mashhad
Esfahan ¯ ¸
Al Jizah
Casablanca
3h
Al Basrah
Gulf Survey BY A
Dushanbe 9hKashi TAJIKISTAN Shanghai
Ashgabat
Tehran
IRAQ
JORDAN
Tashkent
TURKMENISTAN
Tehran
Baghdad
Tel Aviv-Yafo ISRAEL Alexandria Jerusalem Amman
Cairo
Baku
Mosul Kirkuk
Aleppo
Bishkek KYRGYZSTAN
Osaka
9h
¯ Tabriz
Adana
Nicosia
tta
Yerevan
TURKEY Konya
UZBEKISTAN
ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN
Ankara
·Izmir
Athens
y
7h
Bursa
Caspian Moscow Sea5h
Tbilisi
London
Sydney
15h
La
Regional Statistics Youth
GDP per Capita
World Bank Statistics, 2004 UNCTAD FDi Magazine www.compiler.fi www.gasandoil.com
AMO
0% < 10 % 10-30 % 30-50 % > 50
CIA World Factbook, 2006
% of the population that is illiterate
FDI flows to the GCC in $US millions
Ecological Footprint per Capita
Transparency
Hectares per person
<1 1-5 5 - 10 10 - 15 > 15
71
70
Transparency International, 2005
Perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts
<1 1-3 3-5 5-7 7-9
Gulf Survey
Gulf Atlas
Illiteracy
Foreign Direct Investment
no data < 500 500 - 2000 2000 - 3000 3000 - 4600
> 35 31-35 26-30 21-25 < 20
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
>25,000 25,000-15,000 15,000-5000 5000-1500 <1500
CIA World Factbook, 2006
Average Age
In $US thousands
Sizing the Gulf Venice could fit in a quarter of The World development in Dubai. Development on a seemingly scaleless landscape begs global comparisons when trying to grasp its size. When looking at the major urban projects from Kuwait to Ras Al Khaimah, a selection of world-recognized urban landmarks reveal the magnitude of this urban project. (Numbers refer to descriptions in the Development Atlas at the end of Gulf Survey.)
B40-Two Seas B12-Amwaj Islands
K5-Bubiyan Island
B7-Bahrain Bay Q4-Lusail Development Q17-Al Khor Resort
B41-Marina West B29-Riffa Views
K6-Failaka Island
Q9-The Pearl-Qatar
QATAR
BAHRAIN
B32-Bahrain Mega Equestrian Resort
K11-Madinat Al Hareer
Q20-New Doha Int’l Airport
B1-Al Areen Desert Spa B10-Durrat and Resort Al Bahrain Island
K9-Subiya Causeway
Gulf Survey
Gulf Atlas
B11-Lulu Island
K17-Green Island
K15-Heritage Village
K13-Madinat Al Fahaheel K14-Khabary City K26-Kheiran Pearl City
K22-Kuwait Int’l Airport expansion
AMO
K23-Kuwait University’s new campus
KUWAIT
25 km
Beijing, China
Cairo, Egypt
Hong Kong, China
Paris, France
Mumbai, India
73
72
Venice, Italy
100 km
MDA Federal Inc.
5 km
Sizing the Gulf
A16-Reem Island
Gulf Survey
Gulf Atlas
D8-Palm Deira
D12-Dubai Waterfront
A3-Central Market A6-Saadiyat Island
D9-The World D7-Palm Jebel Ali
A2-Al Gurm Resort
R2-Al Marjan Islands R1-Mina Al Arab
D1-Palm Jumeirah
Abu Dhabi
D63-Dubai D71-Dubai Festival City Marina Lakes D66-The D15-Jumeirah Islands D62-Downtown Burj Dubai D60-The Lagoons D11-Discovery Garden D16-Jumeirah Village D56-Business Bay D14-Jumeirah Golf D75-Dubai Investments Park Estates D18-International City D95-Dubai Silicon Oasis D73-Dubai World Central D35-Dubailand
Dubai
A1-Al Raha Beach Resort A14-Al Reef Villas
R15-Al Noor City
Sharjah
R4-Ras Al Khaimah Gateway
R8-Saraya Islands
R14-Mangrove Island
R5-Jebel Al Jais
Ras Al Khaimah
D13-Arabian Canal
AMO
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
25 km
Moscow, Russia
Las Vegas, NV
Istanbul, Turkey
Barcelona, Spain
London, UK
75
74
Manhattan, New York
100 km
MDA Federal Inc.
5 km
Economic Resources
1968: Ä Ä 24,287
Expat vs. Native
Ä = 10,000 people 1980:
2004:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ 74,000
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä 205,000
GDP
$1.9 billion
Ras Al Khaimah
Population
Native
GDP vs. Oil
Year Oil Runs Out
2008
Tourists per Year
Ä = 10,000 people
n/a
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä 885,359
1950:
1980:
2006:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä 2,671,000
Kuwait
1,375,000
1968: Dubai
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä59,000
1985:
Native
2114 Native
2006:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ91,000
1,204,000
2010
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä6,200,000
AMO
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä370,788 Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä
$36.61 billion
Gulf Atlas
152,000
2044
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä460,000
$44.77 billion
2006:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ 229,000
Gulf Survey
1980:
Qatar
1950: Ä ÄÄ 25,000
$23.61 billion
Native
Bahrain
1950:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ109,650
1980:
2006:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä 698,585
350,798
$15.83 billion
Native
2008
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ 3,514,000
Abu Dhabi
1990:
2006:
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ 1,850,230
798,000
2106
Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä Ä ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ ÄÄ Ä 1,000,000
77
76
$104.2 billion
Native 1958: Ä Ä 15,000
How Much is a Billion? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A Look at Relative Value
$ 1.2 trillion Total cost of war in Iraq since March 2003
$ 675 billion Total cost of construction projects in Gulf
$ 700 billion Direct US spending on war on Iraq
$ 86.5 billion Silk City, Kuwait estimated cost
$ 27 billion UAE Tourism revenue
Gulf Survey
Gulf Atlas
$ 53 billion World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimated cost of reconstruction in Iraq
$ 14 billion Palm Jumeirah total cost $ 10 billion FDI outflow from Gulf
AMO
$ 3.5 billion Legends Theme Park $ 1.5 billion Atlantis Palm Jumeirah $ 0.7 billion Dubai Duty Free revenue $ 175 Monthly income of UAE laborer
79
78
http://www.dubaiairport.com http://www.unctad.org http://uaeinteract.com www.worldbank.org http://www.theemiratesnetwork.com http://www.ameinfo.com www.nytimes.com http://www.madinat-al-hareer.com
Argument
A Region in Brief The current architectural substance of the Gulf consists of four major components, produced in three distinct waves:
Gulf Survey
1. In the seventies and eighties – as part of the first surge of oil wealth and therefore as a matter of course – big architectural names were involved in the Gulf… Jørn Utzon (Kuwait National Assembly), Kenzo Tange (Kuwait International Airport and Arab Gulf University plan), the Smithsons (unrealized Kuwait City plan), Kiyonori Kikutake (unrealized hotel), William Pereira (Sheraton Hotel), The Architects Collaborative (Abu Dhabi Cultural Center). The Gulf became a field of architectural experimentation, where vernacular elements, particularly indigenous cooling and natural ventilation techniques, were used to renew and redefine contemporary architecture…
AMO
2. In the second wave in the nineties, firms typically with an engineering background, but soon equipped with master planning and even architectural sections, whose convenient presence on the ground gives them an almost monopolistic claim to most planning and architectural efforts – Halcrow, Atkins, more recently HOK – developed among them an intricate, quasi-organic resort urbanism, driven by coastline multiplication, both on land and on sea… It is this wave that has given Dubai its unique ‘look.’ 3. Superimposed on this context, will be the imminent contributions of international starchitects like Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel, Norman Foster and others; the dilemmas faced by the third wave are obvious: relatively inexperienced clients, the ‘experience economy’ as the sole and pervasive discourse, a well-established quasi-Islamic-modernist language, expectations of ‘signature’ which will make deviation and surprise, let alone reinvention, difficult. 4. Independent of these phases, we can also observe since the seventies an ongoing production of ‘undesigned’, modest – but dominant in places like Sharjah – presence of a generic, modernist ‘architecture without architects’ – a cheap, seemingly spontaneous, mostly concrete, always utilitarian architecture that comes closest to traditionally ‘urban’ conditions: closely packed streets, alleys, galleries, parks and plazas and residential neighborhoods based on mini-compounds. These have an appeal, especially compared to globalization’s past and future fireworks. – RK
81
80
Expectations of ‘signature’ will make deviation and surprise, let alone reinvention, difficult
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has nothing to prove. Its anchored indispensability in global markets – as a result of its immense oil reserves – ensures that its regional and global position remains undisputed. With its global political weight ensured, Abu Dhabi has developed a confident and careful approach to its urban development. Whereas cities worldwide have converted their municipal departments into marketing machines for attracting outside investment, Abu Dhabi sells privilege, not pitches. It was a slow start, with oil monies not quickly reinvested in urban development until the ascension of Sheikh Zayed. In the past year, media requests have been granted to a press eager to know the Emirate’s plans. Abu Dhabi is now responding to the competitive sphere in the Gulf with a clear agenda, backed up by a new tool for the Gulf – culture master planning.
Gulf Survey
Gulf Histories
117
MDA Federal Inc.
AMO
116
Snapshots
Reflexive passive ventilation, when air conditioning is on too high
Corniche apartments
Parking before mosque
Port Zayed
Khalifa Street
Gulf Histories
Gulf Survey
In-between cities on road to Dubai
AMO
Modern day dhows
119
118
Al Ittihad Square
www.sheikh-zayed.info
The Hobbyist Sheikh Zayed replaces his brother in 1966 as ruler of Abu Dhabi, resulting in a shift in the Emirate’s approach to investment and development. Beyond the obvious need for roads and infrastructure, the Sheikh extends a clear vision of urbanity, comparable to Western monarchs from centuries before who made architecture and urbanism their hobbies. Eager British engineers and European architects help the Sheikh realize some of the best examples of stadiums, airports, and hotels in the region, generating a stately field of commemorative structures and verdant landscaping.
Sheikh Zayed: architect of a nation. Global Agenda, January 2006
Al-Zayed UAE Crown Prince Yearbook
www.adnoc.co.ae/adnoc/english/images/new_community_uae.jpg
Advertisement that appeared in The Washington Post, December 16, 1970
1960s. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Ar-Nahyan with Sheikh Tahnoun planning Abu Dhabi National Oil Company buildings
Discussions over the new road network
121
120
1958. Abu Dhabi Fort
Slade Baker Collection, Middle East Centre, St. Antony’s College
Wilfred Thesiger upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, from Arabian Sands, 1950
Abu Dhabi – Gateway to the Gulf It is no longer of special interest when land blossoms where there was formerly a vast expanse of white sand; when a sleeping fishing village is transformed almost overnight into a large sprawling city with modern buildings rising on the debris of old palm leaf huts; or when concrete roads probe into a desert as silent and as ancient as time.
AMO
A large castle dominated the small dilapidated town which stretched along the shore. There were a few palms, and near them was a well where we watered our camels while some Arabs eyed us curiously, wondering who we were. Then we went over to the castle and sat outside the walls, waiting for the Sheikhs to wake from their afternoon slumbers.
1961. Abu Dhabi airport terminal
Gulf Survey
Gulf Histories
Upon the urging of the British Political Agent, John Harris visits Sheikh Shakhbut – two days’ air travel to Dubai and a full day of jeep travel over sand, water and sand again to arrive in Abu Dhabi about 150 km away
When Sheikh Zayed was young there was not a single school in the desperately poor Trucial States...
1960s. Abu Dhabi stamp
1980. Zayed Sports City Stadium. Seating capacity: 70,000 UAE Yearbook 2006
1970s. Abu Dhabi Corniche Abu Dhabi: Garden City of the Gulf. UAE: Motivate Publishing, 1988
1950s. Abu Dhabi seafront
Gulf Survey
Gulf Histories
Peter Hellyer / The Hutchinson Library
www.sheikh-zayed.info
Opulence in Landscape Corniche – where seafront meets skyline – sculpts the city’s façade. The urban device is borrowed from Monaco, via Beirut and Kuwait, and generates housing prices that compete with towers facing New York City’s Central Park. The Corniche’s at once current and dated feel, represents Abu Dhabi’s developing history of opulence and confident ease. The Corniche also exemplifies Abu Dhabi’s obsession with green. Over 130 million planted trees garnish landscaped highways, waterfront resorts, residential yards, and oasis-style parklands – all notable despite the conspicuous lack of rainfall (only 43 mm per year in the city). Even the Emirate’s much fought-for inland oasis is now almost dry, now requiring desalinated water from the coast.
They used to say, agriculture has no future, but with God’s blessing and our determination, we have suceeded in transforming the desert into a green land. Sheikh Zayed Salloum, H. ‘How the Sheikh Turned the Desert Green’, The Christian Science Monitor May 27, 1997
AMO
In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi alone, some 130 million trees have been planted. The UAE’s 22 million, mostly newly planted palm trees now represent 20 percent of all the palms on the planet.
Salloum, H. ‘How the Sheikh Turned the Desert Green’, The Christian Science Monitor 1997.
2006. Corniche redevelopment
A fleet of bulldozers dig into desert sand during the construction of canals and lakes in Abu Dhabi
The UAE is the largest water consuming country after the US and Canada
123
122
1980s. Abu Dhabi Corniche
Abu Dhabi: Garden City of the Gulf. UAE Motivate Publishing
archnet.org
Abu Dhabi: Garden City of the Gulf. UAE Motivate Publishing
1988. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
1988. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company www.shiekh-zayed.info
Brian J. McMorrow
1977. The Mastaba of Abu Dhabi proposed by Christo
AMO
Old souk in Abu Dhabi, with 196 shops
The new mosque will accommodate 30,000 worshippers at one time John Harris
www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80143e/80143E0D.GIF
Sheikh Zayed reviews model for the ‘Zayed Mosque’
Instinctive habits are, mercifully, much more powerful than bad architecture; and the residents of the souk were simply ignoring all the architect’s design on them. They had set up stalls in the walkways and constructed their own labyrinth in spaces which had been meant as routes of access. Jonathan Raban, Arabia, 1979
1962. Development plan with the Ruler’s palace and Governmental buildings
125
124
1988. Fish, Fruit and Vegetable Souks Abbad Al Radi and Nazar Ahmad
Fares el-Dahdah from ‘Letter from Abu Dhabi’ No. 13, 1996
archnet.org
1977. American Ambassador Residence John Harris
1985. Abu Dhabi Library and Cultural Center, The Architects Collaborative
Gulf Survey
Gulf Histories 1970. Colonnade at School
The city has thus developed a calligraphic skyline...buildings are erected at the rhythm of the monarch’s consent.
archnet.org
CORBIS / Christine Osborne
Single Vision Reinforcing the original fort within a new cultural compound, erecting sculptural stadiums for Olympic aspirations and transforming an obsolete airport into strolling gardens – the 1980s saw the realization of Sheikh Zayed’s vision. Shopping centers, offices and residential towers pepper the vanishing desert, but all within the strict land use controls of the Sheikh.
The Economist
www.saadiyat.ae
www.emiratespalace.com March 30, 2007
AP / Kamran Jebreili
AP / Kamran Jebreili
Transformation of Saadiyat Island. Plans include a franchised Louvre Museum
The Guggenheim Effect Bilbao’s Investment 1997: 80m euro Abu Dhabi Investment 2006: 155m euro July 8, 2006. Thomas Krens, Guggenheim Director, and Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan www.skyscrapercity.com
The Middle East November 2005
1980s. Chamber Tower and Clock Tower
Emirates Palace literally glows with luxury. The hotel, owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, took more than three years and reportedly more than $3 billion to build, which would make it the most expensive hotel in the world
July, 8 2006. Frank Gehry at Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi
Autopolis car center to be built in Abu Dhabi
127
126
2006. Yas Island development in Abu Dhabi showcased at Dubai Cityscape
www.saadiyat.ae
AMO
‘The Gate,’ Saadiyat Island, Arquitectonica
Abu Dhabi ready to spend US$100b. UAE Internact News, August 4, 2006 www.uaeinteract.com/news
Ali Ahmed Hosani Director of Marketing Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority ‘Abu Dhabi Comes of Age.’ ITP Hospitality, August 4, 2006
About 100 new hotels over the next 10 years will be built in Abu Dhabi at the rate of 10 a year.
While we recognise and applaud Dubai’s success, we do not view Abu Dhabi’s development in terms of ‘catching up.’ I would like to emphasise that plans currently under development or in the pipeline are focused on the top end of the market.
Abu Dhabi ... unveiled a new public joint stock company charged with developing ... its flagship Saadiyat Island project ... into a strategic international tourism destination.
Thomas Krens, Director of the Guggenheim Foundation.
Collectively, Persian Gulf-based carriers are set to increase their passenger capacity 140% by 2011.
Foreman, Colin.’Abu Dhabi gets ready to step out of the shadow cast by Dubai.’ ITP Construction, June 25, 2005 www.itp.net/business/features/details.php?id=2832&category=construction
Wall Street Journal July 20, 1999
Gulf Survey
Gulf Histories
Estimates of ADIA’s [Abu Dhabi Investment Authority] size range from $200 billion to ‘way north of $500 billion’, according to one foreign investment banker. In other words, it may be the world’s biggest investment fund.
The Persian Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi said it will invest $730 million in ... developing a Gulf island into an international ‘capital and commodities center.’ The action... heats up a competition to be the region’s financial hub.
You should expect that all figures in paintings will be clothed.
Reed, S. Mideast Airlines Soar onto Global Stage. Business Week April 19, 2006
The Washington Post November 4, 1974
After a decade of living in Dubai’s shadow, Abu Dhabi – the UAE’s largest emirate – is now developing its own projects that look set to challenge its smaller neighbor to the north. Last week a free hold property sold out in 45 minutes.
Abu Dhabi: Garden City of the Gulf. United Arab Emirates: Motivate Publishing, 1988
More Fortunes Than Degrees A local pastime is betting how much taller Abu Dhabi’s clock tower will be than Dubai’s most impressive local landmark, which is, of course a clock tower.
1999 Ë 2006 Change of Plan Culture = Money
An Awakened Giant In 2005 Sheikh Khalifa, Zayed’s son, single-handedly transforms Abu Dhabi with new laws opening emirate real estate to the free market. Overnight, Abu Dhabi experiences the avarice of investors wanting a piece of an unfailing success story. Huge developments would sell out in less than an hour. Made even stronger by the fact that its impressive development plans are not founded in desperation, Abu Dhabi brings stiffer competition to the region. Evolution of the tourist industry: from sun/sand, to shopping and now to culture. Even compared to bold efforts to extend coastlines along the Gulf, this next stage could very well test the financial endurance of the Gulf. Money has to fill the gap. Not only investing in an extravagant building project, Abu Dhabi will also foot the bill for its own collection imprinted with Guggenheim endorsement.