Re: very true!! by I H - 31-Dec-08
Couldnt agree more mh. People here love to NAG (men and women)..especially NOW !! didn't hear their voices several months ago when they were buying houses left right and center !! Easy come easy go.....
Happy New year everyone and let's hope for the BEST!!!!!!! [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

by m h - 31-Dec-08
i'm surprised for the responses. People are complaining and criticizing Dubai for this move.

Not only they are nagging, but they are also doubting the city's stability with the current market conditions.

Let me remind you that Dubai has given a shelter and quality of life to many foreigners they wouldn't even dream about in their own country!!!!!

Unfortunately we live in a time (only temporary) where we socialize and see many ignorant people in this city.

whether the decision was implemented now or few days back, this decision was correctly taken beyond many people's ability to think.

i wish you all a happy new year as it will be a challenging year so please focus on what you might be facing (loosing your job) and how you might be able to repay your mortgage instead of nagging!!!!!!!! [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Re: Re: Ironically Happy New Year by Maggie Smith - 31-Dec-08
I thought New Years were cancelled but every club in Dubai hotels etc are open with alcohol flowing and music blaring !

How comes Sheikh Mohammad is allowing this ????? [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Re: Ironically Happy New Year by RJ Pal - 31-Dec-08
Well just to let you know that the bombings and war on Gaza just started last week on Friday so thats 3-4 days ago, so I hope that answers your question on why the NEw Year announcement was not announced 3-4 days ago. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

A letter of support by A Luhan, Financial Services Consultant, Kinsey Allen Consulting - 31-Dec-08
I can agree with the sentiment that the action of His Highness will provide a pitfall for revenues generated through the New Year period. Dubai's reputation as a regional business hub and rising global financial centre is perhaps on the edge of second-class status considering the mountain of debt the city is living off. The party is intermittantly over, and I think Investors, Stakeholders and Consumers need to wake up to the reality of recession. My fear is that money and materialism have become the God of all things, and that the Middle East could lose it's proverbial soul to such ideals. The actions of His Highness is, in my opinion, a triumph of humanism over materialism; perhaps it's time to place basic humanity and collective ideals ahead of money, the "fun times" and lavish parties. The parties will come back, but the suffering of the Palestinians will only get worse if there is an absense of a voice for them. Once again, I congratulate the Shaikh for his bold move. I hope the rest of the Arab world will follow in his footsteps. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

by ahmed Aziz - 31-Dec-08
Dear Welshman.If Britons are nervous of not bieng able to celebrate the New Year here because of them. We sopposed all celebrate if thier goverment did not give palistien to the zionst. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Not a wise call by Leo Leoni - 31-Dec-08
I can understand the political/populist implications behind such a decision. Being objective, the call for cancellation can create a loss of trust for many of the investors that invested a lot of their money for such a day. The same for tourists who planned to come to Dubai for such events. Dubai at the moment is in an economic crises and many people are becoming more anxious, so why start a year on a sad note? I am not in anyway trying to belittle the cause for Gaza, but instead of canceling major events on newyears, there can be more effective ways to show solidarity, like charitywork and engagement in humanitarian efforts. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Leading from the "Front"? by Dubai Veteran, Marketing Manager, NTKB - 31-Dec-08
While on the one hand, I do agree to some extent, with those of you who think his Highness' order to cancel New Year Celebrations was a good one, it begs another viable question. Does this "order" further add to the retrenchment casualty list by way of event companies now not having any revenue from already planned NY events and instead having larger overheads and third party commitments to honor? Does this order further reinforce the perception of Dubai's bubble on the verge of popping? Is this "order" further adding to the economic gloom that already envelopes brand Dubai? [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Human Massacre by Hassan Jawad - 31-Dec-08
Response to a massacre like this should be proportionate to the massacre itself but as a token we can at least cancel a few parties. Those who care more about tourism than life may one day regret ignoring the call of humanity.

More and more will wake up day by day............................ [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

by S. M. - 31-Dec-08
I appreciate this decision and I believe it just came at the right time so all Dubai residents can at least think of the Palestinians' misery and pray for them.
Who can celebrate the New Year's when people we care about are dying!!!! [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

by Hoda A, Manager, DIT - 31-Dec-08
Good Decision, the last thing we want to see is drunk and crasy people in these bad circumstances. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

by S Dawlabani, President, EcoVest Advisors, LLC. - 31-Dec-08
Great way to show leadership in the Arab World. If only other Arab leaders can do the same. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Ironically Happy New Year by Mpower .. - 31-Dec-08
Technically speaking, all the parties in Dubai be in Burj Al Arab, various nightclubs, private parties in hotels are canceled?! I am not a party person myself and i completely understand the act of solidarity but if there was such a plan in the offing, why announce it on the last day before the new year, a two - three day notice could have helped them shift the venue to Ajman, Abudhabi, Fujairah etc. Shakira concert is on in Abudhabi, i dnt see abudhabi cancel ling any programs. On a final note, i express my deep sympathy to the palestine people , and following this ultimate operations by the Zionist forces, the Palestine cause is beyond repair and the only thing that can ever bring peace is" Armageddon". [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]

Re: Welshman by Leya Dsouza, Researcher - 31-Dec-08
Good For Dubai, so that Dubai can attract the right kind of Tourists ! ! ! [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]