Financial Times FT.com

Emirate re-engineered

By Andrew England

Published: October 22 2009 23:54 | Last updated: October 22 2009 23:54

A labour ministry official inspects an Abu Dhabi construction site
Managed development: a labour ministry official inspects an Abu Dhabi construction site. At least $300bn in infrastructure and property projects are planned for the emirate

When Saeed Alromaithi’s friends phoned him at his new place of work, they would often have a chuckle. They could hear the clank of heavy machinery in the background or the roar of a steel plant’s furnaces. “They used to make fun of me when they called and heard all this noise,” says Mr Alromaithi, his blue work jacket and jeans a contrast to the pristine white robe that is the uniform of most of his fellow Emiratis.

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