Dennie Quill, Contributed

An email showing the phenomenal development of Dubai is going the rounds on the Internet. I have spent hours gaping at these images of opulence. My curiosity has driven me to learn about this Persian Gulf state, which is commanding worldwide attention even as poor countries struggle under the weight of surging oil prices.

Dubai is one of seven sheikdoms forming the United Arab Emirates. They are the world's sixth exporter of oil. Abu Dhabi is the capital and according to its Chamber of Commerce and Industry the total value of projects in the planning stages or already under construction amounts to US$330 billion. It is estimated that the current surge in construction will continue for the foreseeable future.

The enormous investment in tourism boggles the mind. One wonders what will happen to our region when embarrassingly wealthy countries like Dubai can create the world's largest indoor ski slope close to fine white-sand beaches and Disney World-type attractions. Yes, we have a rich cultural heritage, our food, music and art are wonderful. But here's what Dubai has done, it has created events like World Cup of horse racing, World Tennis Championship, shopping festivals. An attempt is being made to satisfy every little whim of the tourist.

Deluxe room

The iconic Burj Al Arab hotel which soars to 280 metres and is built to reflect the sail of an Arab dhow retails for US$2,400 a night for a deluxe room, a one-bedroom will set you back US$2,700 each night. This self-proclaimed seven-star hotel is attracting visitors by the droves.

Someone in Dubai is obsessed with being a world beater. Why else would there such preoccupation with erecting the tallest building, the grandest malls, the biggest man-made harbour in the world, the largest theme park, the fastest train, the first underwater luxury hotel and a group of palm-shaped artificial islands along with a cluster of 300 artificial islands visible from space.

The transformation of Dubai from a desert into an international financial hub and a tourist centre is being keenly watched by economists and Arab neighbours alike. Interestingly only about six per cent of Dubai's gross domestic product comes from oil and it is believed that even if the price of oil climbs down from its current high (or runs out by 2025 as predicted), the country will be safe with its huge investments in tourism, finance and real estate which have broken dependency on oil. This is what they call diversification, I believe. Emirates like Oman and Qatar are reportedly considering the Dubai model.

Foreign direct investments have been pouring into Dubai at the rate of 13 per cent per annum. Our finance minister would give his best teeth for half of that. The Brits are leading the charge into Dubai as the number one investor followed by Japan, India, the Netherlands and South Korea.

Ugly underside

So is this Utopia? Not according to some commentators who reveal an ugly underside in this paradise where imported workers from places like Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan are exploited in an atmosphere of post-modern slavery working up to 12-hour days. They earn about US$245 a month, appear to have few rights since there are no unions, and dissent equals deportation. Those in support of the regime say the workers are doing better than they would have done at home and that remittances have been growing tremendously. There is an active sex trade with women being imported from eastern Europe as kindergarten teachers and domestic helpers are forced into prostitution. The media are shackled so that what is reported is what the emirate allows.

Dubai appears to have everything, yet my research could not find its soul. The Irish rock star and charity crusader, Bob Geldof, is on record blasting Dubai and its neighbours for being stingy. According to figures cited by Geldoff, the UAE has a GDP of US$103 billion and between 1971 and 2006 they had donated a measly US5.5 million in foreign aid. That was in 2006. Last year Dubai Cares was launched in which the Government plans to contribute to the United Nation's Second Millennium Development Goal to educate one million children. Next month, there is a humanitarian aid conference in Dubai, I am keeping my fingers crossed that good news will emanate from this.