Dubai's demise

Three things prompted this post, a conversation and two experiences.

The conversation was a visiting UK businessman saying the other evening that we in Dubai are unaware of the bad situation we're in. We're not exposed to the truth as presented by the press in the UK so we don't realise that the city's economy has collapsed.

Firstly, we are of course fully aware of what the world's media says - we have access to it on the internet.

Secondly, while there's been a dramatic slowdow it's not the picture conjoured up by sections of the British press. You know the stories, tens of thousands of expats fleeing, schools emptying, a ghost town being reclaimed by the desert.

The two experiences were yesterday evening's peak time which gave us traffic gridlock on Sheikh Zayed Road, on Al Sufouh Road, in Knowledge Village.

Then walking the length of Dubai Marina I was struck by the huge amount of construction still going on. There's the constant noise of generators, machinery, hammering, shouting along the full length of the Marina.

An awful lot of companies are still doing an awful lot of business.

They jumped the gun with the obituaries.

Dubai's future clouded in debt?

Dubai is on a spending spree, and financial analysts are starting to wonder about the amount of debt the city-state is racking up.

Its oil production is dwindling, and its debt load is four times the average among other Persian Gulf states. Credit-rating companies are asking for more information to determine how sound the government really is.

"From published documents, it is difficult to get a picture of the complete financial situation," said Standard & Poor's analyst Farouk Soussa. "The transparency isn't good."

One of seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, like other Middle East governments, has been on a deal-making binge. Companies owned or backed by the government have signed agreements or made plays for billions of dollars in assets this year, including stakes in American and European stock exchanges, a Las Vegas casino operator and, most recently, a chunk of Sony Corp. Part of Dubai's deal-making is financed by debt.

At the same time, other Dubai entities have launched expansion plans relying on public borrowing. Nakheel, a government-controlled company building a giant, palm-tree-shaped island development, placed $750 million in bonds this month to finance its plans. Government-owned Jebel Ali Free Zone recently listed 7.5 billion dirham ($2 billion) of bonds.
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Dubai also has taken a more-complex approach to investing overseas. Most other deal-making countries have used massive investment authorities to pursue their deals. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, for instance, bought a $7.5 billion stake in Citigroup Inc. last month. In contrast, Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has entrusted a cadre of lieutenants to run his own and his government's business interests. They often compete with one another and hunt for deals independently, but they all ultimately answer to Sheik Mohammed.

The government association has helped a handful of Dubai corporate entities get high credit ratings. The assumption is that Sheikh Mohammed or his government will come to the rescue in a pinch. And if Dubai gets overextended, analysts expect the emirate's much-richer cousins in Abu Dhabi will lend a hand. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the U.A.E., and its ruler is the country's president. Sheikh Mohammed is prime minister.
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As its oil supplies dwindle, Dubai has diversified its economy into financial services, tourism and real-estate development, among other pursuits. Those revenue streams and their underlying assets are difficult to pin down without access to government books.

Intriguing. Emphasis added. If it is true that Abu Dhabi will step in in the event of insolvency we have the makings of an overinvestment problem like that which fueled the real estate crisis in the US in the eighties.

In a graphic accompanying the article Abu Dhabi's sovereign rating is given as AA/stable/A-1+. Abu Dhabi's debt as a percentage of GDP is 2.9%. Dubai's sovereign is "not available." Its debt as a percentage of GDP is 41.8%.

Jumeirah Village Circle

a self-contained community of over 6,000 villas and townhouses, jumeirah village is a 100% freehold residential developmentamidst landscaped boulevards & gardens, delivering unique lifestyle concepts to incumbents. jumeirah village is demarcated into three sectors that are located on the emirates road, near the jumeirah islands in dubai.

the development comprises a series of villages linked to one another by open landscaped areas and canals. jumeirah village offers 2,883 two to four bedroom villas with balconies and 3,184 one or two bedroom spacious townhouses with a multitude of ultramodern leisure and home accessories. when complete, these lovely residential spaces will be a striking blend of arabian and mediterraneanarchitectural styles and themes. they will feature distinctive red-tiled roofs, arches, carved doors, ornamental spiral columns, tiled floors & walls imbibing the very best of traditional middle eastern motifs and designs.

jumeirah village freehold residential project has the following themed areas:

• gateway village
• canal village
• paradise village (serenity village)
• marina village
• wadi village
• lake village
• waterscape village
• garden village

jumeirah village is built around gateway village that features extensive retail and leisure amenities. canal village has as its centrepiece a waterfront theme with scenic views. on the other hand, paradise and marina villages provide plenty of green open spaces and maritime activities for residents including provision of berthing space for small boats.

also part of jumeirah village are two international schools, town and country clubs, community centre, jogging and cycling trails, community sports and leisure amenities (football and cricket pitch, tennis courts, croquet lawn and swimming pools), medical facilities, veterinary clinics with 24x7 security. the development is expected to be complete by 2008.

this community project is being developed by the dubai-based master builder nakheel and will be released in phases starting from the fourth quarter of 2008.

the village has a centrally located park designed to attract residents and visitors alike. the park also has a sloping hill with the iconic sunrise viewing pavilion. in addition, it has a native botanical garden and an amphitheatre that connects it to the souq.

3 wadi walks stretch from the central park; lined with indigenous plant species they are ideal play areas for children and also for walking & biking. in addition to these lanes, there are 3 oasis promenades which are formal gardens with loads of greenery and game areas.

the various sectors are connected by a network of waterways or rivulets. numerous smaller parks are scattered across the development with some overlooking the streets and others on more expansive plots with play areas and water features.

Dubai Festival City

on completion, dubai festival city will accomodate 50,000 residents in 20,000 homes, from large luxury townhouses to spectacular high rise apartments; offering a range of livestyles for families, singles and working professionals.

the landmark 2.8 million square foot urban retail resort combining festival waterfront centre and festival power centre forms the epicentre of dubai festival city and is one of the uae’s most exciting retail, dining and leisure destinations.

when complete, the retail resort will have 600 shops, including 25 flagship and anchor shops – the largest collective number in the middle east – as well as many new-to-market specialty boutiques and international brands. there will be over 100 international restaurants, bistros and cafés throughout the resort including 40 al fresco dining venues along the water.

dubai festival city has been designed to provide a business matrix that offers unrivalled convenience.

3 million square foot of office space will be available in a range of architechtual styles from waterfront boutique offices to high rise executive suites. conveniently located just 2km from dubai international airport with direct access from the new 12 lane garhoud bridge, new 13 lane business bay crossing, state-of-the-art facilities with landscaped gardens & rooftops overlooking the creek, dubai festival city business parks are set to become one of the most prestigious commercial addresses in dubai. dubai festival city offers something for everyone with a wealth of leisure activities to fulfill all desires. al fresco dining and waterfront cafes, a cinema complex, bowling city, the only round marina in dubai & a championship golf course make dubai festival city the world class waterfront lifestyle resort that it is. dubai festival city’s marsa auto gallery features a curved boulevard of contemporary, architecturally striking showrooms for each of the prestigious automotive brands – toyota, lexus, honda, volvo, jeep, chrysler and dodge – in a beautifully landscaped setting that is easy to access with ample parking and a short drive from the many delights of festival waterfront centre.

Dubai Waterfront

dubai waterfront is a stunning new development comprised of canals and islands containing luxury hotels and homes. its 70 kilometer (42 miles) arabian canal runs through the desert, while its arc shaped man-made islands produce a shelter around the palm jebel ali. the harbour provides sea access for trade and entertainment, while its surroundings are divided into a series of commercial, residential, resort and amenity areas.

dubai waterfront will extend dubai coastal line by 820 kilometers (492 miles), which is 12 times the current length of dubai's coastline, and will cover an area of over 81 million squared meters (266 million squared feet). it is intended to be the world's largest beachfront development and the largest man-made development. it will be larger than manhattan or beirut and is being built to be dubai's premium luxury district. the development will feature over 100 different waterfront developments and over 150 planned communities. the various key development areas of dubai waterfront can be seen the aerial map below.

the madinat al arab area will be the central area of the project and it have a 750 meter (2.46 thousand feet) skyscraper at its center,which has been named al burj (translated from arabic as "the tower").

learn more about the dubai waterfront by watching the video.

expected completion date - unknown
location - jebel ali, dubai, united arab emirates

the dubai waterfront will create a world-class destination for residents and visitors, symbolizing the phenomenal growth of dubai. the scale of the development is one that will go down in history as the world’s largest man-made development. the 70-kilometer canal cleaves through the desert while the sweeping arc of man-made islands shelters the surrounding palm jebel ali. the harbor provides sea access for trade and entertainment and surrounding the harbor is a series of zones with mixed use, commercial, residential, resort and amenity areas.

the master plan of the dubai waterfront is based on a series of ten zones designated for different purposes. the development will also boast a new city center, anchored by al burj, one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, which is being designed to reflect the meteoric growth of dubai. the waterfront will feature exclusive luxury hotels and resorts, including an underwater hotel, hydropolis, as well as shopping centers, entertainment venues and cultural arenas.

the waterfront project will build multiple roads and waterways, five square kilometers of coral reef and an additional 850-kilometre waterfront, 12 times the length of the existing dubai coastline. the planned communities on the waterfront are expected to house up to 400,000 people.

Dubai in 2050

I’ve seen the future and it’s full of skyscraper after skyscraper. But what else would you expect the future vision of Dubai to consist of? As you can see below, some bright spark has pictured the future and lo and behold the Dubai skyline is full of extremely tall, extremely contorted designed buildings.

Dubbed ‘Rotating Tower in Motion’ building based on ‘Dynamic Architecture‘ concept by Florentine architect David Fisher is first of its kind and trend-setting. Not only be the pioneer, the Dynamic Architecture building which will constantly in motion changing its shape with each floor capable of spin, move and rotate 360 degress independent of one another, will also be able to generate electric energy enough for itself as well as for other surrounding buildings from at least 48 wind turbines that fitted between each rotating floors as well as the solar panels positioned on the roof of the building that will produce pollution-free energy from wind and the sunlight. Any acoustics issues are solved by modern design of the building and the carbon fiber special shape of the wings. And the floor only rotates at the slow speed of about 6 meters a minutes, so that guests inside probably won’t feel it.

The Rotating Tower is actually a tower with a central concrete core surrounded by 59 independently rotating levels. It will also be the first skyscraper built with industrial systems process, where 90% of the building materials will be produced and constructed as modules in an industrial factory set up in Jebel Ali. These pre-fabricated units will then be shipped to the construction site and then assembled on the central core, the only part that will be built on-site using traditional techniques to house important static amenities like elevators, staircases, plumbing and other utilities. Each floor of the tower will consist of 48 of these factory-made modules that will arrive at the job site completely finished and self-contained with electrical, plumbing as well as air-conditioning systems ready for use. The modules will then be mechanically assembled at the rate of one floor every three days.

When completed, the rotating tower skyscraper will have 68 floors and will be 313 meters (1,027 feet) high. There will be a 6-star hotel, offices and apartments of various sizes besides five villas on the top floor. Each of the villas will have designated parking on the same floor with vehicles brought up and down in special elevators. The roof of the “Penthouse” villa will also have a swimming pool, a garden and an Arabian majlis. The tower also have a retractable heliport, a platform that will extend from the shell of the building at the 64th floor at the moment of landing, thus maintaining the dynamic aesthetic architecture of the tower.

If you can’t visualize how the tower can have endless shapes by dynamically rotating floors to adapts to its surroundings but also to the tenant’s needs and the tenant’s caprices, the following video may help you.

Not futuristic and advanced enough? How about “Rotating City” urban concept, which will be built anytime soon on an island in Abu Dhabi. The Rotating City, also by High Rise RE, is a city project where every building rotates and faces different environments according to the owner’s wishes. At 10 million square feet, this city definitely has the closer look to Spaceport in Star Wars. The city will consists of 20 rotating building 300 revolving, floating and flying villas on the water, also able to rotate at wish. Inside the city there are also 5-star hotel tower with 300 rooms, 4-star hotel tower with 350 rooms and Attraction Park with an animation box, magic carpet, river adventure, conference room and wedding room.

Future International City

the international city, dubai – lending dubai the cosmopolitan look! destined to become the business and cultural hub of the middle east and surrounding regions, the international city is a unique 800 hectare development that combines an exotic mix of commercial, residential, retail and tourism elements from different parts of the world. the name is derived from its own residential district which encompasses a variety of country-specific architectural themes adding to the international essence of the project. located on the emirates road, near the dubai international airport, it is 20 minutes away from dubai international financial center and 15 minutes to dubai festival city. international city is a country themed architecture of residences, business opportunity, and tourist attractions. it will cover 800 hectares (8 million square meters) and its geometry was inspired by the intricately patterened traditional carpets of the middle east. once completed, the project will contain studio, one and two bedroom apartment units and accommodate over 60 thousand residents. international city is located in the al warsan region of dubai, which is along the dubai-hatta road and between interchange 5 and 6 of emirates road, opposite to the dubai central fruit and vegetable market. it is located 9 kilometers (5.4 miles) from the dubai international airport, which is around a 15-20 minute drive from the center of the city. it will comprise of 6 key areas, including the central district, dubai design centre, the dragon mart, the residential district, lakes district and the forbidden city. the central district the central district is spread over 21 hectares and comprises of 34 plots that will be sold to independent developers. it will act as the nerve center of international city and will be home to retailers, wholesalers and corporate offices. dubai design centre (dubai gates) dubai design center is an exclusive area for permanent and temporary exhibitions and it occupies three sides of the internet city. it will also contain two hotels with 3 to 4 hundred rooms each, to accommodate exhibitors and visitors alike. the dragon mart the dragon mart spreads across 50 hectares and is a large trade mall designed in the form of a colorful dragon, with a 1.4 kilometers (0.85 miles) long central spine. the dragon's head serves as the main entrance, which is accessible from the dubai-hatta road. with 2 thousand parking spaces, it will serve as a commercial center for more than 3 thousand chinese companies. the residential district the residential district is spread out across 300 hectares of land, featuring 2,100 studio (44.5 square meter) and one bedroom (66.5 square meter) apartments. these freehold apartments will feature unique architectural styles of italy, spain, morocco, persia, greece, china, indonesia, england, russia, thailand, and france, divided into large and medium-sized neighborhoods. the apartment units were designed to be converted into two bedroom flats and they will accomodate more than 60,000 people. lakes district & public park (the lakeside) the lakes district will comprise of 60 hectares of lush green landscape that borders a serene lake. it will contain 24-26 buildings with a total of 1375 apartments, which are either 2 and 3 bedroom duplex apartments from 150 to 170 square meters each. forbidden city forbidden city will be a replica of the biggest and best-preserved cluster of ancient buildings in china and will spread over 240 thousand square meters. it will accommodate authentic residential and retail outlets set amidst awe-inspiring gardens, museums and performance courts.

Future Dubai World Central (DWC)

profile

world central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with all transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and free zone environment.

jebel ali port and free zone key datas:

• 7.6 m. teu in 2005, 15+ m. teu in 2010
• area of 100+ square kilometers
• 100,000+ tons sea-air exports via dxb
• 5,000+ companies located in free zone
• 30% p.a. growth in trucking into gcc

• location

  you will find us at the heart of a region which serves the greater middle east, africa, indian sub-continent and cis - a market of two billion consumers.

  located in the centre of dubai, a multi-cultural city with centuries of cross-border trading knowledge, wclc is placed into the middle of a powerful global logistics network:

• all of the major ocean lines are operating via dubai's port of jebel ali, the world's number ten container port, travelling all continents
• 100+ airlines are operating via dubai, including emirates airline which is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world
• all the full range of logistics service providers (international and of the gcc region) are present with comprehensive operations and logistics readily set-up

• sheikh mohammad and sheikh ahmed

  "we have to make history and approach the future with steady steps, not wait for the future to come to us."
  hh sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the uae and ruler of dubai

  "with dubai world central we are taking the future into our own hands."
  hh sheikh ahmed bin saeed al maktoum, president, department of civil aviation, government of dubai and chairman of the emirates group

• the market

  dubai's market captivates by

• leading regional trading hub, serving 2 billion consumers
• more than $17 billion in domestic imports annually; gateway to a $150 billion p.a. import-export market
• regional economic growth and liberalization is set to boost demand
• more than 170 shipping lines and 100 airlines; an open market - no exchange controls, quotas or trade barriers

• business environment

  no other location can offer you a better platform to optimize your global supply chain or your business in the greater region. this achievement has been created by:

• free enterprise system
• highly developed transport infrastructure
• state-of-the-art telecommunications
• sophisticated financial and services sector
• top international exhibition and conference venue
• high quality office and residential accommodation
• reliable power and utilities
• first class hotels, hospitals, schools, and shops
• cosmopolitan lifestyle

• free zone

• 

• dubai is taking a quantum leap for logistics to support businesses with the challenges of globalisation and growth of the greater gcc region. wc is the world's first truly integrated logistics and multi-modal transport platform, linking all transport modes and all logistics services into a single customs bonded and free zone environment.

  wc provides a free zone platform exclusively for logistics businesses. it combines with the airport, the port and the jebel ali free zone into one single customs bonded area. nowhere else in the world can a company move an ocean container from the container terminal right into the air cargo terminal without leaving the customs bonded free zone premises.

  industry, distribution and trading companies will find all business partners, service providers, and customers at their doorstep, whether they offer distribution and transport services into the region or whether they are the key link in a global supply chain by managing sea-air combinations for asian exports to europe.

  logistics businesses and processes are as different as the companies and their products are; a maximum degree of freedom is required to enable business success for wc customers. therefore, wc tenants may select their set-up individually to ensure maximum flexibility. within wc all companies can profit from the free zone advantages.
  

  taxes

• no corporate tax
• no personal income tax
• no customs duties within the free zone

resources

• abundant and inexpensive energy
• excellent it/telecommunications infrastructure
• easy availability of skilled labour at competitive cost
• liberal visa regulations

investments

• 100% foreign company ownership
• 100% repatriation of capital and profits
• access to over 2 billion consumers with demand rapidly increasing

customer services

• online customer service (e-services)
• fast, efficient and e-clearance cargo services
• land with easy access to airport apron
• "one-stop shop" administration services
• on-site customs inspection
• customers at dlc can operate 24 hours a day

Future Dubai Sports City

sports city master plan

dubai sports city (dsc) is being created by dubai tourism development company in dubailand within an area of 46 million square feet. it is going to be the first truly integrated sport metropolis. many people thought that it is going to host the 2016 summer olympic games, but dubai never submitted a bid.

it is going to contain magnificent sport complexes including: a truly amazing 60000 seated multi purpose stadium which can be used to hold competitions such as athletics, cricket and football. a 30000 seated cricket stadium. a multi purpose indoor arena with 10000 seat capacity. a hockey stadium for 10000 spectators and a host of endless entertainments. in addition to these, ernie els has also designed an 18-hole golf course in dubai sports city. residential towers and villas are located near this course. manchester united is going to found the first purpose built soccer school here. the first butch harmon golf school outside the united states will be in dsc too. david lloyd is creating the tennis academy, and the global cricket academy will be founded by icc (international cricket council). dubai sports city will also possess truly remarkable residential and commercial buildings which are highly expected from a purpose-built city. these buildings have a host of facilities and services such as international schools, medical facilities, emergency services, mosques, hotels, restaurants, cafés and shopping facilities. there will also be a sport themed retail mall. most of the apartments are facilitated by parking, gymnasiums and swimming pools. dubai sports city being one of the most appealing areas in the city of dubaidubai property. provides a great appeal not only for sport enthusiasts, but also for all types of people and investors in dubai land is opening gradually, zone by zone, and the whole project is expected to be finished around 2012.

Future Dubai Maritime City (DMC)

Dubai Maritime City (DMC)

dubai maritime city's state-of-the-art development will act as a nucleus for maritime businesses from six core sectors viz. maritime services, marine management, marine product marketing, marine research and education and ship design and manufacturing. the announcement of dhs 650 million dubai maritime city, another landmark project of dubai, well designed to become an enduring symbol of progress, convenience and magnificence, by engineering a perfect integration of every aspect of marine industry in dubai, early this month, adds one more brilliant chapter in dubai's incredible success story. the 25 million square feet man made peninsula, situated between port rashid and dubai dry dock will be the first maritime development of its kind, providing every element of infrastructure for key marine related industries in the world. "dubai maritime city is a visible manifestation of h.h. sheikh mohammad bin rashid al maktoum's vision of creating a global maritime hub in dubai," said sultan ahmad bin sulayem, executive chairman of the ports, customs and free zone corporation on the occasion of this historic announcement. the city will feature an integrated and modern set of facilities to serve maritime institutions including offices, warehouses, showrooms, exhibition halls, dry docks, museum, marine academy with an oceanographic research center etc. dubai maritime city has the potential to host an array of marine service companies ranging from ship classification, safety standard verification, onshore and offshore ship catering and supply services and ship repair and maintenance services. nearly 5000 major regional maritime companies are operating in dubai at present. marine management services companies in dubai maritime city will range from cargo vessels & life insurance agencies to legal businesses specializing in consultation, legal advice and marine domain lawyers, ship registration and global inspection houses, safety and damage assessment firms and various other similar entities are all but a fraction of the enormous marine management market. marine product marketing sector includes marine exhibitions, trade shows and media information groups, international trade seminars, ship shows and more. under the marine research & education sector dubai maritime city will host a marine academy, which will offer well-rounded learning on every aspect of maritime education. marine engineering, marine transportation, naval science, maritime operations and technology, logistics and inter-modal transportation and pilot and navigation simulations are all a part of an intricate syllabus framed keeping in mind the future of dubai maritime city and world trade in general. an oceanographic research center, a naval history museum and traditional boat building demonstrations will further enhance the educational value of this truly unique development. dubai being worlds most preferred tourist destination has a thriving marine recreational market. dubai maritime city will be a virtual hotspot for merchandisers to sell, buy and rent yachting, cruising, fishing, sailing and diving equipment. also in the pipeline are plans for a decompression chamber of divers and divers center. ship design and manufacturing is a sector that has been a part of dubai's progress through three decades and will now find a permanent base at dubai maritime city, builders and designers of yachts, traditional ships and recreational boats will be based alongside ship repair and maintenance services and ship modification companies. "dubai maritime city will be more that just an iconic maritime development with world class services. it will be the bridge between crucial trade markets in the east and the west. it will reinforce dubai's reputation as the nucleus of world trade" said bin sulayem in his inaugural speech. the first phase of the project, which involves the reclamation and building, the facilities for the ship repair work will be completed within one year, while the total project will be ready in two years. "the maritime city will have a separate set of rules and regulations which will be drafted in consultation with the participants of the maritime city so that it meets the requirements of the marine industry comprehensively," said bin sulayem commenting on the formulation of rules and regulation for the dubai maritime city. on the occasion, gulf craft inc announced its investment plans as a participant in the initial phase of this ambitious project. mohammed bin hussein al shaali, chairman, gulf craft inc. making the announcement said "we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the founders of the ambitious dubai maritime city project and announce our plans to set up a fourth manufacturing base which will be located in the dubai maritime city right in the heart of the vibrant cosmopolitan city of dubai. as a participant from the start we are certain to benefit from the global exposure and business opportunities the project is expected to offer."

The Future of Dubai: Dubailand in the works to launch in 2010

Dubai already has the world’s largest skyscraper, the only 7-star hotel in the world and the very first underwater hotel. The Emirate is known for wanting the biggest and the best, and they’ve only just begun. The projects already in place to add to the list of Dubai’s architectural wonders continue to be some of the most extreme ideas the world has seen and it doesn’t look like they plan on stopping anytime soon.

Dubailand, the world’s largest tourism, leisure, and entertainment project, is hoping to eventually be the center for international family tourism. This amazing project will cover 3 billion square feet, and is said to be twice the size of Disney World. The park will contain 7 different themes including: theme parks, culture & arts, science & planetariums, sports & sports academies, wellbeing & health, shopping & retail, and resorts & hotels. The developers are expecting the theme park to attract 40,000 visitors a day and that it will contribute to the 15 million visitors staying in Dubai by 2015. Once it is finished, the park is expected to be one of the most visited Dubai attractions.

Included in the progress of Dubailand is the processing of designing and building 45 mega-projects. The development of these projects is what is going to make Dubailand a one of a kind amusement park. Falcon City of Wonders is a development that will feature cultural facilities with structures based on famous sites around the world such as the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It will also include Pharaoh’s Theme Park with rollercoaster rides and fun for the entire family. Dubai Sports City, the regions premiere sporting venue, is another mega-project which will consist of 4 giant-sized stadiums designed for all types of sporting events such as soccer, hockey, rugby and cricket.

There are a few other interesting concepts architects and engineers have come up with to present to the country of Dubai.The Cloud is a “resort in the sky” concept with the idea that the actual resort will look like a cloud floating 300 meters in the air with slanting support beams that will resemble rainfall. Another concept to add to the incredible list of structures in Dubai is The Golden Dome Dubai. The tower will have 3,000 luxury townhouses and a 6-star Dubai hotel. It will also include a convention and sports arena, a 23,000 space parking lot and a shopping mall. Another impressive part of the tower are the magnetic levitation wagons designed to carry up to 5 automobiles with people in them on a ramp that will run around the tower and will be able to drop people off at their desired floor.

Dubai Future Projects

	dubai city tower the professional project pitch details 400 habitable stories, topped by a 400m energy-producing spire, making it 2.4km high. the tower is proposed to be sited along the Persian Gulf where part of the building could push into the ocean creating a marina and a destination for cruise ships and tourism.
	dubai towers dubai towers – dubai’, a cluster of aesthetically designed towers that will symbolise a new phase in dubai’s architectural standards and establish path breaking definitions in structural brilliance and engineering innovation worldwide
	dubai promenade 'dubai promenade' is another project developed by nakheel. located in between dubai marina and palm jumeirah, this wheel shaped five star hotel is built on a man-made peninsula. it will be accompanied by a series of sister towers that will create 2,000 residential units.
	dubai opera house jean nouvel submitted this proposal for the dubai opera house. the futuristic building is meant to differentiate itself from 'the vulgar hotels and office buildings' of dubai. its design resembles a cliff face or a waterfall and is capped with a giant dome featuring a semi-permeable skin.
	trump international hotel & tower having been called upon by the client to carry out a review of the original design of trump international hotel and tower, palm jumeirah,
	dubai death star jutting into the waters of the gulf, the dubai waterfront project will contain ten districts, capable of housing 1.5 million people.
	hydropolis the news in the air is that the world’s first luxury underwater hotel, the hydropolis undersea resort, is all set to open its doors in dubai this december. the £300 million, 220-suite hotel is a one of its kind resort ...
	dubai hub one 'dubai hub one' is a design proposal for a cultural hub, serving the uae. designed by studio nova, the space has been created to work in much the same way as a shopping mall, except for the consumption of culture instead of goods.
	` dubai renaissance a single monolithic volume constructed, like an elevator core, in one continuous operation – 200 meters wide and 300 meters tall comprising of offices and business forums, hotel and residential suites, retail, art and urban spaces.
	the palm tower 'the palm tower' is as its name implies, inspired by the trunk of a palm tree. it is located in the center of jumeirah village. it measures 150 meters tall holding offices, retail space and gardens. designed by sybarite uk, it contains 60,000 square meters of interior space.
	porsche towers in the heart of dubai’s business bay at the waterfront, the project comprises of a 85,000sqm office tower and a 30,000sqm residential tower.
	the cloud 'the cloud' is a speculative design for a resort city elevated 300 metres in the air above dubai and supported on slanting legs resembling rain
	dancing towers zaha hadid' dancing towers are planned to be located in dubai's business bay development area. the plan consists of three buildings which rise up from the ground bending and intertwining with each other to create fluid animation of the forms.
	0-14 tower '0-14 tower' was designed by resier and umemoto and rur architecture pc along with dubai developer, shahab lutfi.
	eta hotel the 'eta hotel' is a 68-room boutique hotel complete with restaurant, bar and roof top pool located in a high density commercial neighborhood in dubai. the structure was designed by sanjay puri & mimish shah, an indian firm.
	dubai grand pyramid 'dubai grand pyramid' obviously derives its form from the egyptian pyramids, with a modern twist. this pyramid will be a multi-use space and will be flanked by two smaller pyramids housing the developer falconcity's offices and commercial space for a theme park.
	arabian blade 'the 'arabian blade' is a mixed-use tower designed by claudio catalano. the building was inspired by plant forms and combines several volumes into one unit. it will contain residences, a hotel and commercial space
	the wave tower madrid's a-cero architects led by joaquin torres has designed a new tower for the city of dubai. 'the wave tower' is a high-rise proposed to be installed on the city's waterfront, the first skyscraper to do so.
	the pixel tower 'the pixel tower' by light architecture is on the palm jebel ali overlooking the lagoon and bay. the building's twisted core gives it a light and flexible appearance. the 45 degree twist allows the uppermost apartments to have optimal views, despite the buildings footprint.
	the infinity tower 'the infinity tower' is designed by skidmore owings and merrill and is located directly on dubai's waterfront. when complete it will be the world's tallest tower to feature a 90-degree twist.
	al sharq tower 'the al sharq tower' will be the tallest building on dubai's sheikh zayed road when it will be completed. measuring 360 meters tall, the tower will contain 268 luxury apartments. the building features eight interconnected cylinders which covered in a spiraling filigree. skidmore, owings and merrill designed the structure which is currently under construction.
	the emaar towers 'the emaar towers' are located at the entry point to the burj dubi development, right across from the burj dubai tower. the towers are 42 and 34 stories each and will mostly house offices. an articulated skin covers the buildings and recalls the layers of traditional islamic architecture.
	the lighthouse atkins architects also designed 'the lighthouse' a new tower located in the middle of dubai's financial center. the 400 meter tall office tower which hopes to set a new standard for sustainability among dubai's towers. it plans to reduce its total energy consumption by 65% and its water consumption by up to 40%.
	tiara united 'tiara united' is a pair of office tower located near the financial district in dubai. its multi-coloured facade features branch like structural components. the two buildings are joined at the base with a glass atrium.
	dubai arch bridge if any real city on our planet can claim an active stake in creating the urban landscape of the future, it's probably dubai. artificial islands arranged in the shape of the world? check. the world's only seven-star hotel? check. and in 2012, it will also become home to the largest, tallest arch bridge ever.
	al burj al burj (the tall tower) project being planned by nakheel will be 1,050 metres tall, comfortably exceeding the height of the rival burj dubai and making it the world’s tallest building.
	dubai ski dome dubailand ski dome: this indoor ski resort will contain a rotating ski slope, mountain run, training area, snowboarding area etc (with 6,000 tonnes of real snow). there will also be 4-season aquaria, snow castle, ice rink, cold and hot spas and an iceberg-shaped five star hotel, among other luxuries.
	space science world space is one of the subjects explored in this immense theme park, with areas including: attractions and experience world, sports and outdoor world, eco-tourism world, themed leisure and vacation world, retail and entertainment world and downtown.
	stellar tower the 255 meter 'stellar tower' was designed by london-based architects, make. it was commissioned to honour the late sheikh zayed bin sultan al nahyan.
	pal jebel ali royal haskoning architects were invited by nakeel development to create a masterplan design for pal jebel ali, off the coast of dubai.
	the apeirin hotel 'the apeiron hotel' will be a 7-star hotel built on an island off of dubai. the arched 185 meter tall hotel will cost 500 million usd
	the empire tower 'the empire tower' is located in the heart of dubai. it uses an array of splayed vertical layers which are unified at the bottom and rise up into the sky with gentle curves. it measures 230 meters overlooking the sea and nearby parks.
	p-17 mixed-use tower, standing tall at 379 metres and just 30 metres wide, which gives the illusion of constantly changing its appearance with the movement of people and the sun.
	synergy 'synergy' is another building designed by india's sanjay puri for dubai's business bay area. the 20-story building was designed to appear like a stack of cubes that were fluidly merged. one side overlooks the promenade in front while the other side faces a lake. the facade is punctured by a decorative motif derived from islamic art.
	vision tower tvs architects were commissioned by dubai properties to design 'vision tower', a 51 story office building in the business bay district. the tower features a canted and bent glass facade to light its 650,00 square feet of office space.
	lam tara towers situated on dubai's sheikh zayed road across from the burj dubai are'the lam tara towers'. the two towers are 60 and 70 stories, measuring a total height of 360 meters. while currently under construction, the towers are plannedto be complete by 2010.
	golden dome standing an impressive 455 meters high, with 2.2 million m² of total surface area, this will be one of the largest buildings in the world in terms of surface area and height. it will contain 500,000 m² in commercial space and 50,000 m² in convention centres and arenas.
	atrium city towers ac is a cluster of three supertowers - rising above 100 floors, to be connected at base with an atrium and with skybridges. a mixed-use project, it will have a built-up area of 800,000 to 900,000 square metres and parking facilities for more than 6,000 people. it will have a hotel, and residential, commercial, retail and entertainment space for people to be able to live and work.
	dubai mall the dubai mall has a total internal floor area of 5.9 million square feet and leasable space of 3.77 million square feet, about same as west edmonton mall. the dubai mall, with 10 - 15 individual smaller malls built inside it, consisting of 9 million ft² of shopping retail space (comprising of a total of 1200 stores).
	burj al alam designed by award willing architects, burj al alam (the world tower) is the world’s tallest commercial building at 108 stories, which creates a business district all its own. the building itself is a sight to behold, masterfully crafted and an efficient use of commercial space. this combination of structure and style houses a variety of office and retail companies and offers some of the best residential and recreational facilities in business bay.
	meydan godolphin river city the godolphin river city is a celebration of the riverfronts as the focal point for cities of the 21st century. exceptionally planned to create a riverine city, godolphin river city becomes a model for development that merges sustainable ecological engineering with urban lifestyle sophistication.
	rta headquarters zwarts & jansma architects won the competition for the design of the new headquarters of the road & transport authority (rta) in dubai 2007. rta hq will be built in an artificial lake at al garhoud on marrakech road, adjacent to the new ras al khor bridge and neighbouring the new interchange of rabat road and marrakech road.
	nakheel tower the latest design attempting to breach the dizzying heights of the burj dubai has been revealed as the multibillion dollar nakheel tower. designed by the developments wing of major investment company nakheel, the tower will be more than a kilometre high, covering a space of around 270 hectares, and will become home to around 55,000 people, a workplace for 45,000, and is hoped will attract millions of visitors each year.