A Visit To Dubai Inc.

Steve Kroft Reports On A Success Story In The Middle East

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Oct. 14, 2007. It was updated on July 30, 2008.

Dubai is a tiny sheikdom nestled along the Persian Gulf on the eastern edge of the Arabian peninsula and part of a tiny, oil-rich country called the United Arab Emirates. Over the course of just a few decades, it has transformed itself from a spit of sand about the size of Rhode Island into the Singapore of the Middle East.

It's a political, economic and financial success story, in a region torn by conflict, and as 60 Minutes first reported last October, it's all the vision of one man, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He rarely gives interviews and but he gave one to correspondent Steve Kroft, along with a tour of his sheikhdom.

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No matter how many articles you read or how many pictures you see, they don't quite capture the enormity and the energy of Dubai. It is a physical manifestation of Arab oil wealth set in concrete, glass and steel, a place so rich and ambitious that is changing the geography of the world as a business center, transportation hub, and tourist destination.

It's a 21st century city at the crossroads of a new world. Skyscrapers rise in clusters, man-made islands rise from the sea, and entire neighborhoods with hundreds of office buildings and apartments that rise from the sand. And it is all Sheikh Mohammed's vision.

One project, called by some the "largest construction site on earth," was just desert several years ago. The site employs half a million laborers, working 12-hour shifts on a reported $300 billion worth of projects, building Sheikh Mohammed's dream of a modern, efficient and tolerant Arab city with fine restaurants, a vibrant nightlife, that is both the playground and business capital of a new Middle East.

"What are you trying to do here? What do you want this place to be?" Kroft asks.

"I want it to be number one. Not in the region, but in the world," Sheikh Mohammed says.

Asked what he means by "number one in the world," Sheikh Mohammed says, "In everything. High education, health, housing. Just making my people the highest way of living."

At 59 years old, he is one of the richest people in the world, a member of the Maktoum family which has ruled here for nearly two centuries. He is a former air force pilot and an avid horseman who competes in cross country endurance races and is one of the largest breeders of thoroughbred race horses in the world.

By Western standards his marital situation is a little complicated. He’s married to Princess Haya, the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, but he also has another wife who is rarely seen in public.

He is frequently described as a workaholic and, as 60 Minutes found one morning, always in motion. The sheikh, who likes to stay on his feet, walks around without a security detail.

He is famous for dropping in unannounced at construction sites and government offices to see how things are going.

He uses his cars as mobile offices, traveling most of the time by himself.

There is a little bit of Donald Trump in him, at least when it comes to showmanship and getting people to come to Dubai. "You know this building up here? This is where we have snow skiing," Sheikh Mohammed points out.

The strange looking building the sheikh had pointed out is the world's tallest indoor ski slope. Outside it may be 120 degrees but inside it feels like the Alps.

There is the Dubai World Cup, showcasing the fastest horses in the world running for the world's richest purse. Not to mention the most luxurious hotel in the world, the Burj al Arab, where the cheapest room is $2,000 a night.

"Why do you want everything to be the biggest, the tallest?" Kroft asks.

"Steve, why not? Why not? If you can have it in New York, why can’t we have it here?" Sheikh Mohammed asks.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Most people would try and do this in a lifetime, not five years," Kroft asks.

"I want my people to live better now. To go to high school now. To go to good health care now. Not after 20 years," the sheikh explains.

[fingerson-2009]

Where are they getting their electricity? Nuclear plants?

[nagma-2009]

Except for a pithy reference to ''building without regulation'' and ''changing of geography,'' you avoided the expose of a gigantic environmental disaster that the planet and world''s people will ultimately have to pay for. The long-term forecast for Dubai society does not look very promising either.

[nagma-2009]

Except for a pithy reference to ''building without regulation'' and ''changing of geography,'' you avoided the expose of an environmental disaster that the planet and world''s people will ultimately have to pay for. The long-term forecast for Dubai society does not look too promising either.

[revcsg]

PLEASE could we not get it right? Burqa is a word used to describe the women''s blue tent like garb (that has a woven net over the eyes)in Afghanistan which is not an Arab country. In the Middle East it is not used. In the Arabian Gulf region including Dubai, Qatar the word most used is Abaya. I have heard the word Burqa used time and time again recently in the States.It is not correct and thus we are embarrassing ourselves by our ignorance certainly in the eyes of others who know better.

[kffinance]

Great sales pitch for Dubai. Mr. Kroft never mentioned that you will not be allowed in Dubai if you have an Israeli stamp in your American passport - traveller beware.....

[xlib]

Oh veteran, no, no, no. See, this is the place that bubba made big, big bucks. See, you''re still buying into that class envy thing. That doesn''t work anymore. Do some research and see just who are the rich scumbags. I do believe there would be many, many dems. Besides, why so jealous??

[bwinski]

It amazes me how Americans (AND Steve Croft) view the rest of the world thru an American-only prism... Americans will see this an say "We''re paying for all of that - let''s drill everywhere we can here". Which is COMPLETELY not the right message of "Were running out of Oil, we have to think about what we will need as a country in 20-50 years"...VERY different perspectives.

We are such small minded people...Limited perspective will be our undoing.

But with the chimpy/darth media filter running rampant in this story, NO ONE will get the correct message...

[bwinski]

It amazes me how Americans (AND Steve Croft) view the rest of the world thru an American-only prism... Americans will see this an say "We''re paying for all of that - let''s drill everywhere we can here". Which is COMPLETELY not the right message of "Were running out of Oil, we have to think about what we will need as a country in 20-50 years"...VERY different perspectives.

We are such small minded people...Limited perspective will be our undoing.

But with the chimpy/darth media filter running rampant in this story, NO ONE will get the correct message...

[trader1999]

I liked Steve Kroft''s report, though in this rerun, it appears that it was not updated from the first run. Along with the images from the piece, another stands out in my mind: that from CNBC (I believe) in the last 30 days of 200 tanker trucks which each day haul sewage away from the new development because the existing 30 year old treatment plant is inadequate to handle the new offices and condos. But, along with Steve, I guess all those condo-buyers spent more time in the penthouses and boardrooms and not much time underground exploring the more mundane aspects of the country. Had they done so, I rather believe those condos might have come off their $5M price tags. Furthermore, if I were considering some involvement with this development, it would give me pause to consider how such an integral part of any building or city in the world got such short shrift in Dubai. But then, I do not believe they provide sewage systems on Hollywood movie sets either.

[tnollc]

It is disappointing that 60''s Steve Kroft did not discuss with Sheikh Mohammed his education program for his subjects. This program has resulted in his subjects running the country and not the foreign nationals...i.e..like in Saudi Arabia

[loushor]

To Steve Croft:

You did not tell the whole story about Dubai !

Within 5 years they will have the busiest airport in the world. More takeoffs and landings than O''Hare or Atlanta, or any other place in the world. Perhaps a little more than five years to reach the goal.

To accommodate the entire number of visitors going to where there is everything in one place, not necessary to go to the beach or mountains or to a shopping center: They will get it all in Dubai. Expensive, but for people with the ability to go where they want, this will be the ultimate destination. Look for that to happen sooner than later.

LOUSHOR

[inventagod]

Oh -
Thought this was a discussion board about Bu$hCo...
Sorry.

[ladyjaneg]

Yay Dubai!! Good for you! :D

[hypnotoad72]

"Why are you in such a hurry? Most people would try and do this in a lifetime, not five years," Kroft asks.

"I want my people to live better now. To go to high school now. To go to good health care now. Not after 20 years," the sheikh explains.
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Everyone in the world wants that.

America is currently helping them and every other country develop. Right now, at the cost of its own.

I look forward to the day we can rebuild America and continue down a truly globalized society where we all prosper.

[cbs_oliver]

The fairy land image and gushing praise featured in this story reminds me alot of a story I read when I was younger - it was in Life Magazine, beautifully illustrated, about the Shah of Iran.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Somewhere in there is a creature as dark as Darth Vader." Posted by rudy654

Or, as he is known in America, VP Di*k Cheney.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by mbburch06

"Once they arrived in the new country, they were priced and sold, and their documents taken away. The young women told me they were forced to service mechanics, soldiers, priests, butchers, tourists, and even U.N. personnel who were supposed to protect them...

(You can hear Vika''s story in the FlashPoint slideshow, Moldova: The Price of ***.) She told me she had been trafficked to Dubai, at times serving 30 clients a day. She quickly learned the only English words necessary to keep her owner from hitting her: "How much?" and "With or without plastic?" Once, without plastic, her luck ran out and she got pregnant. It didn''t matter. Her pimp kept her working for the duration of her pregnancy."

Some job mbburch06, let us hope your daughter gets one of these jobs.

[brianbwb-2009]

Didn''t get to stop by the new Halliburton headquarters, eh?

[rudy654-2009]

Dubai makes me think of something so bizarre and strange, like that of the Empire in the Star Wars movie series. Somewhere in there is a creature as dark as Darth Vader. The buildings are not anything real (not like the art of ancient cities), but just false corporate communities, with an emphasis on greed and debauchery, the hypocrisy of Islam and Christianity.

[neobrian-2009]

How they can EXPLOIT all those people who labored in that Extreme heat to build such structures so Quickly!"
====================
YES SO TRUE !!! YES SO TRUE !
Workers from Southeast Asia brought there with promises,...for $ 4 an hour,..more than they can make at home,...They put them in camps,...They CAN`T QUIT,,...They Can`t go home,...I`ve seen this kind thing First hand !!
YOU BIGOTS Go To Faux Noise !
You Scumbugs ARE the Filth of this nation !!!!!
If You had Your way,..Everybody would work for nothing,...GET a Clue !! YOU HAVE NO IDEA !!
You live in Fantasy world where You believe all the lies You are Told by YOUR KING,...Go listen to Rush,..Get Your Brains washed some more by the Shrubbie-scrubbing s,..
YES,..These workers Have Been EXPLOITED,..not all,..They Have Only the law of the RICH,The Corrupt,The Greedy,.....Just Like The GOP would Love to enjoy here,..BUT,THIS ELECTION WILL ERADICATE the GOP Stranglehold on Our Once Proud Nation !
Shrubbies,..Crawl back into Your Holes,..You ARE The Lowest forms of Life,..Amoebas,Slimy,Greedy,Liars