Saturday, July 4, 2009
Endorsed by the
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council
Al Manakh is the collaborative initiative to monitor, reveal and forecast new urban developments unfolding in the Gulf region. This analysis focuses on how the Gulf’s recent pace has not only shaped its own urban centers but also releases significant effects beyond its borders ...
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GULF NOTES, the week ending 20 june 2009

June 29 2009
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trucks-at-saudi-border-14-june-natl
…Saudi authorities opened their borders fully for several hours, partially clearing a backlog of stranded truckers that snaked back nearly 40 km into the UAE… [read more]

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Interview with Lamees Hamdan Gergash

June 25 2009
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portrait-dr-lamees-hamdan-in-library

Lamees Hamdan Gergash, the commissioner for the UAE’s first pavilion at the Venice Biennale, spoke with Al Manakh shortly before the pavilion opened to a curious public. She gives some insight on what the UAE would like to achieve at one of the world’s most famous art events.

Filed under: Culture, Uncategorized
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The Video: A conversation in Venice

June 18 2009
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On Friday June 5th, 2009 Al Manakh’s series of international Debates on Tour took place at the ADACH Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale of Art. For this occasion architect Rem Koolhaas and curator of the ADACH Pavilion Catherine David engaged in a conversation with Ole Bouman on the curiosities and conditions that has drawn their practice and vision to the Gulf cities such as Abu Dhabi.

Filed under: Debates on Tour
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GULF NOTES, the week ending 13 june 2009

June 17 2009
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menahi
… The first movie in thirty years was screened in Riyadh, despite disruption from fifteen audience members. The director made known his 20-year-plan for cinema in Saudi Arabia … [read more]

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A Conversation in Venice: Al Manakh Debates on Tour

June 8 2009
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Audience

Rem Koolhaas and curator of the ADACH Pavilion Catherine David engaged in a conversation with Ole Bouman on the curiosities and conditions that has drawn their practice and vision to the Gulf

Filed under: Press Release
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Time-Lapse Video of Dubai’s Urbanization

June 3 2009
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This Time-Lapse video has been compiled from images posted on NASA’s Earth Observatory.

via Wired

Filed under: Gulf Cities
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Focusing on how the Gulf cities are reexamining their methods and their relationships with the rest of the world.
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The authoritative resource for understanding the scope of urban development along the Gulf coast.
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  • Dubai revisits underwater hotel plan 13 hours ago
    "It seems a bit crazy given the current financial climate," one source close to the project tells MEED. "There are lots of issues, but I think the funding model will be the most challenging aspect."
  • Getting lost in Dubai's dazzle 14 hours ago
    At the hotel, I was asked to deposit my passport. Seeing my discomfort, the man at the reception tried to reassure me it was the done thing. But his attempts in Hindi only made me all the more suspicious. I realised soon that six out of every 10 people you meet on a Dubai street would be Indians, and five of them, without fail, Keralites. Total strangers smiled at me, convincing me every time that perhaps I did look like a Keralite.
  • Listen to this Article Ending wars 'key to Africa's progress': Qatar Emir 2009/07/02
    HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has said that security and stability in Africa should be realised by halting wars and armed conflicts. The Emir underlined that the Arab world and Africa “are bound by strong historical, geographical, economic and cultural relations.” He also underlined the strong attention given to the African continent’s issues as well as the support for the African development drive and the enhancement of solidarity and joint Afro-Arab action.
  • RCA to build orphanage in Kerala in India 2009/07/02
    The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) will build a three-storey orphanage in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala at the expense of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan. According to the RCA, the project is part of efforts to deliver social care to orphans as one of the most vulnerable segments in the community.
  • As Iraq Stabilizes, China Bids on Its Oil Fields - NYTimes.com 2009/07/01
    Oil companies from China, the world’s second-largest and fastest-growing consumer of oil, bid aggressively on Tuesday as Iraq began auctioning licenses in six large oil fields. In another sign of China’s interest in Iraqi oil fields, Sinopec, China’s refining giant, offered $7.22 billion last week to buy Addax Petroleum, a Swiss-Canadian company with operations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and in West Africa. If Addax’s shareholders and Canadian regulators approve the deal, which Addax’s board is recommending, it would be China’s largest overseas energy acquisition.
  • Kerala's Heartthrob in Dubai 2009/07/01
    Mohanlal, a heartthrob in Kerala, is in Dubai, where he is filming his latest movie Alexander the Great and promoting his business interests.
  • Dubai Olympics and World Expo 2020? 2009/07/01
    Dubai has set up a committee to investigate launching a bid to host both the 2020 Olympics and the 2020 World Expo. If successful, it would be the first time both events were staged in the Middle East, and in the one country.
  • Agencies downgrade Dubai companies 2009/07/01
    Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s on Tuesday downgraded a series of Dubai-based government-related entities as the emirate struggles to cope with a downturn in the local property market and a faltering world economy.
  • Drop in Gulf inflation raises deflation fears 2009/06/29
    in recent months the Gulf has found itself in a very different environment as inflation has dropped from double digits to low single figures, causing some economists to raise the spectre of deflation.
  • Manara unveils $1bn Bahrain waterfront project | Real Estate 2009/06/29
    The Nurana project, which spans 2 million sq.m of waterfront land overlooking the Bahrain Fort, comprises a mix of coastal villas, water-view apartments, retail, entertainment, tourism and office amenity. Reclamation works for the currently submerged site are estimated at a cost of $74m.
  • Ras Al Khaimah creates real estate regulator 2009/06/29
    The Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia), the body overseeing the emirate's growth, said it created a property regulator to safeguard investors and ensure construction funds are not misused.
  • Abu Dhabi wins bid for world green headquarters 2009/06/29
    The result came after intense lobbying by the UAE delegation following complaints that Abu Dhabi has the largest per capita carbon footprint in the world.
  • Abu Dhabi's fortune favors the bold 2009/06/28
    Does it still make sense to hire celebrity architects from the West to put a non-Western culture on the global cultural map? Will Abu Dhabi allow the Saadiyat museums to show politically or sexually charged artwork -- and if so, will that openness lead to cracks in the emirate's air-tight political structure? And finally, is it possible for a government to save the planet from ecological damage while neglecting human rights, or even energy-efficiency, at home?
  • Makkah governor in favour of sports for girl students 2009/06/27
    he stand taken by Prince Khalid Al Faisal, governor of Makkah and one of the most senior second-generation members of the royal family, on the controversial issue is the strongest official endorsement so far of women's sports and a sign the government may be tilting toward opening up on that front.
  • Emaar and Dubai Holding in 'advanced' talks 2009/06/27
    Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding are in advanced talks over a potential merger of the publicly listed company with developers Dubai Properties, Sama Dubai and Tatweer. The proposed "combination" would assist in Dubai's aim to become a global city and will help to d
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Incomplete structure, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009
Incomplete structure, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009Office building, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009
Office building, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009Entrance to King Abdulla Economic City, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009
Entrance to King Abdulla Economic City, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009Al Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009
Al Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009Al Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Public space in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009. credit: Joumana al Jabri
Public space in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009. credit: Joumana al JabriAl Futah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Futah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Al Bathaa souk, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Bathaa souk, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Al Bathaa souk, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Bathaa souk, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Al Bathaa souk, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Bathaa souk, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Al Bathaa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Bathaa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Al Bathaa, Riydah, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Al Bathaa, Riydah, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.The souk, Al Dira, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
The souk, Al Dira, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Abandoned mud brick building, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Abandoned mud brick building, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.Abandoned mud brick building, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  May, 2009.
Abandoned mud brick building, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May, 2009.