# What is this a picture of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871 "2012-03-05T23:52:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871/1 "2012-03-05T23:52:26Z")
In the most recent Time magazine, there is a striking picture of a huge city rising out of seeming nothing. For bizarre reasons, there is no caption or any other information identifying what city it might be. I found a small picture of it [online](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2108014,00.html). Can anybody identify it? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871/2 "2012-03-05T23:58:03Z")
Looks like Dubai, with the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world) at centre. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871/3 "2012-03-05T23:59:05Z")
[Dubai](http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-28002547/aerial-view-of-dubai-skyline-uae?popup=1) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871/4 "2012-03-06T00:05:27Z")
Specifically, the picture was taken from about [here](http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=25.176282,55.295391&spn=0.044043,0.084543&t=k&z=14), looking roughly northwest. You can see the road junction there in the foreground, and just visible at left is what appears to be the Dubai Camel Racecourse… ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871/5 "2012-03-06T00:06:58Z")
Aerial view of Dubai: [Royalty Free Stock Photos, Illustrations, Vector Art, and Video Clips - Getty Images](http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-28002547/aerial-view-of-dubai-skyline-uae) ETA: too slow… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-a-picture-of/614871/6 "2012-03-06T01:57:11Z")
Thanks all.