United Arab Emirates Going Green?

The World Islands . 300 artificially created islands in the shape of the world. Each island will have an estimated cost of $25-30 million.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have made a LOT of money off of the sales of crude oil. The desert country (the western boundary is so desert the boundary remains undetermined even today) has decided to use its wealth to become the biggest and best of everything. Dubai has made many headlines with its over the top construction projects including artificial islands (as seen above and below) that represent palms and a map of the world.

This is Dubai, a city-state that has been on a rampage to make the biggest everything in the world, the biggest artificial islands (that is a one of their "palm islands" housing thousands of millionaire homes), largest indoor ski mountain, largest amusement park, largest shopping mall, highest building etc. etc.

Not to be outdone by Dubai, Abu Dubai (pop. 1.8 million) has decided to build a $15 billion development, Masdar City - the greenist outpost on the planet. The new city is advertised as the first totally sustainable city–a car-free, zero-carbon, no waste development running on alternative energy. They are building it because as the CEO of the development, Sultan al Jaber says, "because we can, and because we should."

The United Arab Emirates is located at the entrance of the Persian Gulf to the south of Iran. The federation is formed from 7 Arab Sheikdoms that are city-states. The country is one of the wealthiest in the world and has been cited repeatedly for human rights abuses and discrimination.

What are your thoughts on the development in the Arab states?

• Is building a green city the best way to spend their money?
  
• What are your thoughts of building artificial islands in the Gulf?
• Should the US follow suit and build in our gulf?
  
• Is building a green city (built on oil money) in the middle of a desert the future?
  
• Should Houston be doing the same?