Dubai's mega-project larger than Manhattan

Associated Press ^ | 02/05/2005 | Jim Krane

[neutrality]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - In a city already synonymous with flashy developments, a new multi-billion-dollar project may set a new precedent for construction projects across the globe.

The project, the Dubai Waterfront, is a conglomeration of canals and islands studded with luxury hotels and homes. Larger than the island of Manhattan, the development will reconfigure the map of this tiny desert emirate by adding 500 miles of man-made waterfront, according to Nakheel, the government-held developer.

The Dubai Waterfront is expected to house 400,000 people and transform the last stretch of Dubai's undeveloped Gulf seashore. In a twist unique for Dubai, foreign investors are being offered a minority stake in one of the emirate's signature mega-projects. And American companies including hotel operators plan to be part of the deal.

...

If the waterfront is built according to plans, it will consist of 170 square miles of water and land developments, an area two-and-a-half times the size of Washington, D.C.

[neutrality]

Actually I just wanted to post some images I thought looked amazing. The only non-CG image is the satellite picture of one of the palm islands (so they may look a bit unrealistic), since none of the projects have been completed yet. Click on the thumbnails to see the full size image. There's also a good video tour on Dubai waterfront's homepage.

Dubai Waterfront

Under the direction of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, Nakheel debuted its investor launch of the unparalleled Dubai Waterfront, an 81 million square metre beachfront mixed use destination which encompasses over 250 best of breed master planned communities and offerings.

The Palm Islands

The two Dubai islands, The Palm Jumeirah and The Palm Jebel Ali, will be built in the shape of date palm trees and consist of a trunk; a crown with 17 fronds; and a surrounding crescent island - the back of which forms the breakwater. Collectively, the island will support more than than 60 luxury hotels, 4,000 exclusive residential villas (sale), 1,000 unique water homes (sale), 5,000 shoreline apartments (sale), marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities, health spas, cinemas and various dive sites.

The project took four years of methodical planning and exhaustive feasibility studies in Dubai, ensuring that the islands would not disrupting the environment. The first stage of the development of The Palm Islands, includes the construction of the land foundations, which involves sand transfer and rock placement. Following this, the next stage will involve the building of infrastructure and services, as well as the 300 meter (990 feet) bridges linking the islands to the mainland. The final stage consists of the construction of homes, townhouses, and apartments.

It was announced on the 5th of October 2004 by the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, that a third man-made Palm Island will be built on reclaimed land off the coast of Dubai's Deirah beach. The Palm Deira will be the largest of the three palm islands covering 14km (8.4 miles) in length and 8.5km (5.1 miles) in width. It will consist of residential property, marinas, shopping malls, sports facilities, and clubs. The residential area will be located on the 41 fronds and will contain 8,000 two-storey villas/town houses in three distinct styles - Premier Villas, Grand Villas and Vista Town Homes.

The World

The World will consist of between 250 to 300 smaller private artifical islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands. Each island will range from 250,000 to 900,000 square feet in size, with 50 to 100 metres of water between each island. The development is to cover an area of 9 kilometers in length and 6 kilometers in width, surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater. The only means of transportation between the islands will be by marine transport.

Construction has begun on the $US 1.8 billion project which is set to be completed by the end of 2005. It will be located 4 kilometers off the shore of Jumeirah, close to the The Palm Jumeirah, between Burj Al Arab and Port Rashid of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Each island will be sold to selected private developers and are expected to have pricing beginning at Dhs. 25 million (US$ 6.85 million).

The Hydropolis

Hydropolis is structured in three elements: the land station, the connecting tunnel, and the submarine complex. The land station is the reception and welcome center for the hotel’s guests. The connecting tunnel is the lifeline of the complex and not only provides access for guests, but also enables provisioning of the hotel with all the necessary goods. And finally, the submarine complex is the hotel itself with its wide range of unique additional facilities.

[gridlock]

Who knew?

[Samurai_Jack]

Looks great. A capital project of that magnitude will make the rest of the arab world green with jealously.

The suicide bomber islamofascists will love this place.

[montag813]

Is the Bin Laden Group building it?

[agere_contra]

Good for Dubai. They have some of the most amazing buildings in the world ( + would we rather they were building madrassas?)

[E Rocc]

This isn't a pipe dream by any stretch of the imagination. Dubai is already one of the world's more impressive cities:

The Burj al Arab Hotel (above) is taller than the Chrysler Building. The tallest tower downtown is about 100' taller yet...and this one, already under construction, is supposed to top 2,300 feet

-Eric

[RayChuang88]

Actually, before the rise of Islam much of the Middle East was full of merchants making lots of money, mostly because that part of the world was perfectly situated for goods trade between Europe and eastern Asia and down the eastern coast of Africa. The ancient Silk Road had its western terminus in what is now Iraq and Iran; the prophet Muhammed was a merchant himself, too.

Indeed, the United Arab Emirates wants to make itself into the crossroads of trade for all of Eurasia--and they have the perfect location to do it.

[neutrality]

Burj Dubai will indeed look glorious when it's finished

[thackney]

bump to follow

[orionblamblam]

This is jsut about the only middle eastern oil nation with a serious vision for the future. All the others are just riding the oil-money wave, and blowing their income on useless palaces and suchforth, making no plans for the inevitable post-oil economy to come.

I just wonder if all these Dubai projects will survive the collapse of the Arab world to come when the oil money stops flowing. Dubai, on its own, should probably do fine... unless their neighbors tear them down.

[layman]

Partially owned by infidels? Hmmmmmmm .... I wonder how long it will be before the Mullahs and Imams instruct their holy warriors to blow it up.

[MissAmericanPie]

Who do you suppose would vacation in that hell hole? Muslims can't generally afford it. Awww yes, the French.=o)

[mhking]

Wow!

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[thackney]

Who do you suppose would vacation in that hell hole?

You don't know what you are talking about. I lived and worked in the Middle East (Yemen oil fields). Dubai is the one place I went over there that I someday want to take my family to visit. Pictures do not due just to the Gold Suk or many of the other places.

[TXnMA]

Expensive tsunami targets...

[neutrality]

bttt

[weegie]

Vacation in Dubai?

I live in Dubai and have done for eight years.

No intention of moving.