John Marshall

But Marshall hopes this is just the start of a new dawn for Middle East contracts. Surely the Emaar deal is a showcase for the future? Other countries in the region will want to copy Dubai's visionary e-lifestyle?

'That idea had occurred to us,' says Marshall. 'We are offering a total technology solution, and not many companies can handle a project of this scale. And we do see oil revenues being spent on technology projects. It stands to reason. Countries increasingly realise that they need technology to give them a competitive advantage, and help diversify away from reliance on oil'.

For Emaar Properties Marconi will create a complete e-lifestyle for the residents in its multi-billion dollar, high-rise, real estate development, Dubai Marina, a 2.5km long artificial lake which was flooded by Sheikh Mohammed earlier this month. The core will be a broadband communications network, offering videos-on-demand, 24hr continuous Internet access, video monitoring and many other state-of-the-art facilities.

Marconi's private communications network will also extend to the separate Emirates Lakes and Emirates Hills developments that are the low-rise complements to the tower blocks of the Dubai Marina scheme. 'This is a complete lifestyle and we will specify, source and install the technology in partnership with Emaar,' explains Marshall. 'It's a private broadband network for 100-150,000 people'.

An old British company whose heritage dates back more than a hundred years and spans the early years of radio, Marconi has re-invented itself as an information technology giant in recent years with a string of acquisitions. And the defence manufacturer of the same name is now a part of British Aerospace, while Marconi is separately quoted on the London stock market and NASDAQ.

It is already number one in broadband, and a leader in the creation of the optical networks that will form the backbone of the global communications network of the not so distant future. As usual Dubai has chosen its partner carefully for a combination of vision and practical ability, and the residents of Emaar Properties' huge developments will be the first to benefit. Others Middle East countries will probably not be far behind.