There has been a lot of news regarding the
gold vending machine in the Emirites Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. It is promoted as "the world's only gold vending machine." Clearly, the city of Dubai could not let that stand. While in Dubai, I counted not one but
two gold vending machines which looked like they were being prepared for operation. Unlike Abu Dhabi which assumes that only the richest people who are likely to stay in a "seven-star hotel" would want to buy their gold from a vending machine, Dubai has taken a more populist view as to who would like to buy gold coins without the hassle of human interaction. They have put them at both the top and
the bottom of the Burj Khalifa, the worlds' tallest building. That way you can buy your gold from the 125th floor. Or if you are on a budget and don't want to spend the 100 dirhams to go to the top, you can just buy your gold next to the ticket booth for the Burj Khalifa. The important thing is that now with these machines being in a shopping mall, they are easily accessible for people of any income to buy their gold. And that's what Dubai is all about.
There has been a lot of news regarding the gold vending machine in the Emirites Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. It is promoted as "the world's only gold vending machine." Clearly, the city of Dubai could not let that stand. While in Dubai, I counted not one but two gold vending machines which looked like they were being prepared for operation. Unlike Abu Dhabi which assumes that only the richest people who are likely to stay in a "seven-star hotel" would want to buy their gold from a vending machine, Dubai has taken a more populist view as to who would like to buy gold coins without the hassle of human interaction. They have put them at both the top and 
the bottom of the Burj Khalifa, the worlds' tallest building. That way you can buy your gold from the 125th floor. Or if you are on a budget and don't want to spend the 100 dirhams to go to the top, you can just buy your gold next to the ticket booth for the Burj Khalifa. The important thing is that now with these machines being in a shopping mall, they are easily accessible for people of any income to buy their gold. And that's what Dubai is all about.
Who would buy them ?
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good question. I've wondered the answer myself. I'm guessing that it's all about image and being able to say that the hotel/tower/shopping mall is so wealthy that people can buy gold from vending machines.
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