More filler today!

We're continuing to catch up on all of the Dubai news we missed over the winter break.

Rumors abound that Dubai-based airline Emirates is considering new routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Dang, that'd be a long time to be on a plane for. Dubai to New York non-stop is just over fourteen hours, while the return trip is closer to twelve and a half. But Emirates is a great airline with really fantastic, frequent food and tons of entertainment on demand. If I had to make an LA to Dubai non-stop, I'd only take Emirates.

Nothing snarky to say, sorry.

Last month Emirates expanded into North America quite a bit, they started a flying to Houston three times a week (see Emirates to Houston) as well as flying to Toronto three times a week.

In other news, Dubai is starting another mega-construction project. It must be ... a Tuesday.

The Arabian Canal will be "the largest, most complex civil engineering project ever undertaken in the Middle East" as the developers say. Linking Jebel Ali with the Dubai Marina, the 47 mile long creek will cost $11 billion in total. When completed in three years it will be 495 feet wide and 20 feet deep - large enough to fit 130 foot boats.

By the way, the Arabian Canal is on the map of Dubai we found back in October of 2006, the one with all of the stuff that still isn't built yet (see Map of Dubai).

Next in line is a cute little story that reminds me of Las Vegas. Actually, all of Dubai reminds me of Las Vegas - well, without the drinking, gambling and sleeze.

Dubai Courts has announced a new E-Marriage system that allows one to get married in 20 minutes.

Boy, this place is getting more Americanized by the day!!

In fact, the website, called eZawaj in Arabic, also allows for online alimony payments.

Awesome.

Thankfully the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research doesn't have an 'E-Equivalency of Degree' system. You still have to do that crap the hard way (see A wasted month and The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research).

And yes, even though my certificate is done I'm still holding a grudge. Until the day I die, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, until the day I die.

This next story is interesting ... Dubai has sold a building in New York City. So far they have been doing lots of buying (Essex House, Mandarin Oriental, W Union Square Hotel, the Knickerbocker Hotel and 450 Lexington) but in late December Dubai World sold 230 Park Avenue, known as the Helmsley Building, for $1.15 billion.

Guess they're going to reinvest the money in the Asian market.

Also over the break The US government finally cleared a deal that will give Borse Dubai, Dubai's state-owned stock exchange, a minority stake in Nasdaq.

Apparently we won't let 'them' own our ports but will let 'them' own our stock exchanges. Has anyone told Mike Huckabee about this yet? I bet he and his right-wing wingnuts will be all up in arms about this. Although if he didn't know where Pakistan was, how will he ever know where Dubai is?

Maybe the next presidential debate shouldn't be a debate at all but a surprise geography bee. Pop quiz! Think about how embarrassing that would be for those knuckleheads ...