DUBAI // Even after almost seven years of overseeing the US$1.5 billion (Dh5.51bn) construction of the world's tallest man-made structure, the Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Alabbar still finds himself sneaking peeks at the finished product.
"I'm like a child," he said, looking out from his office near the foot of the Burj Dubai. Visitors to the tower, he said, might even spot him standing among the crowds, looking upwards and marvelling. "I say, 'Oh my God. I can't believe we did this.'"
The Burj Dubai's scheduled opening today marks not only a record-setting triumph of engineering but a watershed in Dubai's whirlwind economic development. The building culminates an explosive, debt-fuelled tear of growth that was derailed by the global financial crisis, but not before establishing a once-sleepy port town as the pulsing, cosmopolitan centre of an increasingly dynamic region.
"The opening of the building is a celebration, a symbol for the city that we're there. We're there to do business," Mr Alabbar said. "We are the regional hub and we're proud of it."
Few people have played so central a role in building modern Dubai as Mr Alabbar. One of a handful of technocrats entrusted with realising the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Mr Alabbar set up Dubai's Department of Economic Development in 1992. He went on to establish one of the region's largest companies and remains a director of Dubai 's powerful Executive Council.
In a wide-ranging discussion on the developments in Dubai leading up to the completion of the tower, Mr Alabbar conceded that mistakes had been made in the pursuit of growth. He added that the city has now achieved a level of development that means it will no longer need to borrow and spend at the pace it did before the global economic crisis.
Dubai has struggled to cope with about $85bn of debt that could pose a long-term burden. However, the crisis also put an end to a speculative bubble that many executives say had become a costly diversion. With a restructuring now under way to make its debts more manageable, analysts and executives say Dubai can focus on returning to its roots as a logistics hub.
"There was a time when we all needed to fire all engines on," said Mr Alabbar. "Now I think we need to fire engines selectively, carefully."
The executive drew much of Dubai's growth strategy from Singapore, where he lived and worked for five years. Singapore, he said, honed his business instincts and taught him about entrepreneurship, corporate discipline "and that profit is not a bad word".
The city-state also impressed on Mr Alabbar how property development could be used to promote specific industries, that building office districts could lure banks and multinationals and that hotels would lure tourists.
After setting up Emaar in 1997, Mr Alabbar launched Dubai's property boom almost single-handedly in 1999 when Emaar began building Emirates Hills, the first large-scale development available for purchase by foreigners.
Emaar first announced plans to build the world's tallest building in 2003. That the Burj's specifications remained a closely guarded secret, Mr Alabbar said, was in part due to the fact that they were in flux. Many design elements were changed along the way, even the height. So were the elevators, he said. After all 57 had been designed, Mr Alabbar looked at the mock-ups. "I said 'My God, it looks so horrible,'" he recalled. "Do we have time to change? It's so ? Gothic!" There were financial challenges as well. Contractors reportedly came close to walking off the job when Emaar fell behind on payments at the height of the economic downturn. Work to install the building's skin fell behind in early 2006 when the Swiss company responsible for the cladding failed.
The biggest challenges were related to the tower's height and the need to make life normal for the 100,000 people that will eventually live and work half a kilometre or higher in the air.
There was, for example, what Mr Alabbar refers to as the pizza problem. Even in a building where the service elevators travel 32kph, designers were concerned tight security and great distances might keep food from getting delivered to the upper floors while it was still hot.
The solution? Emaar will run its own cash-on-delivery culinary courier service inside the Burj, Mr Alabbar said, paying for residents' food on delivery and then routing it to its destination inside the building.
Inevitably, there will be critics who call the Burj an emblem of Dubai's excess, its hubris, a description Mr Alabbar dismissed.
"The reality is that it's a reflection of the city's ambition," he said. "We go through ups and downs. That's natural." He dismissed speculation that his removal from the board of the Investment Corporation of Dubai was a political demotion. Sheikh Mohammed announced in November that Mr Alabbar and two other top executives, the Dubai World chairman Sultan bin Sulayem and the Dubai Holding chairman Mohammad Abdullah al Gergawi, were no longer on the board.
"We've never gone to any office," Mr Alabbar said of the board. "We had forgotten that it existed. I don't know how this speculation really got out of proportion." Mr Alabbar said that Dubai may have ultimately tried to grow too quickly.
"We all know very well that we were a little bit too ambitious," he said. "If you look at all the landmarks that are built in London or in New York or in Hong Kong ? we want to do everything in five years," he said.
Mr Alabbar also suggested that the frenzied days of building out Dubai's infrastructure were at an end. "We were a hub under construction," he said. "It's time for us to really grow with substantial business because a lot of the construction is done."
warnold@thenational.ae
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The five pillars of Islam
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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Name: Marie Byrne
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
