joshedwards.com » Dubai

Ramadan Waste in Dubai

Josh — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:49:59 +0000

It’s a little weird that the Jerusalem Post - an Israeli paper – is taking umbrage with the most holy of Muslim holidays, but it raises a fair point, so I’ll allow it: “Ramadan in Dubai: a month of soaring food waste?”

Despite the hours of preparation put into the often vast displays of food, waiters at top hotels in Dubai say much of the food left over goes straight into the waste bins.

The amount of food thrown out in the emirate jumps considerably in the holy month – by as much as 20 percent according to Dubai Municipality, with most of the waste comprising rice and non-vegetable foods.

Around 1,850 tons of food were thrown out on average per day during Ramadan in 2010, roughly 20 percent of total waste in the emirate during the holy month, it said.

Dubai wasteful? Huh.

Stinky Dubai?

Josh — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:22:26 +0000

Ugh. I feel that I can smell this from here, “Trouble in paradise as plumbing problems hit Dubai’s Palm island“.

Glad I don’t live on the Palm Jumeirah …

Mission: Impossible 4 in Dubai

Josh — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:49:25 +0000

I called it back in December of 2006 that either James Bond #22 or #23 or Mission: Impossible 4 would take place in part in Dubai (see James Bond in Dubai).

Today the trailer for the latter was released, and here’s Tom Cruise base-jumping from the Burj Khalifa:

DXB to BGW

Josh — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:00:18 +0000

Wow, this seems … wow.

“Dubai’s Emirates announces new Iraq route, says flights to Baghdad to start in November.”

As in Baghdad International Airport, formerly Saddam International Airport.

Vanity Fair on Dubai

Josh — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:00:19 +0000

I haven’t read the whole article yet, but check out this Vanity Fair piece on Dubai: “Dubai on Empty“.

It seems a bit racist at points (going “head towel in hand” to get a loan from Abu Dhabi? Really?!) But probably most of it will make all-too-much sense to me …

Dubai Apocalyptic Billboards

Josh — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:00:19 +0000

Interesting Gulf News article from the other day: “‘End of days’ billboards in Dubai to be removed, says official.”

Apparently some wacko church in the US is putting billboards up in Dubai that says the world is ending.

On May 21.

Wow, that’s soon.

Empty Two-Fifths

Josh — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:13:14 +0000

I just saw a Bloomberg article has a fun fact about Dubai:

In the next two years, tens of thousands of new properties will come onto a market where about 40 percent of homes and offices are empty.

For more, check out: “Dubai Can’t Break Building Addiction With Glut of Properties Still Growing“.

Dunk in Dubai

Josh — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:01:11 +0000

Part of me thinks that it’s funny that there are 61 Dunkin Donuts locations in the UAE and none in Los Angeles.

Apparently a new one just opened at Uptown Motor City in Dubai: “Dunkin’ Donuts opens new Dubai outlet“.

Tiger Chokes and Spits

Josh — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:43:49 +0000

Oh Tiger!

Did you see this from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic over the weekend? “Tiger Woods may face censure from European Tour for spitting on 12th green“.

How far you’ve fallen …

The Tiger Woods Dubai Update

Josh — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:00:05 +0000

Not much more to this story than the title: “Tiger Woods’ Dubai golf course development officially halted“.

I’m kind of surprised it took them this long …