Job Discussion Forums

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I was told last week by a private student that 50% of the cranes in use(in the world) are in the UAE.
I find this hard to believe but the guy who told me is EVP of a large Turkish bank who invests in the UAE alot.

Is this really true?

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Not the UAE ... just Dubai ... Gulf News has 'cautiously estimated' the number to be between 15-25% and 25-30% ...

Everyone's got one ...

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

And here's me thinking Istanbul is a construction site

So which is the biggest construction site. Dubai or Doha?

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

They don't need the cranes in Istanbul ... they've got that peculiar 'kerplunk' wooden scaffolding that's constructed on principles similar to those of the pyramids ... but upside down ...

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Bamboo scaffolding is common in the East.

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Doesn't this sound like the usual Arab hyperbole?

Even back in the mid-90's we joked that the construction cranes were the state bird... and there was always one falling and crushing a few workers or passersby... But 50% of the world?

no way... it just isn't that big a place. 15% sounds more of a possibility.

VS

Andror · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 34

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hey dmb... do you think your student may have confused 50 and 15? pretty common...

VS

(I'm a pretty good guesser, huh? ... all those years working in the offices of construction companies wasn't a complete loss...)

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

It's possible VS. But i did triple check and he was adamant it was 50%.

Mind you, the bank was recently bought by a group based in Belgium..what do they know? Wink

Spin duck · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 25

Google cranes +dubai: percentages range from 15-40% depending on who you believe. Still more flamingos than cranes, though, and red-back spiders are coming along, too.

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

I thought cranes flew south in the winter?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

You certainly wished that they would when you had 2 or 3 of them blocking your view of the Gulf. Laughing

But, then isn't the Gulf where they fly south to..

VS

Harriet · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 16

Hey Bindair -- Any chance Doha will actually be ready for the Asian games that are starting.. when... in two weeks? Last time I was there (last June) the roads & airport were still in bits and half of the stadiums weren't finished yet. What a disaster! Know anything about it?