Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success (Christopher M. Davidson, 2008)

[X.]

Been reading this book for a couple of days, but hesitated to post this here for two reasons:

(1) Didn't want to comment on it until I had finished reading it completely; bias and jumping to conclusions must be minimized. There is a zealous desire by people to berate Dubai, which is unfair.

(2) This book was allegedly banned in the UAE. But a recent statement from the National Media Council in Abu Dhabi has finally cleared the book. Now you can also read it, openly.

Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success is written by Dr. Davidson, who lived in the UAE from 2004 to 2006, and taught at Zayed University. From what I have read so far, it is a well-researched, academic yet fascinating and relatively easy-to-read account of the birth of Dubai to its present-day glory.

This is your heads up.

[madali]

Good recommendation.

[X.]

The book traces the history of Dubai from the late 1800s right upto 2008. It is light on frivolous prose and heavy on pseduo- journalistic/academic content, meaning good, crisp stuff, albeit a little dry for the uninitiated. Author Chris Davidson knows what he is talking about, and he makes for a illuminating guide to the politics, culture and economics of the UAE and its most famous city in particular. There are things the book goes into that would not be prudent to discuss on any offline or online public platform, for the good residents of Dubai. An essential read for anyone living and/or working in the Emirates.

For specifics, take it to The Bunker.