Palm Jumeirah Island room with a view, for “only” $200 a day
Last year, at the peak of Dubai’s economic crisis, there was a massive expatriate exodus. Fearing debtors jail, many foreigners with unpaid bank loans abandoned their cars at Dubai’s airport parking lot. The New York Times described a policy of silence that forbade critics to discuss the extent of the Emirate’s problems.
Rumors spread that one of the Palm Islands, Palm Jumeirah, was sinking at a rate of 5mm per year, which the government-owned developer Nakheel since disputed, and that World developers were struggling to pay their bills. Nonetheless, despite concerns that the Gulf artificial islands can cause soil erosion and other environmental damage, the Palm islands are in full flux. We’ve been given a rare look at the inside of one of the island’s 8,000 apartments (and villas).
Foreigners, for only $200 a day, can enjoy this one-bedroom, “well-decorated luxury” apartment, whose comfort is said to rival 5-star luxury hotels. Included is a gas cooker, ipod player, dishwasher, bathrobes, internet connection, and a variety of other standard amenitites.
Also included in the rental service: a spa “(salon of beauty)”, “undercover parking,” a climate-controlled outdoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, and security. Nearby are grocery stores and a pharmacy, or if you prefer a night out, an Australian style, and an internet cafe are also accessible.
Best of all, short term renters – who have the option of renting daily or up to 3 months – will have a splendid view of Dubai’s shimmering skyline comprised of “thousands of skyscrapers,” most notably the towering Burj, all of which are “reflected in the water.” Prices are negotiable, depending on where you’re from, and range from $140 per night to the above quoted $200, or nearly $3,000 per month.
The sea view also includes a view of the private island of Shaih Al Maktum. And at night, “you can enjoy… watching [the] laser show of sparkling building of BURJ ARAB.”
This information was picked up on our iPod and provided to Green Prophet by a landlord who owns two one bedroom apartments: one in the Al Khudrawi building, and another in Al Sultana. Each can sleep up to three people: two in the King Size bed, and one on the living room sofa. It is possible to add another bed.
When completed, the “8th wonder of the world,” the 25 square kilometer island Palm Jumeirah that has doubled the length of Dubai’s coastline, will accommodate 80,000 people. Will each of them have the opportunity to stay in a place just like this?
Images provided by a private landlord; for more information please contact tafline AT greenprophet DOT com.
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Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Very very bad…
Looks like IKEA gone bad.