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Burj Dubai is now the tallest man-made structure on earth. This news amongst much other fanfare regarding Dubai makes me wonder: What's going on there. I know UAE is an oil country - but where is all that money coming from? And who is spending the money moving there?

Basically: does anyone have any info on "what's up" with Dubai?

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I know as little as the next guy, but according to the people building these structures, it's an attempt to make Dubai about more than just oil. However, Potosí is almost a ghost town, so I don't know how succesful this strategy will be for Dubai.

It's a regional and financial hub city like New York/London and that's where the money is coming from now. I don't think Dubai has had any significant oil revenue for quite some time.

From Wikipedia:

"Although the United Arab Emirates is becoming less dependent on natural resources as a source of revenue, petroleum and natural gas exports still play an important role in the economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. A massive construction boom, an expanding manufacturing base, and a thriving services sector are helping the UAE diversify its economy. Nationwide, there is currently $350 billion worth of active construction projects."

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