Screenshots

The road to Cityscape Dubai was totally paralysed with motorised traffic yesterday.

A day earlier, when I first landed, Dubai Financial Market dropped by 6.86% to close on 3,844.27 points, its lowest finish in about 18 months, vaporising some 75 billion dirhams over one week in the process. It has already dropped 35.2% this year.

Today, capital markets in the Gulf states continue to plunge. Generally, investors here doubt the US$700 billion (Dh2.5 trillion) bailout of the ailing United States banking sector can avert a worldwide recession.

However, despite concerns triggered by the international credit crisis, Cityscape 2008 showcased numerous real estate propositions worth a gross development value (GDV) of US$1 trillion that saw brisk sales. Furthermore, Nakheel Group is touting the 1-kilometre tall building to capture the pinnacle of the world's tallest tower.

Adding to the glitterrati were Michael Schumacher and Shah Rukh Khan who lent their names to celebrity-themed properties in MS World Champion Tower and SRK Boulevard, respectively.

Here are some candid shots I took at the property show.

Staircase to the Moraas Group's pavilion

LensaPress photos by Jeff Ooi

International City & Cleanliness

Tomorrow, October 8, will see the Dubai city kick off a month-long campaign, titled ‘Say Yes to a Clean Naif’, aimed at creating awareness about the unhealthy practices of spitting in public places, littering and drying of clothes in the balconies of buildings.

Apparently, many people chew betel leaves and tobacco products and are prone to spitting recklessly in public. The sale of betel and any of its derivatives is now prohibited and those caught selling such products risk fines up to Dh5,000 (roughly RM4,800.00).

On the other hand, there is no penalty or fine for hanging clothes in the open for now, but municipality rules do stipulate a fine of Dh500 (about RM480.00) for spitting and littering in public.

Do buy Dubai as an international city!