Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Money and happiness still connected

Mar 12, 2008
Money might not buy happiness, but having a little more of it can make us feel better. Commentator Will Wilkinson says while wealth might not be the direct route to happiness, it doesn't mean it's irrelevant.

All Hail ... Taxi

Mar 11, 2008
One of the ironies of Dubai is that all the cab drivers live in Deira, and yet it's impossible to find a cab there. At least for a white guy who...

A lot of glitter in Dubai's gold market

Mar 11, 2008
Along Dubai Creek are the souks, or markets, where you can buy everything from spices and textiles to gold. Kai Ryssdal visited them and got a sense of their gold standard.

Nothing like a night at the track

Mar 11, 2008
When the millionaires aren't there for the big events, Dubai's Nad al Sheba racetrack is a great place for a family night out. But there's no booze and no betting . . . well, not exactly. Kai Ryssdal has more.

Stay in America or return to Egypt?

Mar 11, 2008
While workers from around the world are striving to get to jobs in the Middle East, human capital is a big export for some countries in the region as well. Commentator Mona Eltahawy says the decision to leave comes with mixed emotions.

Expats keep waiting to move in

Mar 11, 2008
Real estate in Dubai has been open to foreigners since 2002. Speculators and would-be Dubai transplants have been coming ever since. And developers are having trouble keeping up. Sean Cole reports.

For public good, not for profit.

What to do about labor imbalance?

Mar 11, 2008
While Dubai is booming, the Gulf region's overall unemployment is near 15%. Kai Ryssdal spoke with labor consultant Kito de Boer about what leaders can do to address disparities between the local population and visiting workers.

Building fast on cheap labor

Mar 11, 2008
Dubai's workforce is almost entirely made up of laborers from other countries. They're nothing less than crucial to the city. Stephen Beard reports on the supply of cheap labor that makes Dubai go.

Filipino worker longs for Dubai

Mar 11, 2008
For every Indian or Pakistani who decides to leave Dubai, for every Bangladeshi who figures their opportunites will be better at home, there are dozens or hundreds of others who'll gladly replace them. Scott Tong met one of them in Manila.