New country, same old story

I have spent the last week in Qatar. One of the few GCC countries I hadn't visited. Lovely people and a really nice vibe about the place (I recommend staying in the W Doha. www.whoteldoha.com/).

However the one thing that surprised me more than ever, is hearing the stories about the development of the country. You cannot knock the vision of the Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al Thani, but the pathway to a post hydrocarbon economy sounds very familiar.

I'm found of the region, I like the idiosyncrasies and the preservation of culture and religion, in the face of many western influences, but I just don't get how they are going to fill these huge new cities up. After all Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have essentially the same development pathways. A little more tourism here, maybe a spaceport there but essentially they are the same. Which makes it all the more strange when you here peoples reaction to Dubai.

The only way I can see the figures working is to create indigenous businesses that develop the new services and light manufacturing companies of the future. Of course sovereign wealth funds have been busy shoring up European businesses but this is pure investment. It doesn't create jobs or new businesses to fill the number of villas and apartments that will be available in the region in the next 5-10 years.

Maybe I can't see the vision but I do know that to be successful these powerful economies need to be focused on growing a more substantive reason to stay than tourism.