Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Didn't see this coming

Burj Khalifa?

I've been saying there would be a price to pay, but I didn't expect this. Surely, if Abu Dhabi was buying naming rights it should have chosen the name Burj Zayed.

The story as reported by The Times:
Burj Dubai becomes Burj Khalifa as Emirate loses out on crowning glory

It was heralded as Dubai’s crowning achievement but the cash-strapped emirate was forced to swallow its pride yesterday and rename the world’s tallest building after its financial rescuer — the ruler of its oil-rich neighbour.

The humiliating announcement was made by Dubai’s own leader at the dazzling launch of the $1.5 billion (£930 million) Burj Dubai, which will now be known as Burj Khalifa in honour of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

5 Comments:

Blogger Muscato said...

Goodness. Somebody has a raw nerve...

12:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Raw nerve?
I thought white people want us to see the virtues of freedom of expression and speech.
What? Someone from the underdeveloped world voices some discontent and it is raw nerve.
Oh, but it's so easy to maintain equanimity and a condascendigly self-righteous and calm tone and voice when you are a an editor of one of those big British rags doling out yet another rubbish article about Dubai. (Yes, I do know my html)
But that's the thing about the West. It's allowed to be a little emotional about you know, the important things, like environmental dooms day scenario Gore is selling the world for profits, and fighting for homosexuals' right and women's right. But to voice some disgust at the subtle racism and bias of the West's propaganda machine? That's a big no-no.
Let me apologise that I could not comment in as calm a fashion as you'd like, like a white person, or someone born and raised as such normally does about most things,.
SORRY!!!
Happy now?!
Amazingly, my CAPTCHA is "SHISH"

12:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The name change is typical bedouin Arab culture and tradition.

Dxb Kola,

But why wait until the last minute to announce the name change?

7:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would guess Burj Zayed would be the name of an even taller tower that may be built in Abu Dhabi. Why hasnt it been buitl yet? Mayeb because they wanted the Dubai tower to be complete so that they know the height, and can then proceed to beat it.

9:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

DXB KOLA- MARRY ME- but Im white expat- but I hear you!

Miss Abu Dhabi

10:45 AM  

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