I know that alot of folks don't think much of the architecture but personally I love everything about Dubai. It will be the new millenium's New York.
Oh, and about the density thing : No, these guys aren't really all that concerned with density per se but in expressing their egos. Isn't it obvious ? The people who are buying these homes/condos/apartments/whatever are almost entirely foreigners. Dubai won't be getting much more in the way of oil revenues by the time we hit 2020. I mean, who knows, maybe something will come up but it's not likely. In any case, the plan is to build another economic base and they're using the cash they have now to create a business theme park of sorts. They want to be the financial center of the Middle East and it looks like they might just succeed (assuming they haven't already)
As for the idea that it costs less to provide services to a smaller population...uh no, it doesn't work that way. One would think that anybody familiar with North American urban planning would understand the reason why too. MRI's still cost (I'm just taking a wild stab on this one but it'll make the point anyway) $5 million apiece. Sooo.....if you have that many less people to share the burden then on a per capita basis, they cost more for the average person in Dubai. It's the same reason sprawl is bad.
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