“Dubai’s top property exhibition, once the stage where multibillion-dollar developments were announced, will be a smaller and more reflective affair this year as the cash-strapped industry licks its wounds.”
photo: Cityscape Dubai, 2008

No less than three entries to Archinect and Bustler’s ‘Live Forever’ competition to design a monument to Michael Jackson have been proposed for Dubai.

At an official ceremony in Jeddah yesterday, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia unveiled the first stage of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to 3000 guests and international dignitaries.
KAUST aims to be a world-class scientific centre, to relax the nation’s dependence upon oil revenue by developing new sustainable technologies in the fields of [...]

A UK-based engineer associated with TDIC’s development projects in Abu Dhabi: “This is a good time to create an icon as it’s cheaper. More resources from contractors and designers around the world are available.” Abu Dhabi turned down a 224-story Tommy Landau-designed tower named the Al Imlaq (the “Giant”); now to be pitched to Saudi Arabia.

Reda Sijiny reports on a conference last May in Jeddah. A few months back, but perhaps still a relevant tell-tale on development in Jeddah.

Dubai is abuzz with a new kind of speculation: what does the introduction of urban rail mean for everyday life in the so-called superlative city?