The Dark Side of Dubai

A different side of Dubai.

The ubiquitous cranes have paused on the skyline, as if stuck in time. There are countless buildings half-finished, seemingly abandoned. In the swankiest new constructions ”“ like the vast Atlantis hotel, a giant pink castle built in 1,000 days for $1.5bn on its own artificial island ”“ where rainwater is leaking from the ceilings and the tiles are falling off the roof. This Neverland was built on the Never-Never ”“ and now the cracks are beginning to show. Suddenly it looks less like Manhattan in the sun than Iceland in the desert.