With an ever-changing landscape and a wealth of activities and attractions on offer, Dubai is one of my clients’ most popular destinations.
New developments like The Palm and The World islands, Dubai Festival City and Burj Dubai make it even easier to sell the emirate.
The coast
The Palm islands: The three largest artificial islands in the world were commissioned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum, to increase visitors to the emirate. They extend Dubai’s coastline by almost 320 miles.The World islands: A man-made achipelago of 300 islands built in the shape of a world map. A few boutique hotels will be built on some islands, but mostly the many celebrities who have purchased an island will enjoy the privacy that living here will
afford.
Dubai Marina: An awe-inspiring‘city within a city’ that aims to have a cosmopolitan atmosphere, with bars, restaurants and shops to rival the most exclusive waterfront communities in the world.
Dubai Waterfront: This project aims to create a world-class destination for residents, visitors and businesses. The waterfront setting will be a welcome addition to the emirate and provide a nice setting for evening meals and starlight strolls.
The City
Burj Dubai: The new landmark of downtown Dubai, when it is completed it will stand at more than 2,300ft and be the world’s tallest man-made structure. Due for completion next year, at a cost of more than $4.1 billion, it will be the centrepiece of the new downtown development. It will also have the largest shopping centre in the Middle East.Dubai Festival City: Another ‘city within a city’ in the heart of Dubai that will be a resort made up of private residences, hotels, offices, a marina and an 18-hole golf course.
The desert
Dubailand: This is the most ambitious tourism and leisure project aimed at the family market. When it is completed Dubailand will cover an area twice the size of Walt Disney World in Florida.It will be divided into seven themed areas and contain 45 ‘mega projects’. These include theme parks, culture and art, science and planetariums, wellbeing and health, shopping malls and at least 55 hotels.
The first phase of the development will open in 2010 and the project is due to be completed by 2020.
Bawadi: With 51 hotels and 60,000 rooms planned, Bawadi will have the world’s largest cluster of hotels as well as the biggest shopping area in the world. The centrepiece will be the Asia-Asia hotel with 6,500 rooms. Leisure facilities will include shops, restaurants and a vibrant theatre district.
Further information
>>Dubai: city highlights
>>Dubai: on the beach
>>Dubai: in the desert
>>Dubai: getting there
>>Dubai: agent training programme
>>Dubai: hotel reviews
