'Dubailand' aims to be Middle East Orlando
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070619/lf_afp/lifestyleuaetourismconstruction_070619042822
DUBAI (AFP) - Widely touted as the Middle East's very own Orlando,
Dubailand, a cluster of mega-billion-dollar projects, is gradually
emerging across the desert sands of the booming Gulf emirate.
Already primed as a holiday destination, it is fast executing plans
to build a host of new hotels, golf courses, malls and leisure facilities
in order to more than double the number of tourists to 15 million by 2015.
Initially planned to cover an area of two billion square feet
(185 square kilometres), Dubailand, billed as the "world's most ambitious
tourism, leisure and entertainment project," is expected to be a sprawling
three billion square feet. This would make it larger than the
entire city of Orlando, Florida -- home to Walt Disney World,
Universal Resort, Sea World and a variety of other attractions and hotels.
Along with Tiger Woods Dubai -- a 25-million-square-foot golf course
and community featuring palaces and mansions by September 2009 --
Universal City will be the only Dubailand projects funded by Tatweer.
On Monday, Dubai also announced its 100-million-dollar purchase of
the Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the world's most majestic cruise liners,
which it plans to turn it into a luxury floating hotel berthed at one
of the palm islands.
A model version of Dubailand still shows its vast barren surroundings,
which in three years time will be awash with even more golf courses,
theme parks, mega-malls and residential towers.
Tatweer is part of Dubai Holding, a conglomerate owned by
the government of Dubai which oversees mega-projects in the emirate,
currently experiencing a burgeoning property boom.
In the throes of constructing the world's highest building,
whose ultimate height remains a closely-guarded secret,
Dubai also plans to house a Great Wheel, whose size
will rival that of the London Eye observation wheel.
Several stadiums are being constructed in Dubailand's S****ts City
and a comprehensive Motor City is taking shape around the
currently operational Dubai Autodrome.
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