At 2,716 feet high, the Burj Khalifa (nee Burj Dubai, translating literally to “Khalifa Tower,” for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, the UAE president) is the world’s tallest building and was officially opened today, sporting the world’s tallest mosque and a swimming pool on the 158th floor. Sure, the 49 floors of office space and 1,044 apartments are mostly vacant, but damn, that is one big swinging dick in the middle of the sand swamp.
Even it’s shadow is intimidating.
(Photos: Kuni Takahashi/Chicago Tribune; Graphic via BBC)
Muscato
The Mr. and I watched the opening festivities live on Dubai TV (the joy of living nearby), and ye gods but those Emiratis can spend them some money. I truly have never seen a fireworks display like that, perfectly coordinated with the also brand-new dancing-waters display on the lakes that surroun the building and music that out Spielberged-Spielberg.
It’s technically a little inaccurate to say that it’s mostly vacant, in that it just opened today. It’s heavily sold – residences and offices alike – and there will be a bunch of hotels, at least some of which are still going to open. Dubai’s taken a hit, but it’s not the economic wasteland you read about.
And the local gay community, despite significant challenges (although many fewer than in the home countries of the mostly Arab men I know there), is flourishing and can be great fun.
terrwill
No. 1 · Muscato:
I guess you say “tomato”………..
“And the local gay community, despite significant challenges (although many fewer than in the home countries of the mostly Arab men I know there), is flourishing and can be great fun”.
I say “tomatoe”………
In 2005, twenty-six young men were arrested at a Abu Dhabi hotel, after police discovered the men engaging in cross-dressing and homosexual practices [1]. In discussing the raid, Mohammed bin Nukhaira Al Dhahiri, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Auqaf stated, ” “There will be no room for homosexual and queer acts in the UAE. Our society does not accept queer behaviour, either in word or in action,” [2]. Initial reports suggested that some of these men were ordered to be given experimental hormone treatments, although the government subsequently backed off from these statements [3]. The men were all given a five year prison sentence [4].
gay-kinda-sorta
Meh, just a big building. Seems like compensation for something to me.
Muscato
Despite both being constituent Emirates of the UAE, Abu Dhabi is not Dubai; the former is more conservative (although itself more liberal than fellow Emirates like Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah).
And I would still rather be a gay Arab man in Dubai than in, just to think of a few possibilties, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, or Libya.
There were several issues beyond homosexuality in the Abu Dhabi case, including that the men involved were in a public venue (albeit in a space rented for a private event) and were cross-dressing (gender transgression being in some ways more serious here than plain old same-sex sex, of which there’s no shortage). Often these (rare) cases also have political ramifications that aren’t reported, in that they serve as covers for other concerns, valid or not, that the authorities have about an individual or group. In addition to being anti-gay, remember, these regimes are also essentially dictatorships.
There’s no question that this part of the world isn’t San Francisco, but Dubai especially is something of a haven for Middle Eastern gay men.
terrwill
No. 4 · Muscato:
“In addition to being anti-gay, remember, these regimes are also essentially dictatorships.”
Dude, No offense amd I mean this in the most polite way possible, but I can’t forsee you getting hired as the Minister of Gay Tourism…………….. : P
tjr101
Hmm…I don’t know, that tower is a bit too thin for me!
Jeff K.
Doesn’t look like it would go in very easily…