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Archived Articles
Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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United Arab Emirates: Dubai as Arab Singapore
 Internet City, Media City, billions-worth entertainment parks, tens and tens of themed hotels, no red tape, no taxes, open-minded and business-oriented local authorities, people coming and settling from all over the world, exotic-shaped residential developments, shopping malls among the biggest in the globe, you can find everything mentioned above in the United Arab Emirates, and more specifically in its most advanced part Dubai, considered to be for the Arab world what has been Singapore for South-East Asia since WWII. Whole companies from western world are packing and relocating to Dubai, already boasting to have accommodated tens of thousands foreign high tech workers. Considering the oil reserves not sufficient enough to secure the high living standard for indefinite future, they will last only for 100 or so years, the local authorities stress the importance of alternative ways for economic development: high tech industries and services and tourist attractions. Oil has already slipped to second place in the list of state incomes, following tourism with almost 5 million tourists annually. New exotic-shaped developments will catch the world's imagination in the years to come. Among them Palm Jumeirah, the artificial Palm tree-shaped island in the sea will offer relatively affordable housing for foreign upper class. The development seen from space will welcome its first residents and guests by 2005. Many other wonders are still to come. An underwater resort Hydropolis has already been announced by its developers. Ski slopes will be built in new malls. Real estate projects of almost $30 billion are currently under development. It's no exaggeration when Dubai is often compared to Disney World or Las Vegas. There is a sense of magic and unrealism in all this. Dubai completely breaks the established stereotypes of Arab country we see on TV. It also breaks certain stereotypes of oil-rich Gulf emirate surrounded by Iron Curtain from the outside world and cultural influences. Beginning in 2002 people and companies from all nationalities can acquire in Dubai 100% property rights over certain types of properties, for both residential and commercial use. Following the free economic zone rules and other regulations, acquiring working and tourist visas has never been easier. To end up with some general impression of the rental real estate market, which now experiences a period of unprecedented boom, the average 2BR apartments are now rented for approximately $1,000-1,500 a month and the houses for $2,500-3,500 a month on long-term leases. The office space can be rented for $150 sq.meter per year.
United Arab Emirates profile: --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of United Arab Emirates.
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