Mariah Carey coming to Dubai....and Fergie

Akon was just out here 2 weeks ago, Now Mariah is coming and Fergie the Day after that in May. Universal seems to be sending their artists out here for BIG money. I wouldn't mind seeing Mariah Carey live but I know the ticket prices are going to be ridiculous.
Mariah Carey and Fergie coming to Dubai

Sea World Dubai

This is old news but I thought I would post it anyway. This press conference was aired globally and also on Nakheel's website live. They are re-shaping the crown island of the Palm Jebel Ali in the shape of Shamu?!?! That's crazy!
Sea World Building Parks in Dubai - Central Florida News 13
That's an article from back home on the expansion of Sea World to Dubai.

The whole MGM Mirage / Dubai World deal

Nine banks arranging $5bn Dubai World loan

Well not the whole deal. But this talks about how the loan is being originated. All my friends in the lending industry might appreciate this. Short article, plus I had to post it because it has to do with back home!

Credit crisis in the US cautions Dubai World

Subprime crisis slowing investment - Dubai World

This article struck me for two reasons.
1) You get an understanding on how bad the subprime crisis has affected the world, not just the US. What happens in the United States affects the entire globe and all the economic markets tied to them globally.
2) The amount of money Dubai World has is ridiculous. It's just stupid. More importantly you get an understanding that Dubai is not making billions from oil alone. They are smart business people and capitalize on foreign investments. When huge conglomerate company's need to liquidize their assets in order to raise capital during troubled times, someone bails them out. In the US, its the Fed. Globally, sovereign wealth funds like those in Abu Dhabi and through company's like Dubai World do the job for them. In turn they receive huge stakes in the company.
This is a really good article for those in the lending industry back home just like I was.

The historic Louvre is getting a second home in Abu Dhabi

For those of you who are history and art buffs you should know all about the Louvre. Even if you're a big reader or movie person you may remember Louvre from The Da Vinci Code.
This museum holds some of the worlds most precious works of art from every notable artist all over the globe. Now their will be one in Abu Dhabi as well. The French Ministry has partnered with the Sheik in Abu Dhabi to build the saucer-like Louvre in Abu Dhabi and they will rotate 200-3oo in the museum in Down Town Abu Dhabi. Plans for the project predict completion on 2012.

Basketball in the Desert

The gulf is amazing! At 6 a.m. I walk outside to the beach with my iPod in hand ready to start my workout and I had to stop at the water for some time just to take it all in. I could see schools of little fish along the crystal clear waters and larger ones just a few feet in to the ocean. I could get use to waking up that every morning. What will take some getting use to is running in the sand for cardio. At least the scenery is nice, otherwise I would dread waking up early everyday to run for no reason haha.
The rest of the day we were playing phone tag with a Nakheel and Emaar rep. We had an appointment with him for some new projects that are being released in the near future. Unfortunately he hadn't returned from a property trade show in Russia until 11 p.m. I also had a change to meet with one of the investors we have partnered up with here in Dubai. He's helped us get some great deals on Al Ghadeer Villas. He's quite a shy person but he has powerful ties with some Sheiks in Ajman.
The rest of the day revolved around unpacking all my bags and setting up my room. Also, we got to play basketball at Al Safa Park. Hazik, Faraz, Tamer, Qais, Brandon...that's right, I'm still playing so sharpen your game up! haha But I don't know how I'm going to get better playing with the scrubs out here. They had their own rules on what a travel is and apparently if you start breathing to hard while they have possession of the ball, it's a foul. GAY! haha It's okay, we got use to it though. Shan and I won every game. It was a slaughter.
When we were done playing I started talking to these guys, telling them I was new to Dubai and why I moved here from the US. I felt it was a good opportunity to network with some locals. They were all from Lebanon and have moved here in the last few years for work. One of them works in the Marketing and Research industry for one of Sheik Mohammad's companies. He has a few friends he said he would introduce me to who are General Managers of two large Real Estate companies here in Dubai. Now I'm arranging a meeting with these gentlemen to expand our portfolio of investments that we are offering to our foreign investors.
That was pretty much the day...I missed a few calls last night and early this morning because I was so exhausted from the day. I'll be sure to call you guys back. Today's a big day - pray for me!

Dubai developer Emaar developing city's in Saudi

Emaar is one of the best developers in Dubai. They have expanded there operation in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, and now Saudi Arabia. Analysts predict that Saudi Arabia will have a surge in their real estate market which will in turn attract foreign investors on to Saudi soil. Supply and demand for crude oil continues to grow and the Gulf Coast Countries will see there overall infrastructures growth parallel this trend until the market, local and foreign, start to level out. Saudi of all places? I was thinking the same thing until I started reading up on it...
If they build it - they will come.
Emaar awards $1.4 billion Saudi Riyadh to Saudi Bin Laden Group for the construction of 16 residential towers...

A new number for you to call me at...

So today I signed up a local Vegas number for everyone to contact me at. I save money on calls here and everyone back home (my family especially, because all you lame asses in Vegas don't got love for your boy, except Umar and Tamer because they are texting me) can save money on long distance, calling cards, and save their roll over minutes for next month! The number is through Yahoo! and the only catch is that I have to be signed in to Yahoo! Messenger all the time and I have to be connected to the internet to send and receive calls. Basically, it's a PC-to-Phone system. If you call me and the call goes straight to voicemail it's because I have to wireless reception or I'm not signed into Yahoo! Okay, so that's the deal...don't be scared, holla at ya boy!
Local Vegas number:
1 (702) 425 1749
Dubai mobile number:
+971 50 714 4056

Forbes.com even says Dubai is the new Vegas!!!

So here's another interesting article: Dubai's Vegas Game Plan

You should definitely read this article if your interested in what all the buzz is about local and foreign investments in Dubai. This article explores the nostalgia of Dubai that many in the eastern hemisphere have already known. Dubai is somewhat of a forbidden fruit that the Gulf Coast Countries are tasting and tantalizing over for their success is luring foreign markets into theirs, whether through free trade and business or through its prime location in the Middle East. Light Group has partnered with them, as did MGM Mirage and City Center. Their sovereign wealth fund is financing failed projects in other countries and luring businesses to their haven of sales tax free, corporate tax free, capital gains tax free, money making Mecca!
If this article doesn't inform you enough then all I have to say is COME VISIT NOW!

Abu Dhabi's 5 year plan on expansion, tourism and overall infrastructure growth

Anyone interested in what the hell I'm doing in the Middle East and why I left my comfort zone behind in Vegas? This article details a small picture of what's happening in this region and how they are responding to the world's interests. I talked about this while I was in Vegas and here is some more info for my friends that are interested.

Abu Dhabi five-year plan to underpin real estate market confidence

This is something I will be doing often, to inform everyone about the market out here and share information about what's happening in the UAE and Gulf Coast Countries. Expect an article a day...

Arab Drivers...worse then Cali drivers by far!

So I'm still adjusting to the time here but after today I think I will be good. I woke up around 2 because we had to some appointments to attend to and some projects to research. The traffic sucks in Dubai between the busy hours. I mean it really sucks. Worse then Vegas, just as bad as LA bumper to bumper, but with worse drivers. Everyone is cutting everyone else off and 1 lane exits turn to 3 lane mergers. It's pretty bad. Reminds me of Pakistan, but just less Pakistani's and more Range Rovers haha.
This pic is from my last trip when we stayed in Burj Dubai Downtown. That's the Old Town District. Today we had lunch and shisha there at some Lebanese restaurant called Mezza House. I had a chicken tawouk sandwich. Not bad...Anyways the day ended with us talking to some people, running to the mall.
Hazik! I got a basketball and we found a couple of courts here to play at, indoor and outdoor as well. So I'm gunna stay on top of my game. Anyways, tomorrow is the start of my workout schedule. Starting with the first week of cardio, running on the beach every morning around Fajr time. I have this beautiful apartment on the beach and I need to make the best of it. I already got some sleep for today, but it's 5 a.m. and we have some more meetings in the morning to attend to. I need to get some more rest. I hope everything is good in Vegas, I miss the family and especially Aziz.

Homecoming...

Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Cause I’m coming home again
Comin home again. - Kanye West, Homecoming

So I landed in Dubai after a 22 1/2 hour flight from Los Angeles to New York, then New York to Dubai. Both flights were filled to capacity which sucked for me because I had no room to stretch out. I slept for most of the flight, except for when the children on the flight battled to see who could cry louder then the other. Also, I watched two movies on the plane, which is great because I never get to watch movies anymore. The Simpsons and Juno, the latter being a great movie (you're always right when it comes to movies Umar!).

Flying in at night was especially beautiful because it was a clear night and the city was sparkling in silver and bronze glow. Shan picked me up and we went straight to my new apartment at the Shoreline Apartments on The Palm Jumeirah. The apartment is big with a great view of the ocean. I dropped off my luggage first, then we went to find a bite to eat, got lost, ate, and then came back home in that order haha. Shan and I talked business for some time, I checked my e-mail and called my family and started unpacking.

It's 6 a.m. in Dubai right now, I think anyway, which makes it 5 p.m. in Vegas, I think? Anyway I couldn't sleep, and Ali gave me this great idea about blogging my trip while I'm out here for the next 3-12 months. I was complaining about how all you guys in Vegas are losers because you won't call or e-mail me so he threw this idea out there and I think its great. All of you back in Vegas still suck though! haha...

About the blog - I'll be updating this thing regularly, and all of you can join it - which takes two minutes (just do it and don't be a lazy ass) and you can leave comments here instead of me writing the same thing over and over again to everyone over e-mail. So that's it...

The suns coming up now and I should try and get some rest before the work day starts (Sunday is like Monday in Vegas, Saturday is the last day of the weekend here).

Don't be gay and not keep in touch... haha bye