Dubai is planning to build a temperature-controlled city featuring the world's largest mall and an indoor park, as well as hotels, health resorts and theatres, the developer stated late Sunday. It was not confirmed when construction would begin or what the cost of the project would be.
The city, already home to one of the globe's biggest indoor shopping complexes, Dubai Mall, is now planning to build the "Mall of the World," Agence France-Presse reported, with the all-pedestrian complex occupying a total area of 48 million square feet, said Dubai Holding, the developer owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
The project "will comprise the largest indoor theme park in the world" under a glass dome that would be opened during winter, it said in a statement, adding that the 4.35 mile-long promenades connecting the facilities would also be covered and air-conditioned during summer. "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," said Sheikh Mohammed. "This is why we will start working on providing pleasant temperature-controlled environments during the summer months."
With Dubai having established itself as a global hub for air transport and transit trade, as well as a regional financial centre, it is now hoping that the "Mall of the World" can add to the glamour by attracting more than 180 million visitors each year.
The emirate, also home to the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, is known for its numerous malls and many hotels, including the Dubai Mall, touted as the world's largest shopping, leisure and entertainment destination. Although the city's economy was hit in 2009 by the global financial crisis, it has since made a strong comeback through growth in the trade, transport and tourism sectors.
Dubai will also be hosting the World Expo trade fair in 2020, having beaten opposition from Brazil, Russia and Turkey in November.
