I need to get to the UAE as it looks like they’re writing the future there on a daily basis.  First, I read about the Burj Dubai skyscraper in Dubai (that’s a recent photo above).  It’s going to be the world’s tallest-but the actual final height is a secret as they don’t want it to be trumped.  Current speculation is that it will be 1,011 meters (3,317 feet) - that’s almost twice as tall as the planned Freedom Tower here in NYC on the old WTC grounds.

Here’s what it will look like when finished:

Not to be outdone, their neighbours down the road in Abu Dhabi just announced the creation of Masdar Cityscape - the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste city.  The idea is that no one will use cars as you will always be within 200 meters of public transport plus the city will be designed for walking (i.e., lots of shaded streets).  It will also include solar cells and farms to be entirely self-sustaining.

The entire plan has been done by Norman Foster & Partners.  No word yet on when it will be up and running.  Here are some artists renderings: