The Future of Dubai...!

Hey everyone,

Check out some of the Dubai's projects. It's amazing what's happening here....

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The World. With nearly 300 artificial islands, seen from the sky it will form a planisphere. If you want to acquire one of these islands, it will cost some to you between 6,2 to 36,7 million dollars. Work of fill, already begun, should be completed at the end of 2005. Insider Info: Each island purchased can be used to create anything you want, provided you stay within the norms of Dubai's cultural, religious and moral policies. So all those ideas of creating a casino because it's offshore Dubai should be put to rest.

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Space Science World. Space is one of the subjects exploited in the immense park within Dubailand which has the ambition to become the largest tourist park and of attractions in the world. Insider Info: Dubailand also announced a "realistic" Jurassic Park, which sent people scurrying all over in excitement, but it turned out all the dinosaur will be animatronic.

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Dubailand Ski Dome. This ski resort indoor, will comprise a ski slope and tracks of snowboard (with 6 000 tons of true snow). "Pinguinarium," aquariums with four seasons, spa cold and hot... are also envisaged with the program. To all you ski-enthusiasts, it will not open this month in September as advertised. :-( Insider Info: It will cost you Dhs90 for 45 minutes of skiing, and this includes the time you spend making your way back up to the top. Also, be prepared to rent out jackets and pants, which will be shared by everyone there.

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Palm Island. Three artificial islands in the shape of palm trees will shelter nearly 500 apartments, 2 000 villas, 25 hotels and 200 shops of luxury. Palm Jumeirah, the most advanced, will be completed as of the end of 2005. Hundred twenty-five kilometers of coast additional will be thus created. It also includes a line of poetry from one of the Dubai's ruler poetry which he penned himself. Insider Info: The sheikh "gifted" the luxury signature designed villas to people like David Beckham and Shahrukh Khan- these celebrities did not actually buy these villas.

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Old Town. It is the final district of the building site located at the foot of the tower Burj Dubai. This great real complex will include the highest tower of the world, the greatest shopping centre of the world as well as a gigantic residential district. So in a few years time, the Bur Dubai, the original downtown Dubai will be relegated to the mainly Asian expats living there. This new Downtown will cater to the the more rich people. Insider Info: The world's largest mall will be in close proximity.

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Madinat Al Arab. Here's the representation of the one of the districts of the future greater sea front in the world, Dubai Waterfront. This sight accounts for the architectural ambition and the spectacular development of real constructions with Dubai. I am most impressed with this, although there is never any time when the weather is such you see reddish-purplish sky.

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Hydropolis. Entirely assembled in Germany, this underwater hotel will be immersed within the waters offshore of Dubai at the end of 2006. It will comprise 220 continuations whose panoramic windows will give on sea-beds. The price of a room for the night would rise with 500 dollars. Let's hope they don't come up with any of the silliness like they did with the "underwater submarine ride" at Burj Al Arab, which in reality was just a simulated room ride.

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Golden Dome. With its 455 m height and its 2.2 million sq2 of total surface, it will be one of bulkiest and higher buildings of the world. It will shelter 500 000 m² offices, commercial spaces like 3 000 residential apartments. Interesting shape. No comments.

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Dubai Sports City. This immense sporting complex of 7.5 km² will accomodate sports such as the cricket, the golf, rugby, football, track, and interior (tennis, handball, volley ball). Hotels, residences and villas are also envisaged.

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Burj Dubai. This phenomenal tower from which construction began last January and will end in 2008 should reach the 800 meters height. The final height is still not declared, because Shanghai has announced they are making the world's tallest tower. This building in Dubai, built in three parts around a central column, finishes in spiral. It will count 160 stages. They claim that when seen from above, the tower resembles an opening up of a flower. Insider Info: This design was originally proposed for the city of Chicago, but was not accepted there.
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Well, there you have it. I think it would be exciting to visit Dubai in about 10 years time, when all these projects are made and completed, so one can enjoy all these buildings. Sheikh Mohammad said about two years ago that he has only seen 10% of his vision realized, and that he has 90% more to do for Dubai. I for one am very intrigued for the other projects as grand as these to be announced.

Mansur