'The world's first
temperature-controlled city': Dubai to build biggest mall on the planet,
complete with theme park, five miles of covered streets and 100 hotels and
apartments
Dubai is already home to the tallest tower in the world,
so it was just a matter of time until the glitzy emirate planned another
record-breaking
construction.
Its next
project involves building the largest shopping mall om the planet, complete with
climate-controlled streets, the world's largest indoor theme park and 100 hotels
and
apartments.
In fact,
the ambitious emirate has dubbed the project a 'temperature-controlled
pedestrian
city'.
Grand plans: Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid al-Maktoum (L), ruler of Dubai, unveiled the model of the ambitious mall
project
Occupying
48 million square feet, the Mall of the World will also contain health resorts,
theatres, a Celebration Steet modelled on the Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona and
'retail streets network' that will stretch over four-and-a-half
miles.
The grand
project is part of Dubai's bid to become a year-round tourism destination,
despite soaring temperatures in summer that can reach nearly
50C.
The
new mall, which will be a city-within-a-city, will be the emirate's chance to
attract visitors even in the height of the summer, by providing a completely
climate-controlled
experience.
Climate-controlled: The eight
million square foot shopping centre will be housed under a dome, while the
streets will also be covered so that tourists can shop without getting too hot
in the relentless heat of the summer
months
The
shopping mall itself will occupy eight million square feet, housed below a glass
dome, with other attractions extending beyond the central shopping
area.
In
the cooler winter months, the dome will open, allowing people to shop in the
fresh air, closing as the summer heats
up.
It
is thought the huge construction will attract 180 million visitors a year and
developers hope it will secure Dubai's futures as a tourism
hub.
Tourism boon: Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid al-Maktoum (second right) hopes the development will urn Dubai into a
year-round
destination
The
emirate's ruler and vice president of the UAE Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, said: 'This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a
cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the
region around us; and we are determined to achieve our
vision.
'The
growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s
tourism infrastructure as soon as
possible.
'We are
confident of our economy’s strength, optimistic about our country’s future
and we continue to broaden our
vision.'
The
supersized mall will be built near the existing Mall of the Emirates, already
one of the largest shopping centres in the world, with its own indoor ski
slope.
City within a city: The mall will
offer everything visitors and locals needs so that they don't have to venture
outside in the searing
heat
It will
also be a short drive to the world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, which
stands at
2,717ft.
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The
idea is to create a cultural area, with theatres hosting shows at West End and
Broadway levels, as well as a network of streets that will be entirely climate
controlled.
Sheikh
Mohammad stated: 'Our ambitions are higher than having seasonal tourism -
tourism is key driver of our economy and we aim to make the UAE an attractive
destination all-year
long.
'This is why we will start working on providing
pleasant temperature-controlled environments during the summer
months.'
