In Dubai, the future is already here...
Mega projects are transforming the face of the emirate, extending its coastline, greening the desert and reaching for the skies.
Out near Jebel Ali, Dubai World Central is taking shape, a 140 sq km aviation community centred round what will be the world’s largest international airport – phase one of which is scheduled to open in 2010. Cluster zones planned also include Dubai Logistics City, Commercial City, Residential City, Enterprise Park and a 36-hole golf resort.
Out to sea, The Palm Jumeirah made world news with the stunning photographs of the opening of Atlantis The Palm in November 2008, giving Dubai a brand new conference venue with a resort flavour.
Ongoing development will see additional resorts with meeting facilities open up this year around the Crescent, as well as more hotels at the Dubai Marina.
But perhaps the most striking landmark making news is Burj Khalifa, an architectural wonder that opened on January 4th 2010 as the world’s tallest building. Centrepiece of the Downtown area off the Sheikh Zayed Road, the district is a masterpiece of urban planning with lakes, landscaping, pedestrian boulevards, low-rise residential neighbourhoods, four hotels and the Dubai Mall with its entertainment and retail facilities.
