Recession-stalled cranes and uncompleted shells of structures stand in contrast with skyscrapers completed during the exuberant building boom of the last two decades along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (KARIM SAHIB / AFP/Getty Images))
Construction continues on the massive Burj Dubai tower, set to open later this year and take its place as the worlds tallest building. (KARIM SAHIB / AFP/Getty Images)
The Burj Dubai tower juts up from the spine-like skyline in the city of about 2 million, of which roughly 85% are expatriates. (Joern Pollex / Getty Images)
Much of Dubai is composed of mini-cities that often reflect the essence of various world destinations such as Manhattan and the gated communities of Orange County. The Emirates Golf Club re-creates an artificially green slice of suburban Houston or Phoenix. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images)
