In this op-ed, Faisal J. Abbas, editor of Al Arabiya English, makes an excellent case for why 21st century Dubai is analogous to the renaissance of 15th century Florence, Italy. “Both cities managed to overcome their limitations, exceed their natural boundaries and achieve a ‘global status;’ mostly owing to the visionary ruling families, namely the Medicis of Florence and the al-Maktoums of Dubai,” says Abbas in the piece. Not to mention the whole patronage of the arts thing… Fun read!!
