We're speeding along one of the immaculate freeways that criss-cross Dubai when Ray O'Rourke suddenly gets animated. "Look at that Would you just look at that? Now, what do you think of THAT?" He is gesturing wildly towards a forest of tower cranes coming into view ahead of us. "Believe me, you won't have seen a site like this one before," he trills, rubbing his meaty hands together in anticipation. Minutes later, O'Rourke, his engineer son Cathal (pronounced Carl), Ptter Rogers of developer Stanhope and I are standing at the edge of the biggest hole we've ever seen. It's about a kilometre in diameter: at a guess, it's five times the size of Heathrow Terminal 5. There are 42 cranes around it. Flitting about between them is an army of 6000 operatives, most from India. They seem oblivious to the choking dust and 45° heat. This is one of Laing O'Rourke's most impressive projects - a pound; 350m contract, in partnership with local outfit Al Naboodah Contracting, to deliver reinforced concrete structures for Dubai airport's third terminal. O'Rourke knew we'd be impressed, of course - especially Rogers, who is one of his most faithful clients. It's why he brought us here.
展开▼
