A pile of petro-dollars and arrogant pride. Great combination 
Just to clarify Dubai has very little Petro dollars that is why Abu Dhabi is the capital because it has all the money.
They’re definitely not short of a bob or two. So invested petro-dollars and arrogant pride….
Not their own Petro Dollars. Ever.
They just take everyone else’s
Errrm go back about 60 years to when oil revenues allowed Dubai to grow from a fishing village - oil money was well invested and allowed a diversified economy to develop.
So go back 68 years and steroetype the UK economy.
Dubai was built on debt - borrowed money. 1st to dredge the Creek then to build Port Rashid , then to build Jebel Ali, then the Burj al Arab (which will never earn enough to repay the debt in Western Terms)
In the day thar decision caused dissent between the tribes/familes which has discriminated against certain local family lines to this day.
I know you’ve a soft spot for the region Phil but what has that got to do with the point that oil was originally involved and allowed the diversification that those more oil-rich neighbours didn’t take at the time?
Less impact than 40 years of Petro Dollars from the North Sea.
Dubai was built on trade BECAUSE it did not have enough Oil, I have no soft spot for them, I just read my history of the region and needed it at Corporate level.
Dubai borrowed money to create a safe harbour on the coast which did not exist on that coast line - The Creek
It provided safe harbour for the Dhows that traded with other Gulf States, Iran and Sout West Asia.
Once the work was completed they borrowed more money, then did it again and again and again.
Dubai was not built on Petro Dollars it was built on Debt and while some of the interest payments may have been met by the oil, that debt grew and grew and there are enough articles speculating what happened post 2003.
The Palm - Debt - The High Rises all clad in flammable cladding built for the lowest bid - debt - people flipped bought at launch and ended up with Tower Blocks.
Dubai was built on Debt and the only thing honest people got out of the place was a non lubed inability to sit down on the flight out
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…but you’re not bitter. 
Nope. It gave me everything people dream of doing when they retire before i was too old to enjoy it
It was British Managers & Directors that allowed PWC to oversee a £500m fraud that I blame
But of course I’m not talking more recent history though 
Keir has dropped his pants znd bent over.
Minister wriggles on whether he agrees with Louise Haigh’s call for P&O Ferries boycott
And 2 prominent cabinet members thrown under the bus.
I like the comment Labour’s Schoolboy Policies
Simple for simpletons
I’m sure we’re all for that
Looks like employers NI is going up - given the amount of ministers out and about saying that when they said they wouldn’t put up NI they only meant employees NI
Avoid London in November - tube is going on strike.
Time for Rachel to roll over and get her belly tickled
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For fucksake. 
We’re booked for two nights bang in the middle of November, seeing Penetration in Islington. I suppose it’s going to be pandemonium.
You will be watching in Soho?
And I have to be at St Pancras by 9.30 a.m. for a Eurostar to Rotterdam on the 6th
Fucking knee jerk reaction - “oh, the tubes aren’t working fuck Labour and fuck TFL, yada yada yada”
There are buses, London overground, taxis, e-bikes, e-scoters and heaven forbid making the fucking effort to bloody get off your arse and walk. Too difficult??
It’s only an issue for Daily Fail (or other anti Labour press) readers and anyone who has never lived in London.
People need to grow a pair rather than just kick off because it’s them unions kicking off again
Jeez….