“UAE banking sector posted nearly $6.8 billion in profits for 2007, an increase of 29%. UAE Banking with economic fundamentals remaining strong, even the spread of the US subprime contagion may not make its way into the UAE banking sector”, says Ibrahim, whose bank is also facing growing competition. UAE Banking and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is booming, too. “Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s (ADIB) net income in the three months to March 31 - after depositors' share - surged by 47% to 244.25 million dirhams ($66.5 million)”, says its CEO, Tirad Mahmoud. It is logical that a high growth of population means a treasure trove for retail banking : “The bank grew its distribution network in the UAE from 16 branches in 2004 to 44 branches as of now and will be adding four new branches by the end of the year.”

Whenever people talk about Dubai and the aviation industry, you can’t ignore one member of the ruling family: when Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum speaks, the global aviation industry is listening. Dubai would not be Dubai if it did not have dreams that go beyond the civil aviation industry. Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed, announced the creation of the Dubai Aerospace Agency (DAE). Around US$ 15 billion will be invested in this giant that will pave Dubai’s path to a centre for designing, constructing planes and repairing aircraft. The DAE University had aimed to become a centre for educating pilots, aircraft designers and mechanics, but was forced to cancel the entire study program.

The real estate sector of the UAE has become the backbone of its non-oil economy. While Abu Dhabi, home to nine percent of the world’s proven oil reserves, does not really rely on sky-scrapers boom-down Dubai does. Oil is just one of many sectors there, only contributing around 3 percent to the emirate’s GDP. The total value of constructed real estate in UAE, from A for Apartment to Z for Zoo, is US$66.2 billion. The district Dubai Marina, 10 kilometres west of the seven star hotel, Burj Al Arab, consists of over 100 skyscrapers alone. Cranes, baggers and dust are present in the UAE, but the country always offers niches of tranquillity and cleanliness for tourists and its inhabitants in UAE real estate.