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A32

FEATURETuesday 8 December 2015

A thick blanket of early morning fog partially shrouds the skyscrapers of the Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers districts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s rapid
transformation from a desert outpost into one of the world’s most architecturally stunning cities is mapped out in the Marina. Where just 15 years ago there was empty,
flat land, today a bustling neighborhood thrives centered around a canal and an impressive skyline that pierces through the clouds.

(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Dubai Marina: A Playground for the Ultra-Rich

KAMRAN JEBREILI on the market this year for Two men play backgammon while smoking a shisha, or water pipe, at a restaurant overlook-
Associated Press a cool 56 million dirhams, ing the canal and the Marina neighborhood. Surrounding Marina’s canal is an oasis of trendy
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- or about $15.25 million. restaurants and bars that serve an array of fusion-style cuisines that reflect the myriad of cultures
ates (AP) — With its glisten- Unlike Manhattan, though, and people drawn to Dubai, a modern city-state in the United Arab Emirates where foreigners far
ing skyscrapers and man- Dubai’s year-round sun- outnumber the locals.
made waterways, Dubai shine gives the Marina a
Marina is a playground for summer vibe throughout (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
the rich. the winter months, when
Dubai’s rapid transforma- temperatures rarely drop feet (413 meters) high. The bending skyscrapers provide the manpower to
tion from a desert outpost below 75 degrees Fahren- Marina 101 is currently be- build high-rises, shopping
into one of the world’s most heit (24 Celsius) during the ing built to soar to 1,417 throughout Dubai, built malls, highways and other
architecturally stunning cit- day. On weekends, alco- feet (432 meters). mega-construction proj-
ies is mapped out in the hol-fueled party boats ferry The neighborhood is one by armies of low-paid mi- ects sweeping through the
Marina. What 15 years ago Russian and Western ex- of many clusters of neck- region. q
was mostly empty land is patriates down the canal grant workers, many of
today a bustling neighbor- as speed boats and jet skis
hood with a skyline that buzz in the water. them from the Indian sub-
pierces through the clouds. Trendy restaurants and
More than 150 high-rise bars along the canal re- continent. These workers
buildings, stacked row af- flect the myriad of cul-
ter row, make up this 50 tures and people drawn to
million square foot (4.65 Dubai, a modern city-state
million square meter) wa- in the United Arab Emirates
terfront neighborhood built where foreigners far out-
around a man-made ca- number the locals.
nal where the wealthy park Children can ride on a car-
their yachts. ousel, splash in a fountain
The area is sometimes re- and watch street artists per-
ferred to as the Manhat- form on the canal’s prom-
tan of the Middle East and enade. Around sunset,
some of its buildings are when the blistering heat of
promoted by realtors as the day begins to subside,
having “Manhattan-style” people jog and ride bikes.
architecture and ameni- The Marina boasts the
ties. A 12,400 square foot world’s tallest residential
(1,152 square meter) apart- building, the Princess Tow-
ment in the Marina was put er, which reaches 1,355