Is Dubai getting a little too predictable in its quest to be city with the most bragging rights?

Jaunted thinks so. It greets Dubai's latest accomplishment with a big yawn.

Dubai recently announced that it is building the world's biggest LED screen, which is being designed to cover one side of a 33-story building. No word, however, on when it will be unveiled or how much this pointless undertaking is going to cost.

A firm named Dactronics is behind the screen, and is reportedly designing it so that light will still be able to penetrate that side of the building.

So, the screen will take its place in Dubai next to the world's tallest building (whenever that is completed), the world's most expensive hotel, the world's only man-made archipelago, the world's...

Just read an interesting dispatch from Britain's The Observer on the recent jailings of expats in Dubai. We've covered Poppy-gate and other unfortunate brushes with the law in Dubai, but this article really gives you a clear picture of the two worlds in this emirate: the intolerant Islamic society backed by Sharia law and the Wild West of Britain (and plenty of other nations looking to capitalize on the Middle East).

Surprisingly, what many of us do not hear about are the quintessential subdivisions and shopping malls that seem to be lifted straight out of Middle America. Granted, there are plenty of weird and awesome hotels down the block. I've been thinking about moving to Dubai for a year or two--seems like a good jumping off point to the Middle East--but given the unfortunate legal tangles recently, maybe I should reconsider?

Other than my occasional rant here at Gadling, we almost always talk about Dubai's mind-blowing developments. As much as I think that Dubai's growth, development, and all-round vision is extraordinary, I can't help but wonder: how, in this extended planning phase, authorities forgot to include the development of public transport.

Other than a poor bus system, the 2.2 million residents of Dubai depend on their cars and taxis to get from one point to another. The result? Dreadful and excruciating traffic jams at peak hours.

Dubai has already begun constructing a fully-automated under-and-above ground metro system (which at the moment has worsened the traffic situation because of the dug-up roads), but until then, their solution to the horrendous traffic problem is the addition of automatic toll gates (called Salik) on main roads across the city, that charge $1.10 (Dhs.4) every time you drive through them. This system started last year, and this month, phase two of the Salik system has begun. The hope is that this will reduce the traffic on certain roads at certain times, but this picture shows what is happening instead.*New addition: Seems like this is actually Moscow, not Dubai, as pointed out by nzm in the comments. Oops. However, this could totally be Dubai, as also pointed out by nzm.)


Yes, yikes.

Along with the increased cost of living in Dubai, Salik will certainly be pinching many pockets, however, the long term plan makes sense. The way the system works, you can be charged up to $6.5 (Dhs.24) a day passing through these gates. This way, the Dubai RTA plans to generate about $11 billion over a 3 year period, with which 500km of roads will be constructed, and traffic will flow freely again. I really, really hope so, especially because I might be moving back there soon.

[Thanks to BuJassem at UAE Community blog for the picture]

If you've been following the construction of the Burj skyscraper in Dubai, things are coming to a head pretty quick. Many of the lower floors are now complete with glass detailing, while floors on the top seem to keep appearing. I say "keep appearing" because nobody really knows how tall the building will eventually be, nor what the developers have in mind.

What we do know is that the building recently passed the height of the KVLY tower in North Dakota, the tallest (albeit least exciting) free stranding structure in North America, and is currently rocking about 694 meters, or about a half mile, tall.

Who knows how long the Burj will keep its record for the world's tallest building; there are already several planned structures in the middle east that would compete in height with this building, including the "Mile High Tower" planned in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Over at Burjdubaiskyscraper.com, our friends have put together a pretty comprehensive media site detailing the construction of the behemoth, including a wealth of interesting photos. Check out Gadling's gallery of the Burj as well as interesting trivia at Burjdubaiskyscraper.

Last week, I wrote about the soon-to-be world's tallest skyscraper, being built in the heart of Dubai. Here's another outrageous sight. This used to be the helipad at the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel, temporarily converted into a tennis court for an exhibition match between Agassi and Federer.

"I have been in Dubai many times and have stayed at Burj Al Arab before, but this was an absolute treat," said Roger Federer of Switzerland. "To play tennis with Andre on top of such an amazing hotel and overlooking the whole of Dubai was absolutely spectacular."

The court is some 200 meters off the ground and covers 400 square meters, or about 8 times the size of my apartment in New York.

That's tall, isn't it? Though Dubai might not be high up on your vacation list, as we've frequently posted about various unfortunate mishaps travelers have gotten themselves in over there (mostly at the airport and involving poppy-seeded bagels), I think it might be worth it to jet over there once the Burj Dubai opens.

It'll be hands-down the world's tallest skyscraper. Here's a multimedia introduction to the place. First, a cool video with unique footage from the top.

Now, some unbelievable photos here, here, and here. My favorite is this one that seems almost CGI.

[Image courtesy Burj Dubai Skyscaper]

Besides being a destination for people who like designer boutiques, tall buildings and overpriced restaurants, Dubai is on its way to becoming the best place in the world to find the perfect spa experience. The spa industry is growing by nearly 20% per year. By 2010, it is projected that Dubai will surpass other destinations with a total of 15 million visitors at its spas.

Everyone (including former Mrs. Kid Rock Pamela Anderson) is trying to get in on the hotel boom that the emirate is currently experiencing. And what's a luxury hotel without a spa? Themed spas are virtually required for any glitzy new inn.

Yes, Dubai is theme-happy. They have built housing developments that resemble palm trees and world maps. Spas are not immune from this fad. A few examples: The Ritz-Carlton's Balinese spa, Shangri-La's Chinese themed Spa, an the Indian spa at the Taj Palace.

Dubai has a leg up on, say, Scottsdale, in terms of luxury. But that is probably because it has to. The whole emirate is a luxurious version of an adult DisneyWorld, complete with Formula One racing and shopping malls.

Would people still be flocking to Dubai if it didn't have all those over-the-top elements?

Formula One, the world's tallest building, the most luxurious hotel on the globe, a housing development that is built to resemble a miniature world. Dubai has made a name for itself with its larger than life constructions, impressive spectacles, and over-the-top luxury offerings.

It seems only natural, then, that the major players in other urban areas would want to try their hand in Dubai. London super-cool eatery The Ivy, a fave of movie stars and other paparazzi targets, is going international by opening a location in the glamorous gulf city.

The competition will be quite stiff, however. Because of its status as both a business and leisure destination, numerous restaurateurs have joined the fray, making Dubai one of top culinary destinations in the world.

Celeb chef Gordan Ramsey, when he isn't cussing at would-be chefs on reality TV, is overseeing a restaurant at Dubai's Hilton. And there are many others, more than a few who have earned the coveted Michelin star given to fine dining's finest.

Any newcomers are going to find the competition top notch.

Will Dubai's restaurant scene ever reach its limits? Perhaps, but The Ivy and its peers are sprinting to make into into the world's new capital of fine dining before that happens.

Source

Interesting idea, but it honestly doesn't make much sense to me.

Emirates has made a decision to get rid of all paper from the seat pockets on its new Airbus A380. Why? The Economist reports that they're trying to save weight and, hence, fuel.

Don't get me wrong. I think throwing out those silly in-flight magazines is a grand idea. However, can you seriously save significant weight by removing, say, 1000 magazines? Let's say it's the same weight as one passenger (after dinner.)

Does that really make a big difference?

The Economist writes that removing 2kg of paper from each of the 500 seats shaves a tonne off the plane's flying weight. What do they mean by "2 kilos" of magazines, exactly? That's 4 pounds. Maybe I'm missing something here, but I have never been on a flight where you find 4 lbs of reading material in the seat pocket in front of you.

What does Emirates provide for the reading pleasure of their customers? Bridal magazines?

It's not very often that we Americans are privy to a taste of the Airbus A380, the new supermega jumbo jet that took to the skies last year.

Singapore Airlines was the first customer of the aircraft and though they took a quick zip around the United States, as our friend Mr. Cranky talked about last year, most folks have barely seen or heard much about the aircraft -- after all, none of Singapore's A380 flights regularly touch American soil.

Emirates, Dubai's glorious national carrier, however, has more appeasing plans. Starting later this summer, the airline is opening flights on the A380 between New York's JFK and Dubai, while routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco are planned for later in the year.

The airline plans to kick off its festivities with an inaugural flight reception at JFK on August 1st, where the media will be treated to inbound airport goodies from tarmac access to interviews with Emirates' staff and general merriment. Then, the aircraft flies cross country to California where two "acquaintance" flights are scheduled for the media and other interested parties. Too bad that's on the wrong coast for me.

If you've got any friends in the media world, now might be a good time to cash in your chips for a ride on the A380 -- otherwise you're going to have to wait to fly revenue. Last time I checked, those flights were going for about two grand.

Stay tuned for pictures and coverage from the Emirates reception.