Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-259) and index.

Introduction: Invited at the Sultan's court PART I: A STATE LIKE NO OTHER Chapter 1: Branding Dubai. How Dubai became Dubai and the emirates... the Emirates Audacity and voluntarism Success is not enough Branding Abu Dhabi Chapter 2: The metamorphosis of a traditional society Legitimisation by the state The constitution put to the test Reforms Chapter 3: The invention of Arab Muslim liberalism Tribal capitalism Liberalism and interventionism A successful model? PART II: WHAT PLACE ON THE WORLD MAP? Chapter 4: Agent of globalisation Space(s) of globalisation Which relations with the West? Security Chapter 5: Persian Janus The Tunbs and Abu Musa Economic rapprochement or the iron law of the market The unexpected effects of the economic depression Chapter 6: Arab fraternities The UAE, within the GCC From multilateralism to bilateralism? No Arab Spring in hot deserts Chapter 7: Asian tropism The 'Asianisation' of the Emirates? A new Silk Road? Capital flows PART III: THE SKY IS THE LIMIT Chapter 8: Dependencies From food security policy to outsourcing Water and electricity consumption, overconsumption Environmental assessments and political prospects Chapter 9: What does identity mean? The uncertain future of the Emirati population What identity for which nation? Emiratisation Chapter 10: After the depression The 2008-9 crisis, facts and representations The debt of Dubai Back in business Conclusion: The UAE: A pole of stability Index