Balancing global economy and local culture

Dubai, one of the emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, is located on the Persian Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is roughly the same size as Saitama Prefecture. In the mid-19th century, it became a British protectorate and prospered as a transit point for the East India Company. Since the UAE was formed in 1971, it has promoted industrial diversification to move away from an oil-dependent economy and has encouraged the entry of foreign companies and capital through special economic zones. With a 16% economic growth rate in 2006, it boasts the highest prosperity in the Middle East. Currently underway and planned urban development projects include a plethora of avant-garde projects by renowned Architectural Design such as Zaha Hadid and SOM, including a villa development on an artificial island featuring palm trees and a world map, the world's largest shopping center, the "Dancing Towers" that resemble dancing figures, and the "Infinity" skyscraper with a 90-degree twisted tower.

However, during this visit, I had some doubts about this development. One of them is the speed of development, which is too fast. Currently, Dubai has almost no public transportation, and traffic congestion is a chronic problem. I heard that a rail network will be developed in the future, but the development of housing, office buildings, commercial facilities, etc. takes precedence over infrastructure, and these are sold as financial products before construction. In addition, the quality of the individual buildings that are completed does not seem to be good at all. This clearly shows that the city is being driven by investments from all over the world in hopes of high oil prices and profits, but the same phenomenon is occurring as in Shanghai, where prices of high-rise apartment buildings are skyrocketing and being bought and sold at a rapid rate, leaving many residents uninhabited.

There's nothing wrong with architecture being an investment target. It's a very good thing that real estate values increase through environmental improvements and social recognition. However, Dubai's current urban development has left environmental improvements such as infrastructure behind, and there is little sense of people actually living there. Furthermore, the city is highly dependent on foreigners for construction-related work, including Architectural Design, construction engineers, and laborers. I've heard that 80-90% of the population is foreign, and 60% of those are low-wage migrant workers from South Asia, particularly India. This raises the question of who this urban development is for.

Compared to these new urban developments, old towns such as Bastakia have spaces that retain their charm, such as old buildings that are steeped in the unique lifestyle of a hot region. The alleys lined with retail stores selling spices, fabrics, gold and silver goods, are full of exotic charm and are very attractive.

With the globalization of the economy, homogenous urban development is sweeping the world. If the balance between the global economy and local culture is not achieved, the same cities will be created everywhere. Lands that have lost their history and culture will lose their original appeal that attracts people. Furthermore, in this day and age when we must consider global environmental measures, there can be no sustainable development for the future if we simply build the tallest and largest buildings in the world. I hope that Dubai will aim to create a city where people from all over the world can visit, experience history and culture, and interact with each other, even after the oil runs out.