Peruvian Editorial: The Dubai Rental Market

Because I really enjoyed reading this email and to give everyone a better idea of what we are facing in Dubai with the rent market!

So a wise Peruvian once wrote:

Hey yo!

Although it is something nice to put in the headlines for newspaper sales, making new laws does not mean that the landloards are going to follow it. As a believer on the market forces of supply and demand I think that the demand for middle class housing has been increasing way beyond the supply (since all realtor are only focusing on freeholds and luxurious/biggest/largest/deepest/tallest/funkiest projects) - the effect you can perceive it on the prices - and with a law you will not regulate that.

I believe that if realtors don't start giving to the demand (AKA we the analysts cum middle class) what we need, the emirate is going to get screwed. You are going to see that: a) noone is going to live in AED200k / 2 bedroom apartments in the Marina just because Dubai does not have enough people with such high income to live in these luxurious developments (The DAMAC building on which my peruvian friend lives is almost empty), b) expect to have 6 people or more living on a 3 bedroom in the Palms/Marina/luxurios developments (Just like in Bur Dubai or Deira) or c) that the rents will start to decrease (cus they don't have anyone to live there or cus they don't want more than a fix number of people living on them).

You may be thinking that well, companies will have to spend more money on salaries, housing and all that, but they will do it up to the point on which thet will not jeopardize their numbers (or they will just increase the price of their products to offset the increase on the HR expenses with the hit on our pockets) . In some point in time they will say no more, they will not spend more money on employees, people who will not longer enjoy the quality of life they enjoyed will leave and the place will start to receive people who does not care to live in bad conditions

All these will lead to further inflation, moody people, less expats and worst of all the end of the dreamland. Sooner or later the Dubai bubble will be over and we will all be in Shangai enjoying good food, or in Mexico with Margaritas and Pinas coladas.

Keep positive my friends about this stupid housing market. The amount of new houses available in the upcoming months is going to be huge. Maybe rents will decrease, hope is the last thing you loose.

"And that is all I have to say about the war in Vietnam"

Cheers and have a great day

Guillermo "Alan Smith" Grande

Only in Dubai

I can only begin to tell you how absurd and random it is at times living in Dubai. The past 8 months have been quite a reality challenging experience (I've been trying my best to track them in my blog!). Received these pictures and thought they do a pretty good job at depicting Dubai.

Enjoy


So I have never actually seen this, but I do have a friend who went to their bosses house to find tigers wandering around the entry way


It's not even July yet and it's already getting ridiculously hot! For you Americans 45 degrees Celsius is roughly 100+ degrees Fahrenheit


Ski Dubai, the people really do wear their traditional clothing on the slopes!

Cost of Living in Dubai

Got this spam email today, found it funny and so true:

Philosophy and Reality

Philosophical:

Great Emperor Alexander at the time of his death said,
"my last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin -
I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world."

Reality:
Headlines from Gulf News: Schools to raise tuition fees by 20%.
I find a close relation between these two.
Rent increase, Water-Electricity increase, price every commodity increases, now school fees increases... etc, etc.. is proving the theory......
'We came to UAE empty handed and will be going out empty handed....'

The Region

I was reading the Yahoo headline news and came across an article about a recent suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. A line from the article really got me thinking about the potential for more region instability:

Israel's U.N. ambassador, Dan Gillerman, warned that the Hamas government's verbal support for the bombing, as well as recent statements by Iran and Syria, "are clear declarations of war, and I urge each and every one of you to listen carefully and take them at face value." Gillerman said a new "axis of terror" — Iran, Syria and the Hamas government — was sowing the seeds of the first world war of the 21st century.

I can't even imagine living during a century with a world war occuring, and not to mention in my new backyard . . .

Women Power in the Middle East

So last weekend I played in the first Annual Dubai Corporate games which is pretty much one big sports tournament for the various MNCs throughout Dubai. Initially I silently boycotted the event as they only offered a men's soccer tournament but had mixed and women's basketball. Luckily a request was made and I was allowed to participate in the men's tournament.

On the day of the event, I showed up to the pitch ready to warm up and play when our PR lady ran over to me and was like "Alisha, they want to interview you for the Dubai Sports Channel since you are the only woman player." At first I was astonished having played years and years of women's soccer and never it being such an anomaly. So I happily answered such ridiculous questions as "Why are you playing today?" and "How does it feel to play out there with the other men?" The good sport that I am, my responses followed "I want to be a positive role model to the other girls out there who want to play soccer. Back in the states, it's a very popular sport and want others to enjoy the activity as well," or "I'm treated equally among the other players and everything is very fair." True I was playing as a role model, but really I was playing for my own love for the game. Treated equally, yeah right,whenever subs are present, I'm the first pulled out -- and it's not because I'm the weakest link . . .

Anyways, below is the picture of the team in our styling orange shirts. We had one win and one loss (vs. Nokia. OUCH!!). Overall, good fun.

Dubai World Cup

Definitely on of those events you go to just to people watch. It is the Dubai equivalent to the Kentucky Derby; the fancy outfits, money flashing, and top rate horses. Highlights from the event: big hats, my cheasy British accent, bottles of wine, and the drunk dancing on tables at the end of the night.

Raw Meat = Savage or Exquiste Delicacy?

Dinner at a fancy Lebanese restaurant in Northern Lebanon. Conversation between my Lebanese friend and the Lebanese waiter In Arabic and later translated to me.

Waiter: Would you like to order some Sawda Nayeh (raw liver)?

Friend: No Thank you.

Waiter: Really, it's quite nice today and goes well with Arac (type of Alcohol)

Friend: Yes, I know. She just doesn't eat the raw liver.

Waiter: Really? Where is she from?

Friend: She's American.

Waiter: What?! What are you trying to do to our people? (Smile on Face)

Friend: What?

Waiter: Are you trying to make us look like savages? LIke terrorists?



An interesting and laughable experience. Of all the cuisines I've tried in this region so far, the most 'different' item I've had is a Lebanese delicacy which involves a plate of freshly slaughtered meat items, raw and ready to eat. Being the daughter of a microbiologist and growing up hearing the constant stories of food borne illnesses and the horrible bacteria caused digestive sicknesses, I've always had a constant hesitation to try new foods. Meats where always consumed in a well done state and you definitely never drank the water outside the United States.

To further explain this Lebanese dish, it involves many different items:

1. Lahme Nayeh
This translates to raw meat, raw lamb meat to be more specific. To avoid praying to the porcelain goddess later, the raw lamb meat must have been slaughtered early that day and kept at very cold temperatures. The meet is smashed with wooden devices until it reaches a pasty, similar to pate consitancy. It is than consumed with Arab flat bread (which is placed between your fingers to skillfully grab a dab of the gooey pink play dough) , olive oil, and salt and pepper. Taste wise, not much to it, pretty gamey and reminded of the smell of items I'd feed to my dog Snickers back home.

2. Kibbeh Nayeh
Kibbeh nay is similar to lahme nay except they through in some parsley, garlic, and other random seasonings. It was rather tasty, that if I didn't know I was consuming raw lamb, probably wouldn't mind eating it on a regular basis. (I promise this is not being small minded, I have a phobia of food borne illnesses and dirty silverware).

3. Sawda Nayeh
So feeling braver, I took the ultimate, 'would on fear factor during one of those eating challenges', item. Sawda Nayeh = "meat" liver. I have tried to determine what type of animal has sacrificed their liver to me, but I have yet to get a clear confirmation. Anyways, this one is consumed with the Arabic flat bread. A piece of the deep red meat is place in a piece of bread with a fresh mint leaf, white onion chunk, and the best, raw fat (you can see the white blob at the top of the picture?). The package is thrown all at once into your mouth and chewed thoroughly. Hmmm, this one, for all those Anemics out there, if you are looking for alternate options, this will be one that takes an acquired taste. The texture is definitely what got me.



Okay maybe this eating experience wasn't as bizarre as the crickets in Thailand, but up there on the list.

No one can beat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

Having been in Dubai now for 8 months or so (after awhile, you just stop counting), I've realized how much pre-packaged, processed foods Americans eat. As I try to explain to my mix of nationality friends that Kraft Instant Mac and $.025 Top Ramen are fundamental building blocks of a poor college kid's diet, the looks of utter confusion just continues. Or if I attempted to explain to any of my friends back home in Seattle that I have lived without a microwave for 8 months, they'd be expecting a famine struck Alisha to step off the plane.

Having lived both lives though, I can honestly say the preservative, sodium saturated items we Americans eat are definitely contributing to our declining health. Having switched my diet to involve more stoves, cutting, chopping, and 45 minute prep time meals, I do feel healthier, slimmer, and overall well-being complete.

I do still have my cravings for cup o noodles and Kraft macaroni (It tastes like crap here!!), and I've managed to find my fix with Filipino instant soup varieties and random prepackaged, no fridgeration required fried rice (quite a trip, similar taste to soggy oatmeal).



So if you want to send care packages, please include: Easy Mac, Top Ramen, Starburst, and Orbitz Gum.

ME filakia!
AL