Perhaps, as MetroMan pointed out a lot of your points seem to be saying "hey, just wait for the future, it's going to get better!" - what I don't understand is how do you get to the point where Dubai is now and not have libraries or rec centres (thanks for letting us know this city doesn't have those, just amazing they left out such minor details when building a place to be home to millions). The more you talk about Dubai the more it seems like a city wanted to show-off to the world first and foremost and was worried about such minor details later.
They do have libraries, rec centres. Though in my estimation they aren't adequate. But like I said, they'll get there. As to them wanting to show off. So what? Explain to me why that is a bad thing. Cities compete the world over for investment. They all try to put their foot forward. Dubai is no different. You think Miller goes around saying we have a poor subway network to drum up investment for Toronto?
As for your comment about the Sheppard line, if Canada legalized slave labour like it is in Dubai we could have a subway map to rival Tokyo, London, NYC, Seoul etc... it would also help having a municipal government that didn't have a clue what due process is and just rubber stamped most projects without debating their impacts on the environment or whether or not the people are actually asking for such services. As much as we complain about our government and all the red tape I'm sure no one in their right mind would trade it for what they have in Dubai.
At least try to google before you make such an absolutely ignorant statement. The UAE has a functioning legal system with due process. As to the labour issue...see my other comments below....
Ok and not too long ago there was a man named Hitler...
so I guess it would be ok if his second coming appeared in Dubai too? Dubai is just merely playing catchup too right?
Now this is both truly ignorant and downright offensive. So in your books, having a few strict laws in a reasonably free society is the equivalent of tolerance for a genocidal maniac. Banning porn and barely restricting alcohol puts one in the same league as the guy who came up with Auschwitz? These type of remarks speaks volumes about your intellect and ignorance. Again, before you make such outlandish comments, try looking up what the restrictions are over there. Incidentally, many are similar to what we have here...ie public drunkeness. The difference maybe is that they enforce the laws they have.
1) Yes there is no address system. But it's coming. I promise.
That doesn't change the fact that a city is being built on billions and extravagance but doesn't address the essentials.
Wrong. They have an address system. People don't use it. That's what I said. I was trying to qualify that woman's comments. The tradition there is quite similar for example, to India or the UK, where postmen have to find buildings by name not address. It's quite an exaggeration for her to say that cabbies can't find their way around and that you have to draw a map on your mail.
2) Roads. They're just like the article states, but there are European cities that are the same.
Just because there are other cities with bad drivers, it doesn't make it ok for a city with the façade put on by Dubai to not regulate the behavior on their roads.
They don't advertise themselves are the city of good drivers. Again, I found her complaint to be an exaggeration and I responded to it by quantifying what she terms to be bad driving. I would consider the roads of Paris to be a far greater threat to my life.
3) Trees. Yes, there are few but they irrigate them with enough water to feed a small surrounding nation, just to keep up appearances.
The situation is unsustainable. It's an ecological disaster in the making.
It's no different than you watering your lawn and removing anything that you don't desire to be on it (weeds). Water there costs an arm and a leg. Most folks there consider themselves lucky that the government goes out of its way to keep the city green. It's a pretty penny to them. As to the sustainability of the practice....since they are using desalinated water and not depleting aquifiers I wouldn't consider it all that bad. Moreover, since water costs a lot, I am willing to bet that water consumption per capita is far lower there than here.
Again, going back to the woman's comment. WTF did she expect to see in a desert?
4) Alcohol. The article is correct. It's difficult to get alcohol if you're part of the poor and powerless.
No. You can still get a permit if you're a labourer. It just will be relatively expensive for you. Yes, the limit is set according to income. So they have a bit of a temperance streak. But that hardly means that alcohol is 'difficult to get if you're part of the poor and powerless'. No more so than it being difficult to buy here if you earn too little. At least booze is cheaper there than the LCBO.
Again, what did the writer expect in a Muslim country? She should try looking for a bar in Riyadh.
5) Prices. Dubai used to be cheap when i was there. It's not any more.
In other words, exactly what the article says.
On this I will concede to some extent. Prices have gone up. However, in general the cost of living remains lower than here. That woman forgot to mention the fact that there are absolutely no deductions on your pay cheque and no sales taxes. And that businesses have no corporate taxes. You may pay 10 bucks for lettuce. But you should be able to afford it if you're making 40% more than here. Also, lettuce is probably the most egregious example. That's like saying I should be able to buy kangaroo meat in Canada for a few bucks a kilo. Had she acculturated, she would have figured out that vegetables from India (lettuce is not popular) are far more common and cheaper.
6) Staring. Caucasian women are stared down like objects... but it's ok because they're in the middle east.
She thought she was being stared down like an object. I would say that people looked at her because she was different. Heck, as a person of colour, I get stared at when I go into a corner store in small town Ontario. I don't take offence to it. But she seems to think that every middle eastern guy is after her because she's white. You tell me who's got the problem in that scenario.
7) Labour. Yes, the article is correct in stating that workers are exploited and there are instances of their passports being taken alleged in the article.
I have tried to explain the context in which this happens. I don't agree with mistreatment of workers. My father was a construction engineer in Dubai who worked for government projects quite often. He took excellent care of his workers. And I often visited the worker's quarters as a child. They were spartan to be ensure, but could hardly be construed as abusive.
Back on the passport issue. There are many challenges with this issue. Workers sometimes do have a bond which they must work off. This often happens because the company pays for all the arrangements to bring the worker over and often trains the individual. Companies often fear that workers will grab the training and the visa and leave for a rival employer. For this reason some employers do hold on to the passport. You can get it back...as long as you agree to leave the country (it allows the employer to stay within their quota). The visa system has quite a similar philosophy to the US H-1 system. Yes, it's illegal to hold the passport. And if an employee is willing to complain to the ministry of labour than he will get the passport back. Does it happen? Yes. Is it a widespread practice. Certainly not.