Dubai's diverse developments

ATLANTIS, THE PALM DUBAI
Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, a 22-storey aquatic-themed complex on Palm Jumeirah,
represented a turning point when it opened in September. Its 1,500 rooms feed into
Dubai’s growing hotel capacity, while its on-site water park is the first in a string of
next-generation theme parks.

Atlantis, The Palm is located at the centre of Palm Jumeirah’s crescent, and will be the
first of an estimated 30 hotels expected to open across the project over the next few

years. The resort’s theme park, Aquaventure, is the largest waterpark in the Arabian
Peninsula, with 170,000 sqm of beachfront, a marine lagoon, 18 million litres of fresh
water powering seven waterslides and a dolphin conservation centre.

Corporate groups can use a 5,600 sqm conference centre, complete with the 2,100 sqm Atlantis Ballroom, capable hosting up to 2,500 delegates and offering WiFi Internet access.

There is also a 1,000 sqm pre-function area with floor-to-ceiling beach views, while the Silk and Spice Ballrooms, each over 500 sqm in size, can be divided into two or three separate rooms.
The outdoor Palm Grove can also be hired, as can the Aquaventure Beach for traditional

Arabian barbecues. Eventually there will be 16 restaurants throughout the complex (there

are 12 open already) including a Dubai branch of the famous Nobu brand.

INTERNATIONAL HOTELS
Dubai’s landmark hotels can be wildly imaginative, with a vast sense of scale. But even these will soon be topped by a new wave of properties under construction including hotels from fashion houses Armani and Versace. Plans include a Las Vegas-like stretch (minus the gambling) called Bawadi that will house 51 themed hotels, including the 6,500-room Asia-Asia Hotel.

The Asia-Asia Hotel in Dubailand will be the largest in the world when it opens in 2010,
and will be the centrepiece of Bawadi, the largest hospitality and leisure project in the region.

EXHIBITION SPACE
Upon completion, Dubai Exhibition World will be four times the size of the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

Developed by Dubai World Trade Centre, the new 120,000 sqm venue will handle the demand for exhibition space, leaving DICEC to focus on meetings and conferences.

The first phase of Dubai Exhibition World, located next to the international airport, will open by 2009.

The exhibition space will be spread across 17 interconnected halls, a conference and
exhibition hall, and a multipurpose hall.

GREAT DUBAI WHEEL
Built by the developers of the London Eye, the 185-metre Great Dubai Wheel will be the world’s biggest observation wheel.
Due for completion next year, it will have 30 capsules available for hire for corporate events, similar to the Singapore Flyer.

DUBAI SUNNY MOUNTAIN SKI DOME
Not content with one ski dome, Dubai is building a second which is, of course, the world’s largest.

Costing US$4 billion, the project will include shops and restaurants, ice slides, polar bears and penguins, a revolving ski slope, a snow maze and cold and warm bath spas. A luxury iceberg-shaped hotel will flank the dome. The project should be completed by the end of this year.

THE WORLD
These new artificial islands are part of a plan to create hundreds of kilometres of new coastline for Dubai.

Each island will be between 14,000 and 42,000 sqm, and range in price from US$6 million to US$36 million.

Potential buyers include individuals as well as investors and leading international hotel groups. Once purchased, owners are free to use and develop their piece of land as they please (except
build a casino).

The island that represents Ireland is rumoured to feature an Irish-themed bar that will run the length of the island, complete with four-leaf clovers and leprechauns.

WATERFRONT CITY
Covering an area double the size of Hong Kong island, this vast project will reshape the
emirate by adding 850km of new coastline, which will be home to luxury houses and
international five-star hotels. The project will boast the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Al
Burj Dubai, surpassing the Burj Dubai, which holds the current world record.

The construction will cover 440 sq km, accommodate 400,000 people and be serviced by three new Metro lines, a light-rail and water transport.

This article was first published on CEI Asia Pacific

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