[Phsstpok]

those pictures are worth a MILLION words about Dubuai and the UAE. I'm pinging Tony Snow on this reply.

Tony, look at the two pictures Morgan in Denver has posted that I am replying to. Also, may I STRONGLY recommend to you Prince of Cups as an "in country" source for info on not only the UAE, but all of the gulf region. You can check out his bona fides in the forum.

[Morgan in Denver]

Thanks!

All I know is my reaction seeing this picture in light of the pro and con arguments that raged, and still do for that matter. There is no way I can envision the UAE being willing to throw it all away by supporting Al Qaeda. Yes, there may be, or are, some people there who would but it seems awfully remote the UAE would.

[PrinceOfCups]

Those before and after pictures are of Sheikh Zayed Road (really a 10-lane highway). This is the first new town built outside the original old city (Burj Dubai). Mostly apartments, hotels and shopping on parallel access roads.

Further out in the distance, maybe 10 kilometers, is another new city---the Marina district where all the specialty areas are: Media City, Internet City, Knowledge Village, etc. I counted 50+ new high-rises going up in the Marina area. Cranes are everywhere. This area is also the location for most of the ex-pat residential housing--now available for purchase (with some fine print in the law). These areas include The Lakes, The Greens, The Springs and the new man-made island towns like The Palm in Jumeira.