'Dubailand' aims to be Middle East's Disneyland

[mikaztro]

[SIZE="5"]'Dubailand' aims to be Middle East Orlando[/SIZE]
by Ali Khalil Tue Jun 19, 12:28 AM ET


DUBAI (AFP) - Widely touted as the Middle East's very own Orlando, Dubailand, a cluster of mega-billion-dollar projects, is gradually emerging across the desert sands of the booming Gulf emirate.
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Faced with a dwindling wealth of oil, Dubai has taken on a new challenge of larger-than-life projects in line with its ambition to become the region's main business and leisure hub.

Already primed as a holiday destination, it is fast executing plans to build a host of new hotels, golf courses, malls and leisure facilities in order to more than double the number of tourists to 15 million by 2015.

Initially planned to cover an area of two billion square feet (185 square kilometres), Dubailand, billed as the "world's most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment project," is expected to be a sprawling three billion square feet. This would make it larger than the entire city of Orlando, Florida -- home to Walt Disney World, Universal Resort, Sea World and a variety of other attractions and hotels.

"Dubailand is going to be a city within a city," said Mohammed al-Habbai, chief executive officer of Dubailand, a subsidiary of the government-owned Tatweer.

"We are very confident in what we are doing," he told AFP. "I would say that most of our projects are on time."

Western-oriented Dubai's bid to position itself on the world tourism map has propelled it way ahead of its oil-rich conservative Gulf neighbours.

It already prides itself on the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab hotel and building three palm-tree shaped islands off the coast, where the ambitious island project in the shape of a world map has fast become yet another landmark.

On Monday, Dubai also announced its 100-million-dollar purchase of the Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the world's most majestic cruise liners, which it plans to turn it into a luxury floating hotel berthed at one of the palm islands.

A model version of Dubailand still shows its vast barren surroundings, which in three years time will be awash with even more golf courses, theme parks, mega-malls and residential towers.

"This area will definitely be completely different by 2010," when three million visitors a year are expected to Dubailand alone, said Habbai.

The entire 24-project venture, not scheduled for completion before 2025, is estimated to cost 235 billion dirhams (64 billion dollars, 48 billion euros), 60 percent of which is expected to come from private investors.

This does not even include the mammoth 'Bawadi' project, announced in 2006 as the world's largest hospitality and leisure development consisting of more than 50 themed hotels with 60,000 rooms, almost double the number currently available in Dubai.

In May, the emirate's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, seen as the driving force behind Dubai's phenomenal economic growth, announced doubling the value of Bawadi to 54 billion dollars.

One of its hotels, AsiaAsia, tipped to be world's largest with 6,500 rooms, will be developed by Tatweer, with 45 percent of Bawadi already agreed upon with private investors, Habbai said.

Tatweer is part of Dubai Holding, a conglomerate owned by the government of Dubai which oversees mega-projects in the emirate, currently experiencing a burgeoning property boom.

In the throes of constructing the world's highest building, whose ultimate height remains a closely-guarded secret, Dubai also plans to house a Great Wheel, whose size will rival that of the London Eye observation wheel.

Dubailand will also house the world's largest transparent snow dome and a Universal Studio theme park, announced in March by Tatweer.

The latter will be part of a 2.2-billion-dollar Universal City Dubai, comprising 4,000 hotel rooms and some 100 restaurants.

Along with Tiger Woods Dubai -- a 25-million-square-foot golf course and community featuring palaces and mansions by September 2009 -- Universal City will be the only Dubailand projects funded by Tatweer.

Taking it one step further, the Falcon City of Wonders will boast replicas of the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Aqua Dunya is also expected to be one of the world's largest water parks.

Several stadiums are being constructed in Dubailand's Sports City and a comprehensive Motor City is taking shape around the currently operational Dubai Autodrome.

Despite the frenetic expansion, Habbai dismissed fears of saturation in the market, which currently faces a hotel room shortage in peak periods.

"Dubailand is going to create a new segment in the market for leisure and entertainment," now mainly focused on beach and shopping holidays, he said.

Grandiose shopping malls are also well in the making in Dubai, a member of the seven-strong United Arab Emirates.

Tatweer announced in May a 2.7-billion-dollar deal with Al-Ghurair Investment to develop a four-million-square-foot mall in the Bawadi retail zone.

And the Mall of Arabia, expected to open its first phase in early 2009, aims to extend to become the world's largest at 10 million square feet.

[VtEC]

Dubai (UAE) is one heck of a country.They almost got the US ports right?

[oldblue]

baka meron ride dyan na car bomb or ram an airplane into a bldg. hehehe

[mikaztro]

Not to mention The Palm Jumeirah Island.


The Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island created using land reclamation by Nakheel, a company owned by the Dubai government. It is one of three islands called The Palm Islands which will increase Dubai’s shoreline by a total of 520 kms. The Palm Jumeirah is the smallest of three Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira) under development by Nakheel. It is located on the Jumeirah coastal area of the emirate of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Palm Jumeirah is in the shape of a palm tree. It consists of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 11 kilometre-long breakwater. The island is 5 kilometres by 5 kilometres and its total area is larger than 800 football pitches[1]. The crown is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre bridge and the cresent is connected to the top of the palm by a subsea tunnel[1]. Over the next 2 to 3 years, as the tourism phases develop, The Palm Jumeirah is touted as soon to be one of the world’s premier resorts. The Palm Island is the self-declared 'Eighth Wonder of the World'. The island will double the length of the Dubai coastline[citation needed].

According to the developer's publicity material[2], the Jumeirah Palm island will feature themed boutique hotels, three types of villas (Signature Villas, Garden Homes and Canal Cove Town Homes), shoreline apartment buildings, beaches, marinas, restaurants, cafes and a variety of retail outlets. Over 30 beachfront hotels will be opened by the end of 2009[1], including:

* The Trump International Hotel & Tower
* Atlantis, The Palm
* The Taj Exotica Hotel & Resort
* Grandeur Residences
* Tiara Residence
* Oceana Residence
* The Fairmont Palm Residence
* The Fairmont Palm Hotel & Resort
* The Dubai Estates Hotel & Park
* Hotel Missoni Dubai
* Kempinski Emerald Palace
* Kempinski Emerald Palace Residences

3 fighter jets have been stripped and sunk near The Palm Jumeirah to create an artificial reef, intended to encourage marine life[citation needed].

A monorail is being built on the island which will be able to transport 2,000-3,000 people on and off the island every hour.

[mikaztro]

Check this website...unbelievable!

http://www.thepalm.ae/

[mikaztro]

http://www.nakheel.com/Developments/Map_View/

[kimpOy]

wow beachfront lahat...

[BlueBimmer]

sana mapadpad ako dyan...

[mcbry]

grabe ang ganda. sana nga opportunities will open para dyan makapagtrabaho.

[boybi]

Need ba ng visa papuntang Dubai?

[mcbry]

kailangan yata visa dun.

[boybi]

Di ba sobrang init dyan? Ok pa rin bang mamasyal dyan sa init?

[ssaloon]

andy - yup kelangan, pero madali lang kumuha. friend ko, after 1 week lang, nabigyan na agad eh. it's hot, but not humid kaya di siya malagkit na nakakairita.

[BlueBimmer]

ang airfare punta dubai parang papuntang states na ata ang mahal dba? mga lampas $1k round trip?

[awing]

Need ba ng visa papuntang Dubai?

Kailangan po.

As Visit Visa:

Applies to tourists who wish to spend more than 14 days in Dubai, those coming for family visits as well as those on long-term business visits.
It requires the sponsorship of any U.A.E. resident or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the U.A.E. A refundable DH 2,000 guarantee from expatriates who wish to sponsor distant relatives will be imposed.
This visa is valid for entry within two months from its date of issue.
The Visit Visa is valid for 60 days and is renewable for a total stay of up to 90 days. A fee of Dhs 500 is charged for this renewal....

more info HERE

[oldblue]

http://www.nakheel.com/Developments/Map_View/

yang ang ultimate crop circle

[awing]

And dont forget the BURJ DUBAI

...[SIZE=-1]will become the world's tallest building...

[/SIZE]

[Horsepower]

Galing talaga ng leader ng bansa na ito, super-visionary!

[overdrayv]

http://www.theworld.ae/

The World Islands, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Palm World or Globe Islands, are a collection of man-made islands shaped into the continents of the world, located off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It will consist of 300 small private artificial islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands.

The World Islands will be located 4 kilometers off the shore of Jumeirah, close to the Palm Jumeirah, between Burj Al Arab and Port Rashid at approximately 25°13 North and 55°10 East. The AED 6.6 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) project will cover a total area of 9 kilometers (5.4 miles) in length and 6 kilometers (3.6 miles) in width, surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater. The only means of transportation between the islands will be by marine or air transport and boat transportation from the mainland will be from the umm suqeim and jumeirah fishing harbours.

Each island of The World will range from 250 to 900 thousand square feet (23.2 to 83.6 thousand square meters) in size, with 50 to 100 metres (164 to 328 feet) of water between each island. Each island will be sold to selected private developers and are expected to have pricing beginning at AED 25 million (US$ 6.85 million). Individuals who own on an island in The World Islands include Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.

http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork...ld_islands.php

[Horsepower]

Ano kaya kinakain ng visionary na yun. Super galing. I think i'd eat more Dates (a type of Arabian fruit). hehehhe.