Dubai Ruler confirms economy is firm
Dubai's ruler says the emirate's economic foundation is firm and is dismissing suggestions that the city-state is faltering because of the global meltdown.
Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum made the comments during an online exchange with local and international Arab news outlets. The online question-and-answer session, posted over the weekend, was Sheik Mohammed's first such exchange in eight years.
The Dubai ruler, who is also vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, says the UAE has weathered a "media bombardment" that left Dubai under "daily attack" by some Western news outlets.
He dismisses concerns that Dubai's growth and economy are under threat as "wishful thinking" by the city's critics and believes Dubai and its growth are firm.