Petro-dollars are fueling the tiny emirate's ambitions to become one of the world's top commercial and tourist destinations. Experts wonder if Dubai's blazing growth is sustainable.
"With ambitions to become a hub of global commerce, a top tourist destination and a shopping mecca --- a New York/Las Vegas/Miami rolled into one --- Dubai has spent tens of billions of dollars to build an astonishing modern city nearly from scratch in a mere 15 years. Some $45 billion worth of real estate under construction continues the boom."
"This tiny emirate is currently building the tallest skyscraper, the largest shopping mall and the biggest theme park in the world. And that's just on land. Immense formations of man-made islands shaped like palm trees and world continents are rising out of the turquoise waters of the gulf."
"In using its strategic location and oil revenues as springboards to modernize, diversify its economy and attract foreign investment, Dubai's leaders see their Rhode Island-sized nation as a role model for development in the Arab world."
FULL STORY: Dubai: Big Dreams in the Desert

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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