We heard you loud and clear(UAE poll of business its not pretty)

thanks for the ping,
this port deal really was a PR fiasco, in that most Americans just haven't been brought up to speed, on what the UAE is really like.

I myself was of the impression that it was fairly similar to Saudi Arabia, in regards to being a very strict Islamic state, practiced religious intolerance, etc.

In reality, I now understand the UAE is far more open and tolerant of westerners, non-muslims, womens freedoms, free speech, etc, etc.... I understand you've worked there. Would you say that is a correct assessment of the UAE?

A lot of people use the terms UAE and Dubai interchangeably. That's like using the terms Las Vegas and America interchangeably. I've been to Dubai. Dubai is one of the Emirates of the United Arab Emirates, so I have been to the UAE even though I never got out of Dubai. I don't know much about the other Emirates. I hear Sharjah is much more conservative than Dubai. I have never been to Saudi Arabia, but so far as I know Dubai has no Religious Police or militant imams in positions of power.

The business of Dubai is business. They're much more interested in your money than your religion. They set out years ago to become the Disneyland of the Persian Gulf and they're pretty close. They make a lot of money providing rich Muslims with services they can't get in their own countries. They're pretty tolerant, especially compared to all the neighboring countries.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sheik Mo transitions from monarch to Chairman of the Board of Dubai, Inc. It still won't be a Jacksonian republic, but it won't be medieval, either.

>"A lot of people use the terms UAE and Dubai interchangeably. That's like using the terms Las Vegas and America interchangeably."<

So...Dubai is Like Vegas? ;^)

Just kidding, I get your point.

>"I wouldn't be surprised if Sheik Mo transitions from monarch to Chairman of the Board of Dubai, Inc."<

It appears he does indeed:
http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/english/biography/crown.asp

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