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This paper explores the life experiences, identities and trajectories of young Dubai-born Indians living in the Arab Gulf. It seeks to contribute to an emergent body of research on the formation of diasporic identities and forms of belonging among South Asians in the Gulf, which underscores the ways in which migrants articulate forms of cultural belonging in a context where they are denied the right to citizenship. Building on the notion of the 'educated person', the paper argues that education constitutes an important, yet overlooked, basis for forms of cultural belonging in Dubai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the construction of ports to the dredging of access corridors for ships and the production of asphalt and concrete, sand is an inextricable part of urban environments. Focusing on the molecular transformations of sand–from silt to concrete to rubble–the first half of this paper studies the geosocial history of Dubai over the course of the twentieth century, including the dredging of Dubai Creek, the making of Jebel Ali Port, and the construction of the World Islands. I draw on reports, archival records, and newspapers, as well as existing scholarship, to demonstrate the infrastructural exuberance of Dubai, its tendency to marshal vast amounts of sand in the construction of increasingly outrageous infrastructures. In the second half of the paper, I follow some of the threads that emerge from this site in a more theoretical and comparative register. I draw comparisons between Dubai and similar world–cities in the global South, to understand and critique how this infrastructural exuberance exists alongside increasing concerns over 'sand scarcity'. Drawing on the work of Georges Bataille (1991. The accursed share: volume 1: consumption, tr. by Hurley, R. New York: Zone Books), Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari (1983. Anti–oedipus: capitalism and schizophrenia, tr. by Hurley, R. New York, NY: Penguin Classics; 1987. A thousand plateaus: capitalism and schizophrenia, tr. by Massumi, B. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), and McKenzie Wark (2015. Molecular red: theory for the anthropocene. New York: Verso), I develop a framework of antiproductive ecologies that treats incommensurable forms of surplus and waste (such as sand and rubble) as constitutive of world–cities. Developing Deleuze and Guattari's concept of 'antiproduction' from an environmental perspective, I argue that in their exuberance and thirst for construction, world–cities like Dubai attempt to organize and render productive the very planetary distribution of sand and silt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape Urbanism has been, to date, a theory emerging primarily from the Western world. This paper counters the Western focus by exploring the potential of Landscape Urbanism theory in Dubai. In a previous article published by the author, landscape architecture in Dubai has been identified as diverging from the tenets of the various charters of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), having apparently scant regard for pressing ecological, social and cultural design issues. Landscape Urbanism in this paper is discussed with respect to its ability to bolster the practice of landscape architecture in Dubai in relation to these issues. The paper argues that a number of key facets of Landscape Urbanism appear difficult to reconcile with the ecological, social and cultural conditions of Dubai. Further to this, it tends to lack the tools by which landscape urbanists in Dubai could link theory with practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the processes through which skilled international workers are differentially attracted to and incorporated in the rapidly globalising cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, thereby reproducing the migrant division of labour in these cities. This is accomplished by presenting results from a large-scale employment survey of foreign and local firms in these cities, as well as key informant interviews conducted with representatives of these firms. Most significantly, it is in global city labour markets that firm employment practices intersect with state regulatory frameworks and local employment structures, and thus, where skilled international migration flows are localised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents case study findings of exploratory research on the growth of Event Tourism in Dubai, UAE. Dubai targeted tourism as a growth industry in the 1990s and is now emerging as a world-class event destination. The research takes an epistemological approach in exploring theoretical knowledge of tourism events along with practical knowledge of their development and delivery. Utilizing a typology of Dubai events and a narrative of their growth, a conceptual framework is developed to guide related research into the behaviour of event tourists. Findings show Dubai has applied a diverse strategic approach in developing a strong brand image and events have significantly contributed to this as a brand extension, a key brand element, and as a co-branding partner. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Does Dubai have a space that encapsulates its transformation from a small fishing village to a major urban center? A center that is a microcosm for the city's urban growth and transformation? This paper details the search for this space, which began upon my arrival in the UAE in 1996. Only equipped with a brief note from an Egyptian compatriot that I need to seek Maidan Gamal Abd el Nasser, this quest led me to Nasser Square. Known officially as Baniyas Square, I will recount its origins and how it ultimately represents the story of Dubai's emergence. The depiction will be conducted through an analysis of historical records (archival photographs, travelogues and media reports), informal observations and interviews with square users as well as mapping its current state. My aim is to situate Dubai within the discourse of globalizing cities by highlighting the quotidian aspects of its urban settings. This would demonstrate the extent to which the city has been a response to, and interacts with, what Michael Peter-Smith describes as ‘globalization from below', a form of transnational urbanism witnessing the interaction of multiple actors facilitated by the particular configuration of these spaces. Such a depiction would move the discourse concerning cities in the Gulf region from one that focuses on their rapid rise and spectacular architecture, to one that highlights their unique contribution to urbanization and urban theory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cyberbullying is a recognized public health threat with established links to physical and mental health problems. A 2-stage stratified random cluster analysis of data from a self-administered survey on health-related behaviours including 1,683 adolescents from 28 government and private schools estimated the prevalence of cyberbullying and examined potentially related psychological and behavioural factors. We identified loneliness, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, sadness, lack of parental understanding, tobacco use, school absenteeism, and physical fights as associated factors. However, logistic regression found statistically significant higher odds only for experiencing sadness and loneliness, school absenteeism and physical fights, indicating reduction in these factors as the primary goals of comprehensive cyberbullying prevention programs to protect the health and wellbeing of adolescent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multi-level study builds on the natural resource-based view and value-belief-norm theory to assess the effect of environmental innovation strategies on customer loyalty through the mediator of green innovation performance. It also examines whether leadership support for green innovation further strengthens the impact of such a strategy on green innovation performance and whether the effect of innovation performance further enhances loyalty among customers with environmental values. We collected multi-level data from multiple sources in 52 five-star chain-affiliated hotels in Dubai, surveying 39 operation managers, 39 human resource (HR) managers, 40 marketing managers, and 230 hotel guests/customers. Structural equation modelling was used to analyze the data. We found empirical support for all hypotheses. Specifically, we demonstrate that environmental strategy enhances customer loyalty through green innovation performance when there is strong leadership support for green innovation. We also show that customers who subscribe to environmental values are more likely to be loyal to green hotel organizations. Our study further outlines how hotel managers can use innovative green strategies to enhance customer loyalty, showing how our findings can shape management practices and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Availability and suitability of public transport enhances the perceived attractiveness of a destination for tourists. Since few studies have investigated how public transport influenced the tourist experience, this study developed and empirically examined a parsimonious conceptual model of satisfaction for tourists using public transport services, with quality and value postulated to influence value, which in turn influenced satisfaction. Using data collected from a judgmental sample of 169 tourists using the Dubai metro, confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop unidimensional and valid measures, after which the study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Reputation (gamma = 0.99, p < 0.01) was found to influence satisfaction via value, while quality was unexpectedly not found to be a driver for value. Various theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a unique transnational perspective on the racial politics of Dubai's smart urbanism to examine how the two oppositional realms of cultural production – racial difference and anti-racist future – facilitate and contest Dubai's growth as a logistical space, which requires attention to its regional dominance. To this end, it compares the profit-driven, high-tech futuristic spectacles of Dubai to Beirut, an example of the war-torn and toxic cities that are spreading in the rest of the region, while focusing on the racial politics of the exploitative Kafala (sponsorship) system in both cities. As a counter-spectacle, it discusses Beirut-based artist Bassem Saad's artistic work, which tackles the unevenly distributed care and waste economies passing through Beirut. Ultimately, the article demonstrates how anti-racist and feminist mobilizations for abolishing the Kafala envision alternatives to the futurity that contemporary Gulf Futurism propels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past several decades, research on female officers has proliferated. Nevertheless, virtually no studies examine policewomen's motivations to join law enforcement and their job satisfaction in different metropolitan cities in the global context. Analysing data gathered from 372 female officers (278 from Dubai and 94 from Taipei), this study explores female officers' motivations to join police forces in Dubai and Taipei. It also compares female officers' job-related satisfaction (relationships with colleagues and career aspirations) in Dubai and Taipei. While helping others was the top one reason for Dubai officers to join law enforcement, the majority (more than three quarters) of the female officers in Taipei chose to become police officers because of job security. The findings indicated that female officers in Dubai significantly differed from their colleagues in Taipei in several attitudinal dimensions: they showed a higher level of confidence in their work, and they also displayed a higher level of satisfaction with their supervisor, co-workers and careers. Policy implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a modified low-cost approach, which integrates the spectral angle mapper and image difference algorithms in order to enhance classification maps for the purpose of monitoring and analysing land use/land cover change between 2000 and 2015 for the Emirate of Dubai. The approach was modified by collecting 320 training samples from QuickBird images with a spatial resolution of 0.6 m, as well as carrying out field observations, followed by the application of a 3 × 3 Soble filter, sieving classes, majority/minority analysis, and clump classes of the obtained classification maps. The accuracy assessment showed that the targeted 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 classification maps have 88.1252%, 89.0699%, 90.1225% and 96.0965% accuracy, respectively. The results showed that the built-up area increased by 233.721 km2 (5.81%) between 2000 and 2005 and continues to increase even up and till the present time. The assessment of changes in the periods 2000-2005 and 2010-2015 confirmed that net vegetation area losses were more pronounced from 2000 to 2005 than from 2010 to 2015, dropping from 47,618 to 40,820 km2, respectively. This study is aimed to assist urban planners and decision-makers, as well as research institutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the 32nd annual Euro CHRIE conference held in Dubai from October 6 to 9, 2014 is presented. The event focused on hospitality and tourism futures, and featured themes such as education, sectors, product types, technology, functions, and futures. It was participated by more than 250 delegates from over 50 countries.

Dubai has been in the midst of a profound physical transformation, radically affecting the lives of residents and newcomers. Within US and European models of planning, the rapid change Dubai is experiencing calls for public involvement in charting the city’s future. However, Dubai’s neo-patrimonial governance concentrates planning decisions into the hands of trusted elites, lacking public participation. How might a participatory approach to planning be successfully implemented in Dubai? First, this article applies Delphi to obtain experts’ knowledge about the feasibility of implementing a participatory planning approach in Dubai. Second, the first author interviewed government officials to identify constraints for implementing strategies intended to widen public participation. Last, recommendations for the implementation of a more transparent approach to planning are provided. The article concludes with questions that explore the challenges associated with participation in planning decision-making specifically for neo-patrimonial systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of the study was to review privacy and security concerns and their impact on e-government adoption in Dubai. The research analyzed the literature on e-government, security and privacy concerns of e-government adoption and the legislative provision relating to privacy and security protection. A survey on e-government user concerns on privacy, security and ease of use was also carried out. The data for the survey in this research were collected from 190 respondents in Dubai. The results of the analysis revealed that perceived security, privacy and perceived ease of use were important constructs in e-government adoption. The analysis of legal framework showed that the Federal Constitution, the Penal Code, the new Data Protection Act and the Computer Crime Act could be used to address various privacy and security concerns. Thus, it is important that the policy makers facilitate an appropriate awareness campaign of the existence of both information privacy and security to attract more participation towards the e-government services. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]