2006年VOA标准英语-Dubai's Economy Continues to Grow

By Barry Unger
Washington, DC
13 January 2006
 
watch Dubai Economy report
 
  
  
Dubai is becoming a business hub and is one of the world's fastest growing economies. But Dubai will now have to move forward with a different leader after the death of the emir. VOA's Crystal Park narrates¹ this report.

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Sheik Maktoum bin² Rashid Al Maktoum  
  
Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the emir of Dubai, passed away last week at the age of 62.  Dubai's economy has grown exponentially under Sheik Maktoum's reign³, becoming a hub for business and tourism. Dubai's gross domestic product grew by 16 percent in 2005.

 
Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
  
Sheik Maktoum will be succeeded by his brother Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whom many say is the driving force behind Dubai's economic transformation⁴.

Former Ambassador David Mack, Vice⁵ President of the Middle East Institute, told us, "Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the new ruler of Dubai and the defense⁶ minister of the United Arab Emirates for a number of years, has been a principle force in the economic revitalization of Dubai. He is also extremely interested in the business activity. He takes a direct role."

Sheik Mohammed is also credited with helping⁷ business by keeping the Emirates safe.

 
David Mack (file photo)
  
"The first thing has been to maintain basic stability and security in Dubai. It's obviously in a region of great turbulence⁸ and yet it's been relatively⁹ unmarked by these kinds of problems," said the ambassador.

Despite being in the oil-rich gulf¹⁰ region, Dubai has attracted many international corporations to create a diverse economy.

"Dubai has flourished as a commercial and touristic center and it basically benefits not only from oil and gas revenues, but also from tourism that has nothing to do with, and business that has nothing to do with the oil industry."

Dubai is home to beach resorts, an indoor ski resort, skyscrapers¹¹ and manmade islands. But all of this construction has led to concerns from environmental groups. 

Roger Higman   
  
Roger Higman is with Friends of the Earth. "It is madness that we should be building ski resorts in the Arabian Peninsula when the energy crisis is threatening to wipe out ski resorts all over the world because of global warming."

But some analysts¹² believe daring ideas like the indoor ski resort, the creation of Internet City, and the upscale hotels are behind Dubai's rising economy.

The change in leadership is not expected to produce any economic changes. Sheik Maktoum had already handed over day-to-day operations of Dubai to his brother, Sheik Mohammed, years ago.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

3 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

4 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 turbulence   

n.喧嚣，狂暴，骚乱，湍流

参考例句：

• The turbulence caused the plane to turn over.空气的激流导致飞机翻转。
• The world advances amidst turbulence.世界在动荡中前进。

9 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

10 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

11 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。