Abu Dhabi is a new economic superpower that will soon wield enormous influence across both developing and developed worlds. The principal emirate of the United Arab Emirates federation commands over 8 percent of global oil reserves, has nearly $1 trillion in sovereign wealth funds to invest and is busily implementing a thoughtful economic master plan. It has also pumped huge amounts of money into culture, sport and infrastructural development in an attempt to eclipse even its ubiquitous UAE partner-Dubai-as an international household name. Abu Dhabi will host the Formula One Championship decider in 2009, is opening the world's first Ferrari theme park, has a rapidly expanding airline and is setting up satellite branches of the Guggenheim and Louvre museums. Gulf expert Christopher Davidson's book charts the emirate's remarkable trajectory from its origins as an eighteenth-century sheikdom to its present position on the cusp of preeminence. Abu Dhabi's impressive socio-economic development, he offers a frank portrayal of a dynasty's dramatic survival, demonstrating the newfound resilience of a traditional monarchy in the twenty-first century and its efforts to create a system of 'tribal capitalism' that incorporates old political allegiances into modern engines of growth. Finally, he turns his attention to a number of problems that may surface to impede economic development and undermine political stability. These include an enfeebled civil society and invasive media censorship, a seemingly unsolvable labor nationalization paradox, an under performing education sector, and increasing federal unrest.
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'Davidson's book is a tour de force...Altogether, no student, business person, firm or government entity should consider learning about Abu Dhabi and the UAE without reading this book and underlining its key passages. As is the case with all other works by Davidson, the narrative is excellent, the style is highly readable and the information by and large is priceless.' --International Affairs
About the Author
Christopher M. Davidson is a fellow of the Institute for Middle Eastern Studies at Durham University and a former assistant professor of politicsat Sheikh Zayed University in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He is the author of Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you have ever seen a picture of Abu Dhabi in the 60s or 70s and have experienced it today you just have to admire the foresight of the first rulers of the UAE.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Gaurav Sharma
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
While Dubai often hogs the limelight, the principal emirate in the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi which holds over 8 per cent of the world's oil reserves. It is a key regional player and an economic power in its own right, yet few written works have examined its culture, politics, influence and economic prowess on a standalone basis. Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond is author Christopher Davidson's commendable attempt at addressing the perceived information gap.
The author justifies his quest to write a comprehensive volume on Abu Dhabi by noting that with 90 years of remaining hydrocarbon production and with plans to increase oil output by 30% in the near future, the emirate will have the resources and surpluses it needs - regardless of the vagaries of broader economic trends. Simply put, ignore Abu Dhabi in a regional or global context at your peril.
Yet it is not all about the oil as Davidson explains via his book of just under 250 pages split by seven detailed chapters. He dives into history and sequentially charts Abu Dhabi's transformation from an 18th century sheikdom to its current status in the global economy.
Dynastic politics, culture, strategic investment (via its mammoth sovereign investment fund), regional influence, have all been examined in some detail, along with the emirate's "new economy" and its moves away from a traditional oil and gas export oriented structure. However, the book need not be mistaken for a glorified tale or positive spin about Abu Dhabi.
Rather it is a pragmatic examination of the emirate. To this end, the author does not shy away from discussing a number of problems that may surface to impede economic development and undermine political stability in his concluding chapter. Civil and socio-economic issues, media censorship, an underperforming education sector, terrorism and rising federal unrest have all been discussed.
Overall, Davidson's work is interesting and informative. It is a must read for those interested in Middle Eastern geopolitics and oil. That aside, students of history, the oil business and those of a curious disposition fascinated by the Emirates might find it well worth their while to pick this title up.
The author justifies his quest to write a comprehensive volume on Abu Dhabi by noting that with 90 years of remaining hydrocarbon production and with plans to increase oil output by 30% in the near future, the emirate will have the resources and surpluses it needs - regardless of the vagaries of broader economic trends. Simply put, ignore Abu Dhabi in a regional or global context at your peril.
Yet it is not all about the oil as Davidson explains via his book of just under 250 pages split by seven detailed chapters. He dives into history and sequentially charts Abu Dhabi's transformation from an 18th century sheikdom to its current status in the global economy.
Dynastic politics, culture, strategic investment (via its mammoth sovereign investment fund), regional influence, have all been examined in some detail, along with the emirate's "new economy" and its moves away from a traditional oil and gas export oriented structure. However, the book need not be mistaken for a glorified tale or positive spin about Abu Dhabi.
Rather it is a pragmatic examination of the emirate. To this end, the author does not shy away from discussing a number of problems that may surface to impede economic development and undermine political stability in his concluding chapter. Civil and socio-economic issues, media censorship, an underperforming education sector, terrorism and rising federal unrest have all been discussed.
Overall, Davidson's work is interesting and informative. It is a must read for those interested in Middle Eastern geopolitics and oil. That aside, students of history, the oil business and those of a curious disposition fascinated by the Emirates might find it well worth their while to pick this title up.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A necessary read for anyone interested in the UAE
26 Jan 2010
By Amr S. Elnashai
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book, and is full of well-integrated information about the background to the ruling, and other, families, their role in the current super-development effort, and a general p[icture of the UAE. It is balanced and faftual. Not often do westerners try to understand the culture of the Middle East. I appreciated that the writer understands that Westerrn democracy is only one form of broad governance, and by no means the only one.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Analysis
1 Aug 2011
By DAEDALUS MAP
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a CEO for 30 years in the GCC--transferring technology in food, medicine, and high tech--I found Davidson's book the best source of profound analysis on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He offers a highly detailed tribal analysis of "who's who" which is a labyrinthine task in and of itself, but goes to the heart of the matter of why one player is more important than others based on tribal relations. I have a library of books, and this rates as my top recommendation.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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