Cityscapes are where we glimpse the future, but in miniature.
Billions of dirhams are pledged on basis of gleaming models, over which investors tower like the hero of Gulliver’s Travels.
It is a business model which has served the UAE well, turning cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi in architectural marvels as well as powerhouses of economic growth.
Cityscape Global 2017 in Dubai promises more of the same.
The star of the first day was clearly District One Residences, the third phase of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, with apartments featuring waterfront views and the chance to go kayaking in the heart of Dubai, at least according to the artist’s impression.
Among those inspecting the project on the opening morning was Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Once completed the 48 million square foot MBR City will offer the: “world's tallest residential tower, the tallest observation deck, the longest indoor ski slope and the largest dancing fountain as well as the newly launched Meydan One Mall.
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Read more:
Cityscape Global 2017: New property projects on display in Dubai - in pictures
Cityscape Global 2017: Sheikh Hamdan inspects scale models of future UAE projects
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Also due to be unveiled is District 2020, the legacy of Expo 2020, which will reimagine the exhibition site as a mix of commercial and residential projects, with a conference and exhibition centre.
This is the 16th Cityscape Global, with around 300 exhibitors from the UAE and 30 countries.
In Abu Dhabi, Japan’s Nikken Sekkei and the UAE’s National Bonds Corporation have unveiled the 44-story “super luxury” Reem Tower, at the Reem Island’s Marina Square.
According to Nikken’s region director, Dr Fadi Jabri, it will be: “A luxury iconic tower in an iconic area of Abu Dhabi.”
Residents can expect an infinity pool, jacuzzis, a fully equipped gym and a “yoga lawn.”
Also in the capital, Aldar will be promoting its Water’s Edge development of 2,255 homes on Yas, a decade after the island made its debut at Cityscape in 2007.
Nakheel is promoting its 180 metre Palm Beach Residences on the Palm Jumeirah, complete with a 38th floor sky lounge with views over the Arabian Gulf.
Cityscape is also nothing without its more exotic projects, the equivalent of its fringe festival. The Kleindienst Group, proud owners of six islands on The World and developers of The Floating Seahorse villas, has this year gone one step further with The Floating Venice.
Billed as: “The world’s first five-star floating destination, bringing the charm, serenity and culture of Venice to the tranquil shores of Dubai,” it will include real gondolas imported from Italy for the 3,000 guests.
This version of La Serenissima will also feature an entire floor under the water – something that the real Venice has spent the last 40 years and seven billion US dollars trying to avoid.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
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The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
