Dr. Christopher M. Davidson
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Persian Gulf politics, socio-economic development, investments, etc.
ABU DHABI: OIL AND BEYOND
Christopher M. Davidson
Published June 2009 (New York: Columbia University Press, 2009; London: Hurst &Co., 2009)
A rising economic power, Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, is poised to
become a major player in the fortunes of both Third and First World countries. Abu Dhabi
owns more than 8 percent of the world's oil reserves, has close to one trillion dollars to invest in
sovereign wealth funds, and is about to implement a masterful set of economic initiatives that
will yield even greater returns. Abu Dhabi has begun to eclipse its partner city, Dubai, in terms
of sheer wealth and cultural and infrastructural development, opening the world's first Ferrari
theme park and erecting satellite branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre. Author of the
best-selling Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success and an expert on Gulf politics, Christopher M.
Davidson tracks Abu Dhabi's remarkable growth from a modest, eighteenth-century sheikhdom
to its present opulent state. He recounts the dramatic efforts made by the emirate's dynastic
family to retain their power, detailing the system of "tribal capitalism" they created in order to
reconcile old political allegiances with modern engines of growth. Davidson concludes with
potential challenges to Abu Dhabi's political and economic success, including a weakening of
civil society, invasive media censorship, an ongoing labor crisis, increasing federal unrest, and
persistent underperformance in the education sector.
Columbia University Press book page (US edition)
Hurst & Co. book page (UK edition)
Amazon.com book page (US edition)
Amazon.co.uk book page (UK edition)
Excerpts:
Table of contents
Chapter 2 'Sheikh Shakhbut and the Great Decline'
Reviews:
Times Higher Education
International Affairs
Middle East Policy
Middle East Journal
Arab Studies Quarterly
Middle Eastern Studies
Middle East International
H-Net (in German)
Darussalem.ae (in Arabic)
Other features:
Forbes Magazine 27/8/09 'Beware an Abu Dhabi Expose'
Maktoob 6/9/09 'Exploiting UAE "Censorship" Laws for Profit'
Media Week 6/9/09 'Banned Book Publisher Denies Publicity Stunt'
Hurst & Co. 27/8/09 'Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond Censored in UAE'
Page 99 Test 3/8/09 'Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond'
Christopher M. Davidson
Published June 2009 (New York: Columbia University Press, 2009; London: Hurst &Co., 2009)
A rising economic power, Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, is poised to
become a major player in the fortunes of both Third and First World countries. Abu Dhabi
owns more than 8 percent of the world's oil reserves, has close to one trillion dollars to invest in
sovereign wealth funds, and is about to implement a masterful set of economic initiatives that
will yield even greater returns. Abu Dhabi has begun to eclipse its partner city, Dubai, in terms
of sheer wealth and cultural and infrastructural development, opening the world's first Ferrari
theme park and erecting satellite branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre. Author of the
best-selling Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success and an expert on Gulf politics, Christopher M.
Davidson tracks Abu Dhabi's remarkable growth from a modest, eighteenth-century sheikhdom
to its present opulent state. He recounts the dramatic efforts made by the emirate's dynastic
family to retain their power, detailing the system of "tribal capitalism" they created in order to
reconcile old political allegiances with modern engines of growth. Davidson concludes with
potential challenges to Abu Dhabi's political and economic success, including a weakening of
civil society, invasive media censorship, an ongoing labor crisis, increasing federal unrest, and
persistent underperformance in the education sector.
Columbia University Press book page (US edition)
Hurst & Co. book page (UK edition)
Amazon.com book page (US edition)
Amazon.co.uk book page (UK edition)
Excerpts:
Table of contents
Chapter 2 'Sheikh Shakhbut and the Great Decline'
Reviews:
Times Higher Education
International Affairs
Middle East Policy
Middle East Journal
Arab Studies Quarterly
Middle Eastern Studies
Middle East International
H-Net (in German)
Darussalem.ae (in Arabic)
Other features:
Forbes Magazine 27/8/09 'Beware an Abu Dhabi Expose'
Maktoob 6/9/09 'Exploiting UAE "Censorship" Laws for Profit'
Media Week 6/9/09 'Banned Book Publisher Denies Publicity Stunt'
Hurst & Co. 27/8/09 'Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond Censored in UAE'
Page 99 Test 3/8/09 'Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond'
