Dubai calls off Mutli-Million New Year's Eve extravaganza

[Black Wraith]

Dubai's opulent, multimillion-pound New Year's Eve celebrations have been cancelled due to the Gaza violence, leaving hordes of expatriates hastily making alternative plans.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of the Gulf state, called off festivities late last night.

He said "all public New Year’s celebrations" should be stopped "in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are currently enduring death, suffering and destruction in Gaza".

The city, home to thousands of Western expatriate businesspeople and tourists, usually holds spectacular public firework displays and open-air entertainments worth millions.

British and other foreigners living in the city were today planning alternative celebrations. Hotels were said to be holding revised indoor entertainments, but any outdoor elements would be called off.

A spokesman for the five-star Le Meridien hotel, which is known for all-you-can-drink champagne brunches, said: "Normally we have outdoor entertainment but this year it will be just indoors."

A spokesman for the four-star Arabian Courtyard said there would be no music or dancing to ring in the New Year, although the hotel’s restaurants and bars would stay open.

Kelly Frost and Lisa Welsh, 28-year-old Britons who both live in Dubai, had planned to attend a party at an Irish pub but this has now been cancelled.

"The only alternative is to have a party indoors," said Miss Frost, a sales, marketing and events coordinator from Cardiff who emigrated to Dubai with her parents at the age of three.

"I think people are just gutted they’re not able to celebrate New Year as they would’ve done.

"Facebook is awash with people saying: ’What are you doing tonight?’. Sometimes being spontaneous is the best way to be.

"At this rate, we probably won’t know what we’re doing until ten to midnight."

Miss Welsh, a public relations executive who moved to Dubai from Liverpool two-and-a-half years ago, said: "Expats are aware of the situation and are up-to-date with what’s happening in Gaza and are sympathetic about the situation.

"But the New Year is something we can’t stop happening. I think everyone is a bit stuffed about what to do. You feel a little bit bad if you do go out and celebrate.

"I think we’re just going to stay in or maybe find a house party."

Dubai's celebrations were the best known internationally among a host of Arab events to be cancelled in solidarity with Palestinians caught up in the Hamas-Israeli fighting.

Egypt cancelled official events, including a special concert by famed Egyptian singer Mohammed Munir set to be held at Cairo’s Opera House and a variety performance hosted by the ministry of information due to be broadcast on state television.

Syria and Jordan also called off celebrations, with Syria's capital Damascus set to host a concert by singer Sabah Fakhri in a hotel.

A concert by Colombian star Shakira in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, however, is still scheduled to go ahead. Events at hotels in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, were also set to proceed as planned.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5423839.ece

Let's have a ten post silence (posting nothing but [.....]) for the people of Palestine.

[The Pink Ninja]

If Dubai wants to waste it's money, that's fine with me.

[Megaharrison]

The lol thing about this is that the UAE government itself is openly collaborating with Egypt and Saudi Arabia in isolating hamas vs. cooperating with Fatah as it fears Hamas's Islamic-revolution based ideology and connections to Iran. They've silently consented to this current IDF operation as well.

[Black Wraith]

I wonder what would have happened if someone tried to do the same thing in remembrance for those killed in the holocaust......

[The Pink Ninja]

I support the strikes. Respectful silence would be disingenuous.

Plus I find it odd to show respect in a thread about incredibly corrupt Dubai cancelling it's parties for incredibly corrupt globe trotters.

Also BF didn't include the people of Israel in his silence.

I wonder what would have happened if someone tried to do the same thing in remembrance for those killed in the holocaust......

Me and MegaHarrison would be in there like a shot, post tittys and making dick jokes.

[Megaharrison]

I wonder what would have happened if someone tried to do the same thing in remembrance for those killed in the holocaust......

400 people killed in a series of airstrikes directed at a military organization during a time war where the majority of those 400 are in fact members of said military organization does not equate to the Holocaust in both scale and intent nor does it equate to any other actual genocide in history for that matter

You fail.

[Black Wraith]

hundreds dead and a few million dead for the same reason, just different people.

You fail.

[Megaharrison]

hundreds dead and a few million dead for the same reason, just different people.

You fail.

There is no genocidal intent (see: low death count) nor are the attempts at killing being carried out in a remotely similar manner to the Holocaust. Civilians being killed in airstrikes because Hamas likes to use Palestinians as meat shields is not the same as organizing a massive logistical network across a continent to transport various ethnic groups to concentration camps operated by a political paramilitary organization and gassing them for the stated attempt at racial purity.

[Black Wraith]

Stopping the people getting essential supplise is the same thing as killing them with your own hand.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5425622.ece

[The Pink Ninja]

a) How many people has that actually killed?

b) Having to supply an enemy you're at war with is pretty dumb

c) Why doesn't this genocide extend to The West bank?

[Coteaz]

They should have gone ahead with the party. People suffer all the time in the world, no reason to get so worked up about a single isolated incident.

I wonder what would have happened if someone tried to do the same thing in remembrance for those killed in the holocaust......
This is the internet. Nobody gives a fuck.

[Baki]

Well, no matter the circumstances, people who they share Identity with(Arabs) are suffering immensely at the moment. I think it's fine that they don't think it's appropriate to celebrate at these times.

It's not like they called it off so they could have a Pro-Hamas rally.

[Bleach]

When is it gonna end >__> jesus christ.

[Toby]

How about we actually discuss the article?

I find it sad that this happened. It backfired when people started micro-arrangements of their own. Sending a message of solidarity during public celebrations would have reached the ears of many more, or calling for 10 minutes of silence for that matter.

[Adrianhamm]

Can the people who spent money to go see the extravaganza get their money back? I know for a fact that if I spent my money to go there and the event was called off, I would definitely be in someone's ear until I got my money back or some sort of satisfaction.

[Xion]

And here I thought it was because they realized their reckless ways had a negative impact on the environment and the world at large and that their status as the "Playground of the Rich" was for naught given the desperation of their people. :zaru

[hcheng02]

Am I the only one who sees an ulterior motive to this? I think they canceled the celebrations because they decided that with the economy and oil prices in the shitter, they would try to cut back on expenses. The whole "solidarity with the Gazans" is just a smokescreen to save face.

[The_Unforgiven]

Well, no matter the circumstances, people who they share Identity with(Arabs) are suffering immensely at the moment. I think it's fine that they don't think it's appropriate to celebrate at these times.

It's not like they called it off so they could have a Pro-Hamas rally.

I heard there was a pro-palestine protest. Not sure though.

Am I the only one who sees an ulterior motive to this? I think they canceled the celebrations because they decided that with the economy and oil prices in the shitter, they would try to cut back on expenses. The whole "solidarity with the Gazans" is just a smokescreen to save face.

First of all, Dubai is pretty much out of oil. They dont depend on that anymore. They're more of a tourist attraction.

Nevertheless, they've been getting inflated prices for oil for a long time, and they plan their budgets here assuming a $37 price per barrel. So, supposing the price was only $50 (not the actual 140, im just making this easier for calculation, and taking in worst scenarios) they were making $13 extra per barrel. Multiply that by some 10 million barrels per day, and you've got a shitload of extra money. :amuse

[Mider T]

I wonder how the people felt who came home for the holidays from halfway across the world...

Anyway, they're bringing in enough money, and they'll most certainly be parties tomorrow.

[Raiden]

There will be other parties that will make up for this loss that are probably going on as we speak. It's not like the loss of this party is a major blow to Dubai. As long as the tourists keep going in, Dubai will be just fine.

[LouDAgreat]

And here I thought it was because they realized their reckless ways had a negative impact on the environment and the world at large and that their status as the "Playground of the Rich" was for naught given the desperation of their people


Am I the only one who sees an ulterior motive to this? I think they canceled the celebrations because they decided that with the economy and oil prices in the shitter, they would try to cut back on expenses. The whole "solidarity with the Gazans" is just a smokescreen to save face.

I second both of these opinions. :quite

[Xion]

Am I the only one who sees an ulterior motive to this? I think they canceled the celebrations because they decided that with the economy and oil prices in the shitter, they would try to cut back on expenses. The whole "solidarity with the Gazans" is just a smokescreen to save face.

That's what I thought as well. :laugh

It would make sense now that their economy is no longer on top of the world.

[Cardboard Tube Knight]

I'm not going to break the rules to post ellipsis for people anywhere, sorry. As I said in the other thread, if you're just that regular Joe Palestine out there trying to feed your family and earn a buck...its sad if you die in the bombings.

But if you're from Hamas (which most were, burn in Hell) because the blood of the kids killed in Gaza are on their hands.

[hcheng02]

First of all, Dubai is pretty much out of oil. They dont depend on that anymore. They're more of a tourist attraction.

Nevertheless, they've been getting inflated prices for oil for a long time, and they plan their budgets here assuming a $37 price per barrel. So, supposing the price was only $50 (not the actual 140, im just making this easier for calculation, and taking in worst scenarios) they were making $13 extra per barrel. Multiply that by some 10 million barrels per day, and you've got a shitload of extra money. :amuse

I'm pretty sure oil sales are still significant to Dubai, but even if that was not the case there are other economic indicators. Property sales and prices are down, and with the general worsening worldwide economy that also means tourism will be down too. The Economist has an article about this.

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12684897

[The_Unforgiven]

I'm pretty sure oil sales are still significant to Dubai, but even if that was not the case there are other economic indicators. Property sales and prices are down, and with the general worsening worldwide economy that also means tourism will be down too. The Economist has an article about this.

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12684897

There is no denying that they definitely are taking a hit, but they already have a shitload of cash to cover for it.

[hcheng02]

There is no denying that they definitely are taking a hit, but they already have a shitload of cash to cover for it.

The cash can cover for now. However, it is only a matter of time before it runs out. Thus, canceling the extravaganza can be seen as a way of cutting costs.