Global Cities: Dubai

E-BOOK / 18,492 words What does it mean to build a world-class city from scratch in the middle of the desert – and make it work? In this book, readers are invited on an immersive journey through one of the most talked-about, misunderstood, and captivating cities on Earth. This richly detailed and accessible exploration goes beyond the shimmering skyscrapers and superlatives. Across 15 engaging chapters, it reveals the many faces of Dubai: the visionary leadership and economic transformation that turned oil money into global ambition; the multicultural society navigating questions of identity and belonging; the contradictions between luxury and labor, modernity and tradition, sustainability and scale. From the call to prayer echoing through the towers of Downtown Dubai, to the silent labor force powering its glittering facades, from brunch culture and robot cops to art collectives and climate anxieties, this book paints a nuanced portrait of a city constantly in motion. It examines how Dubai sells dreams while grappling with very real social and environmental challenges – and how its experiment in accelerated nation-building may offer lessons for cities everywhere. Whether you're a curious traveler, a global citizen, or a cultural observer, the book is a thoughtful, entertaining, and occasionally surprising guide to a city that refuses to be simple. With clear-eyed storytelling, subtle humor, and sharp insight, it captures Dubai not just as a place, but as a question: What kind of future are we really building?