DK Travel : Dubai & Abu Dhabi : Architecture

Burj Dubai & Business Bay

Business Bay, the main business address for the Middle East, is soon set to open its dozens of skyscraper offices to international companies. The area will also house the Middle East’s “Wall Street”, the Dubai International Finance Centre and the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, expected to be almost half a mile (1 km) high – the precise figure is secret in case New York’s Freedom Tower tries to top it!
Dubai Infrastructure

With so much development planned for the near future, the city’s transport infrastructure will be crucial. Underway are three important projects. The first is the Dubai Metro, an under- and overground railway that, by 2020, will be able to handle 1.8 million passengers a day. The second is an expansion of the Dubai International Airport, with a new exclusive terminal for Emirates (the local airline) and a cargo “mega-terminal”. The third is a new six-runway freight-focused airport on the city outskirts at Jebel Ali.
Dubailand

Conceived on a phenomenal scale, with completion in 2020, this $4.5-billion development will be the biggest entertainment attraction on the planet, twice the size of the Walt Disney World Resort. Plans are on for six enormous themed areas as well as a giant wheel that will permit a view of up to 31 miles (50 km).
Festival City

A “city within a city”, this huge waterfront lifestyle resort will extend 2 miles (4 km) along the Creek. It comprises a mind-boggling 20,000 homes, with schools, malls, hotels, a marina with 90 waterside restaurants and leisure facilities, including a golf course. When complete, 100,000 people will live and work here.
Mall of Arabia

The Mall of Arabia is set to open in 2008. Shoppers will be spoilt for choice, with the more than 1,000 stylish international retail outlets and parking for 10,000 vehicles planned, making this the world’s largest retail development.
Saadiyat Island

Known as an idyllic tourist destination for Abu Dhabi, much as Capri is to Italy, this tiny island is a mixed-use develop-ment. Scheduled for completion in 2018, it will be home to 150,000 people. Also planned as a cultural hub, visitors will enjoy world-class museums, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, to be designed by Frank Gehry, and a branch of the Louvre (see Saadiyat Island ).
Sir Baniyas Island

This secret cone-shaped island in the Arabian Gulf is an extraordinary “ark” and conser-vation project. If you are lucky, you may spot some African giraffes and ostriches, llamas from Peru and even catch a glimpse of the Arabian oryx.
Ski Dubai

The largest indoor snow park in the world, this cavernous space contains 6,000 tonnes of manufactured snow. Five runs vary in difficulty, the longest being almost a quarter of a mile (400 m), making it the world’s first indoor black run.
The Palms (Jumeirah)

This palm-shaped island may qualify for the “Eighth Wonder of the World” tag. It is one of the largest man-made developments and is visible from space. Housing close to 5,000 villas and luxury apartments (all sold out!), it boasts of resident celebrities. Two even bigger palm island projects, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, are under construction.
The World

This grand plan involves a marine development of 300 artificial islands 2 miles (4 km) offshore, designed in the shape of the world map. Buyers can take their pick of “countries”; prices range from $10–45 million. 326 million cubic metres of sand are required for land reclamation and a 17-mile (26 km) oval-shaped break-water is being built.