Dubai to get 'moving' skyscraper

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

If I had a gazillion pounds like the dubaians(?!) do, I too would be building massive, rotating skyscrapers. I'd also try and build a car/lorry/aeroplane that was able to transform into a robot. And I'd do a load of space touristing. And I'd build an underwater city. I say Dubai should keep doing what it's doing.

 

[hart's shirt]

From Wiki:
The Ras Al Khaimah spaceport will be located in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. It is a joint venture between Prodea and Space Adventures, and will be used to launch suborbital tourist flights in the Space Adventures Explorer spaceplane.

No underwater city yet (that's probably next month's grand project), but here's a link to information about Hydropolis, the world's first luxury underwater hotel:

Design Build Network - Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, Dubai


I know what you mean about the 'soulless' bit - one of my favourite jokes about Dubai is the following:
Q: "What's the difference between Dubai and Disneyland?"
A: "Disneyland knows it's not real."

That said, here's the link for Dubailand, scheduled for completion in 2020:
DUBAILAND : Twice the size of Walt Disney World in Florida. Dubai World

And if you like dirt that much, I can assure you that the vice trade in Dubai is still as visible and available as it's always been. Mind you, with women having the chance to drink for free in a number of Dubai hostelries every night, it's a trade that's often surplus to requirements.

 

[Mtoto]

Must be absolutely pitiless trying to carry on building in the current climate in Dubai, it's so hot in the summer that the locals either leave or don't do anything for three months unless they have to.

Was last there back in March, in a hotel room on the 32nd floor that looked out towards the Burj, and it looked impossibly big even though I was a long way off the ground already. And as someone pointed out, the plans have already been approved for a bigger one (the planning process in Dubai being just a little more streamlined that the one we put up with here).

I always look forward to going there in March, and love the feeling when the dry, hot air hits your face leaving the air-conditioned airport. After five months of winter in the UK, how could you not?

Then, after about 48 hours, I can't wait to leave again. That's how long it takes to realise/remember how superficial the whole place is, just a veneer on the desert. There's no culture there at all - no theatres, no cinemas, not even bookshops for the most part. Just loads of westerners getting pissed and laid, loads of locals doing bugger all, and loads and loads and loads of poorly-paid migrant workers doing the hard work to keep it all hanging together.

 

[Nibble]

Just loads of westerners getting pissed and laid, loads of locals doing bugger all, and loads and loads and loads of poorly-paid migrant workers doing the hard work to keep it all hanging together.

I fail to see the problem here.

 

[Trufflehound]

No underwater city yet (that's probably next month's grand project), but here's a link to information about Hydropolis, the world's first luxury underwater hotel:

I think "might be the first" is slightly more accurate. There's another one under construction due to open next year in Fiji: Poseidon Undersea Resort

So there may be a race to the line.

Last I heard Hydropolis was delayed because it was having trouble getting financed. Have they sorted that now?

 

[Mtoto]

I fail to see the problem here.

Yeah, think my Catholic guilt must be playing up again.

 

[hart's shirt]

Mtoto - you're right on the lack of culture aspect in general, however Dubai does have about 8-10 cinemas, with the one in Ibn Battuta Mall having 21 screens.

There's a theatre in the Madinat (right next to the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach hotel) and another in DUCTAC in Mall of the Emirates (where the ski slope is).

As far as bookshops go, Borders are in Mall of the Emirates - there's also a number of others in and around the city.

You're right about the poorly-paid migrant workers though - it's an aspect of Dubai that pretty much everyone who come here is agreed on. The stereotypes of the locals and expats are not quite as true now as they might have been 5-10 years ago, but some attitudes and behaviours are hard to modify.

TH - I haven't heard anything so far. Knowing Dubai however, it's just a matter of time before another paymaster turns up to finance the project. It they miss being first to Fiji, the chances are that they'll try to make it bigger!

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

From Wiki:
The Ras Al Khaimah spaceport will be located in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. It is a joint venture between Prodea and Space Adventures, and will be used to launch suborbital tourist flights in the Space Adventures Explorer spaceplane.

No underwater city yet (that's probably next month's grand project), but here's a link to information about Hydropolis, the world's first luxury underwater hotel:

Design Build Network - Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, Dubai



That said, here's the link for Dubailand, scheduled for completion in 2020:
DUBAILAND : Twice the size of Walt Disney World in Florida. Dubai World

Dubai sounds AMAZING!

Is it expensive to visit?

 

[hart's shirt]

Is it expensive to visit?

It's comparatively cheap over the summer...principally because it's seriously hot. It was pushing 50 degrees C last year.

A number of the bigger name hotels do some excellent offers.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Have they opened that new airport terminal yet? The main one is WAY too over-crowded and shambolic.

 

[hart's shirt]

Have they opened that new airport terminal yet? The main one is WAY too over-crowded and shambolic.

Terminal 3 is due to open in August and will be used solely by Emirates. This should help to ease a lot of the pressure off T1 and T2.

Longer-term, the construction of a new airport in Jebel Ali - Dubai World Central International Airport - is expected upon completion to be the fourth largest airport in the world by physical size, though not by passenger metrics. It's expected to be operational by 2017.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Terminal 3 is due to open in August and will be used solely by Emirates.

Cheers

Currently only airport anywhere that I don't trust to put correct or timely flight information up. Always end up making SURE of gates and the like at that Information Booth.

Whenever I go to Oz I use Emirates (the Gatwick - Brisbane route being the main attractiobn by far). They wizz me luggage through despite only having a two hour stopover and they've never lost it yet. Just refuse to USE that BA / Heathrow combo. Just not worth it, for all sorts of reasons