Dubai: The Story of the World's Fastest City

After a short visit to Dubai last Christmas I couldn't believe how strange and peculiar it was and I needed to find out what was underneath all the glitz. First I read Dubai Dreams by Raymond Barrett but it did not provide the historical depth or detail. Jim Krane's book is excellent and beautifully written, forgive me for saying this, I know there are many great American writers out there but I really thought the book had been written by an Englishman as it was so smoothly crafted. This book answered many of my questions and has provided me with more understanding of the Middle East and a thirst to learn more and travel to that region again but to areas with greater authenticity like Oman.

Having visited Dubai twice recently, I was keen to learn more about just how this incredible place came to be. Jim Krane's book provides all the answers. Vividly told and relying on accounts from people who know the city inside out, the book is gripping and, at times, quite the page turner. It's snappy and fast, just like the place it describes. And it doesn't shy away from telling the story of the shadier side of Dubai, which it's important to know about to understand the place fully. The book also provides excellent insight into the Ruler of Dubai and his family.

This is a very good book, which gives a good account on how Dubai developed into what it is today. The author, a former corresponsal for the whole Middle East, used (in my view abused) his journalistic background to produce a book that is lively, easy to read, very illustrative and informative, but it leaves the reader with many questions without answers. The information given in the book is well supported by references to either other books, or interviews, conducted by the author, to some already historical fugures (in the Dubai development context), academics and other comentators of the political and economic developments of the region. These last references make this book to be in between a history book and a compilation of extended newspaper articles. It is not easy to see what, of the many points made in the book, are historical facts and what is just the author or his interviewes interpretation. However, as a regular visitor to Dubai (have a relative working there), I highly recommend this book to start understanding what it has been achieved in terms of the social relations withing this city and its place within the United Arabs Emirates and the rest of the Middle East.

Krane really gets to grips with the highs and lows that Dubai has faced to make it one of the World's most fastest growing cities. He explores how the city has developed from a small mud hut village to a large metropoliton area with great detail. He gives a good historical account of the Sheikhs that have run Dubai and how there views and ideas have helped to shape Dubai differently from other middle eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia. Leaving no stone unturned the book is full of interesting facts and narratives which show why the city has developed so rapidly. Krane also examines the problems that Dubai has faced and the challenges that lay ahead for a country stuck between eastern and western ideas.

This is a fantastic book- it describes the history of Dubai and then talks about how the city is today- from the immigration boom, to trafficking, to the royal family. It is a great read and interesting from start to finish. He gives a 360 degree tour of the city and it is a real eye opener. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in the region and it is better written than say a normal travel book.

I have always been fascinated by Dubai and I wanted to know more, so I took the chance with this book. It was great and it is very well researched. It starts at the very beginning when Dubai was nothing more that a desert which was supported by pearl diving and goes right the way through to the present day (2010). I will get to Dubai one day and have a look for myself but until then I have this book to keep me going

This book available under different titles otherwise good reading if one interested in the region

I found the book very informative and interesting. I have been to Dubai many times so it was nice to know the full history.However, I found the gaps between words rather annoying. It is on most pages. I expect this is due to the justification. It did not spoil the enjoyment of the book.