Dubai Consumer Mirror

Friday, September 29, 2006

Dubai's trouble shooting strategy = keep it fun

Here is a no brainer

Dubai's trouble shooting strategy = whenever there is a problem, solve it by making it someone else's.

Translation:
Other than an alarmingly increasing air pollution levels, rising petty & financial crime rates, 1000s of cheques bouncing back everyday and more road rage and car accident related deaths than ever, one of the most adverse effects of the never-ending rent hike rat race in Dubai, is that the demographic structure of the city is extremely distorted. Meaning that a huge number of people who work in Dubai, don't live in it.

So, what happens is that every morning, atleast 250,000 people travel in and out of Dubai using 2 roads only, bringing the city to a virtual stand-still.

So, the problem with Dubai traffic is not the lack of roads or bridges. Its the fact that population grows on an average of 15% if not 20% from 9am to 5pm. And they all come with their cars from one direction - Sharjah.

So, a quick and easy solution would be: put a leash on Dubai's greedy landlord mob and get that balance back where people who work in Dubai, live in Dubai.

But wait, there is a more FUN solution.

Just work on traffic inside dubai and make it so smooth, so that all those cars coming in/to Sharjah just swishe by Dubai streets and pours back into Sharjah's 1970s road system and get stuck there.

Don't you just love this place? :)

8 Comments:

  • Spot on. The government is wasting its time expanding the internal structure when it's already at world-class levels.

    In other countries, expensive metro real estate is justified by having the newest showcase buidlings clustered around central business districts. Here in Dubai, it's back-asswards: the showpieces are far away on the outskirts, clogging up land that could be used to provide reasonable-priced housing for millions, while the inner city is stuffed with office blocks, 'preserved' areas for the locals, and ghettos like Deira and BD. In effect, there's nothing except high-level real estate.

    And of course, depriving our beloved landlords of their filthy lucre is anathema.

    By Blogger marwan, at September 29, 2006 at 1:30 AM  

  • The amount of frustration this is causing. Yesterday we were waiting with some family friends around our building. And some stranger just comes up to us and tells us his stories about how he's been slapped with fines for no reasons, for how his friends have dragged landlords in court about rent disputes and ended up being blamed for some imaginary reasons having to pay lumpsums in the end. The landlord agrees on the 15% cap but then the tenant ends up paying a 'fine' or 'court fee' cuz he lost the case, reason being - he dint pay the rent on time.

    This man looked so frustrated, he just kept going, we have no clue who he was, there was so much he told us , could write a post on it. But then, it isnt something eveyone isnt aware of already.

    By Blogger Harsha, at September 30, 2006 at 10:12 AM  

  • cont..

    ahh yes, he did mention packing up and leaving though.

    By Blogger Harsha, at September 30, 2006 at 10:17 AM  

  • Ever since the first buildings went up on Shaikh Zayed Road, I asked the question "How can you build these tall hotels/offices/whatever on A FRIGGIN' HIGHWAY?? How do I get from one side to the other??"

    But what the hell do I know about urban planning...

    By Blogger Zaydoun, at September 30, 2006 at 2:45 PM  

  • Yep, traffic sucks and the rent hikes are ridiculous.

    I ran out of gas 2 days ago getting stuck in Sheikh Zayed Road traffic. Totally embarrassing and no one bothered to help me - they just honked and gave me hand and finger gestures. :)

    Yesterday we received a notice from the landlord that our rent in Barsha (3 bedroom villa) will go from 100,000 to 150,000dhs!

    The rent cap means nothing and by the way it ends 31 December 2006. What to do?

    Can't wait to see what drama happens tomorrow! :)

    By Blogger Wendy Awai Dakroub, at September 30, 2006 at 10:32 PM  

  • I lived in sharjah and worked in Jebel Ali.... by the end of the second year of this EVERY DAY suffering.... I ended up gaining weight, having kidney problems, and screaming at everyone I know most of the time :)

    I moved to Dubai... Deira areas .. NOT ANY BETTER... so instead of 2 hours it is a 1:15 minutes.... so you either live in the Marina which would cost you MORE than what you get paid or suffer on the road just like everyone else ....

    GREAT POST :) than

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at October 1, 2006 at 8:47 AM  

  • ya3teek el 3afye..
    i find it a total waste of time to even think about this problem let alone write about it...
    mory.. u know when i was a kid we used to drive from our old house in shj (near the koran roundabout towards the airport road) to my school in mamzar in 15 mins.. and that was DURING the rush hour..

    By Blogger BuJ, at October 2, 2006 at 4:05 AM  

  • I remember those hassle free days as well.

    And it stinks that blood-letting tenants for all their worth is being ignored blatantly. Whatever happened to "wise" leadership and the like?

    Seems like after Shs. Rashid & Zayed things are going downhill for "outsiders".

    Perhaps what this place needs, i'm sorry to say, is a real economy SLUMP.

    P.S what's this I hear about VAT coming soon for "EXPATS"?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at October 6, 2006 at 8:19 PM  

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