Dubait Tamed by Financial Crisis?

Yep. Fascinating piece on the political and tribal economics in Dubai and the UAE via Bloomberg:

Until last month, a billboard at one of Dubai’s busiest roundabouts featured one photo, of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The new billboard says “Long live our Emirates union” and also shows United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Dubai’s financial woes have tamed the once-independent emirate and forced it closer to Abu Dhabi, which holds 90 percent of the U.A.E.’s oil. Sheikh Mohammed last week demoted three business aides and fired one. All had been pivotal in the debt-fueled expansion of past years, requiring Dubai’s rescue with a $10-billion loan from the U.A.E. central bank.

The global financial crisis that swept into Dubai last year not only put an end to a construction boom that saddled it with $80 billion of debt. It may also mark a turning point in the U.A.E.’s history toward a stronger central state, which investors say will make Dubai a more attractive destination by bolstering its creditworthiness.

“Abu Dhabi is pumping 2.5 million barrels a day of oil, of course you want it and Dubai to be working together,” said Emad Mostaque, a London-based Middle East equity-fund manager for Pictet Asset Management Ltd., which oversees more than $100 billion globally. “They don’t need to compete against each other,” he said in a phone interview.

Mostaque said he is positive on Arabtec Holding PJSC, Drake & Scull International PJSC and Depa Ltd., all Dubai-based construction companies expanding into Abu Dhabi.

Central Bank

Sheikh Mohammed in February turned to Abu Dhabi, holder of the world’s sixth-largest crude reserves, for a $10 billion bailout. The central bank, which has its headquarters in the country’s capital of Abu Dhabi, bought the entire bond issue.

Dubai is seeking an extra injection of $10 billion by the end of the year, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of the emirate’s Supreme Fiscal Committee, said Nov. 16. The bond would get “majority government” participation, Mohammed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties PJSC and a member of the Dubai Executive Council, said Oct. 9.

The renewed financial lifeline comes as Dubai and its state-owned companies have to repay $15.8 billion of bonds and loans maturing this year, $9.2 billion in 2010, $19.8 billion in 2011 and $17.3 billion the following year, according to a Deutsche Bank AG report in August.