Dubai’s ceaseless boom is putting strains on its residents

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. intensify / ɪnˈtɛn səˌfaɪ / (v.) – to become stronger, greater, more serious, or more extreme
    Example:

    The city’s traffic problem intensified during the holiday season, causing long delays on the roads.


  2. fanciful / ˈfæn sɪ fəl / (adj.) – describing something that is not based on realistic and practical things, and not likely to happen in the real world
    Example:

    Fanciful ideas like building a house on the moon are interesting, but I doubt it’ll happen anytime soon.


  3. staggered / ˈstæg ərd / (adj.) – organized in a manner where events occur at varying times or items are placed irregularly rather than in a regular way
    Example:

    The meetings were staggered throughout the day to avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure everyone’s participation.


  4. institute / ˈɪn stɪˌtut / (v.) – to start or establish something, especially a system or policy
    Example:

    The company instituted a new dress code for its employees last month.


  5. extensive / ɪkˈstɛn sɪv / (adj.) – describing something that is large in size, amount, or range
    Example:

    The city has an extensive bus system that helps people travel easily.


Article

Read the text below.

Skyscraper-studded Dubai has been on a hot streak for the last five years—and some residents are starting to feel burned.


The city-state has seen record-breaking real estate transactions as more and more people come to live there, and its state-owned airline Emirates is booking record earnings. But all that growth comes with strains for the city’s population.


Traffic feels worse than ever on Dubai’s roads. The price of housing continues to spike even with new real estate projects being announced almost daily. Caught in the middle are both its Emirati citizens and the vast population of foreigners who power its economy—sparking rare public expressions of concern.


Under Dubai’s current plans, the city aims to have 5.8 million residents by 2040, adding more than half its current estimated population in just 15 years. Since 1980, its population has already soared from around 255,000 to around 3.8 million.


Real estate lit the fire in Dubai’s growth in 2002 when the desert sheikdom began allowing foreigners to own property. After sharp falls during both the 2008-2009 financial crisis and Dubai’s brief coronavirus lockdown, prices have been soaring.


Traffic has only intensified with Dubai’s new arrivals.


For Dubai’s autocratic government, overseen by ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, possible solutions to the grinding traffic have ranged from the practical to the fanciful. The government in recent months has repeatedly encouraged companies to allow more remote work options, including in a report released in November that also suggested staggered and flexible working hours.


Dubai’s road toll system, known as Salik, added gates to charge drivers more and instituted surge pricing at the end of January. Dubai’s Metro will also grow beyond its broadly north-south routes in a nearly $5 billion expansion.


“In the coming years, residents of Dubai will be able to move around by walking, cycling, its extensive network of roads and bridges, the Metro and its new lines, water taxis, or flying taxis on specific air routes,” Sheikh Mohammed said on X in December.


But for now, Dubai keeps attracting more people and more cars—and the traffic jams only get longer.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Dubai has thrived for five years, but some residents are starting to feel tired or unhappy. In your opinion, can a city be truly successful if its people are not happy? Why or why not? What do you think makes a city truly successful—money, happiness, or something else? Discuss.
  • How do you feel about living in a city with rapid growth (ex. I’d enjoy it, I’d feel overwhelmed)? What do you think are the biggest challenges for cities that grow too fast? Do you think people in fast-growing cities feel more stress? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Has the traffic situation in your area gotten better or worse over time? Why do you say so? What do you think are the reasons for these changes (ex. increase in the population, public transportation improvements)? Discuss.
  • Do you think remote work could help reduce traffic in busy cities like Dubai? Why do you say so? Would you prefer staggered work hours if it meant less traffic during your commute? Why or why not? Discuss.