Dubai: Let's Talk About Slavery →
Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is revered by Emiratis (residents of the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a member state) as a man of true “vision.” The vision thing was the party line even back when I visited in 2006, and likely before that. His vision is treated as all but oracular when it comes to the proper course for Dubai, the best execution of business, safely navigating the world economy, and the further re-invention and expansion of the emirate at large. At face value, this might seem like demagoguery, but it’s really something different. The reverence for Sheikh Mo is a very 21st-century thing, because it hinges on a meritocratic species of leader-worship. He has undoubtedly accomplished unprecedented things. Dubai’s transformation is often compared to the creation of Las Vegas out of the Nevada desert, but in terms of scale and speed, Dubai makes Vegas look like a village of wooden blocks. It is absolutely undeniable that the sheikh has done stuff.
More completely readable, entertaining stuff from Mohney’s trip to Dubai. Get at it.
