The ruling family of this enclave on the Persian Gulf Coast has, in a little more than a decade, developed a city that in normal circumstances would take several hundred years to evolve.
There’s something quite special about seeing work in progress and it’s a forest of construction cranes that first meets the eye when coming into land aboard one of the sleek Emirates aircraft.
The airport is an experience in itself – a true global crossroads, where you’ll encounter in a 10 minute walk more people from more nations than you’ve ever seen in one space. There are scores of shops, restaurants and bars operating around the clock in this cool oasis close to a waterfront which has resonated to the sounds of traders and cameleers for millennia. Today workers from more than 150 nationalities temporarily call Dubai home.
The list of projects under development runs to some 37 pages, with little more than a brief description of each. The sun might be fierce during the (northern) summer months, but there’s little doubt that Dubai has immense pull, especially from sun-starved Europeans.
The major attractions include the souks (markets), desert adventures around sunset and into the night and the cruise operations on the Dubai Creek where the spectacular skyscrapers jut into the desert sky. The emirate attracts more international tourists than the whole of India and the airline expansion is being geared to manage some 120 million passengers a year. By contrast, Sydney, Australia’s major gateway, has some 30 million-plus passengers passing by each year.
The first phase of Dubai’s Exhibition City is due for completion in 2009. This will comprise an exhibition centre with 19 exhibition halls, conference venues, hotels and residential apartments.
The Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) has confirmed 12 major conferences in the first six months of this year, 50 per cent more than the last year and 20 per cent more than the target set for 2007. Dubai is also one of the seven members of BestCities.net, the leading bureau alliance. The emirate is the only member of the group from the Middle East and Africa region.
The Burg Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, is due to open later this year and will combine hotel, entertainment, commercial and residential components, ensuring an all-year-round buzz of activity. The area around this landmark includes a lake and the Old Town Island, complete with market squares and traditional Arabian architecture.
A much needed public transport Metro rail system is currently under development and will offer some 300km of line when complete in 2020.
Big names in the hotel sector such as Four Seasons, InterContinental, W and Crowne Plaza are among the hotels opening in the Dubai Festival City precinct this year. It comprises some 90 waterfront restaurants, a family entertainment centre, a championship golf course and a marina.
In an effort to bring back more of a sense of its Arabian location, the Al Bastakiya area is being developed with 32 traditional houses being rebuilt. It will include a traditional souk and become a venue for cultural events for the conference and incentive market.
Then there’s still Dubailand, City of Arabia, Universal City, The World and the 18 deluxe hotels due to open this year. Will it ever stop?
Photograph provided courtesy of the Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Top |