Dubai Other Works

Although the Burj Dubai is scheduled to open in 2008, Downtown Burj Dubai, which represents the area surrounding the world’s tallest building, will not be ready until 2009. In addition to housing residences and offices, Downtown Burj Dubai will feature luxury hotels and the Dubai Mall, set to become the biggest shopping center on earth. • At twice... 

Culture Village

Culture Village may not become the Lincoln Center anytime soon, but its establishment will at last bring art and culture to Dubai in a serious way. The project envisions academies for the arts, music, and dance, as well as art and craft galleries and an outdoor amphitheater.  Read More →

Bawadi

Bawadi aspires to be the largest hospitality and leisure development anywhere. It will have a giant cluster of hotels, adding 60,000 guest rooms to Dubai with 51 new hotels. One of these will be Asia-Asia, the world’s largest hotel expected to house 6,500 rooms. Part of the broader Dubailand project, Bawadi will create amusement centers, shopping... 

The World

“The World,” a series of 300 man-made islands 4km (21⁄2 miles) off the coast of Dubai, is protected by an oval breakwater and situated to form the shape of a map. It was designed by UAE developer Nakheel Properties, which is also responsible for the Palm Islands project, at a cost of roughly $14 billion. Each of the islands ranges in size from... 

The Palm Islands

The largest artificial islands in the world sit off the coast of Dubai in the Arabian Gulf. Collectively, the Palm Islands are considered by some to be an Eighth Wonder of the World. Developed by UAE-based Nakheel Properties, this triad of islands includes the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira, and Palm Jebel Ali. Made with hundreds of millions of cubic meters... 

Burj Dubai

Still under construction at press time but already the world’s tallest building, Burj Dubai dominates the skyline with its thin silver steel structure that can be seen for miles. The final height remains a secret, but the project’s construction manager, Greg Sang, says it will be greater than 700m (2,297 ft.); many predict it will be more than 800m... 

Burj Al Arab

Created by architect Tom Wright to resemble the billowing sail of an Arabian dhow, the massive Burj Al Arab (which translates to “Arabian Tower”) extends 321m (1,053 ft.) to the sky. The iconic structure, which rises from its own man-made island, dominates the Jumeirah Beach coastline, eclipsing the wavelike-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel just in front.... 

Bastakiya

This architectural heritage site is a complete restoration of one of Dubai’s original neighborhoods settled by wealthy Persian merchants in the late 1800s. The buildings are historic, but the pristine quarter looks brand-new. You can walk along meandering lanes, see traditional Gulf courtyard houses with hand-carved wood doors, and marvel at the ornate... 

Dubai Architecture

Long before traveling to Dubai, visitors’ imaginations are often captured by the city’s modern architectural wonders. While many may not be familiar with Arabian wind towers or courtyard houses, most have heard about the enormous sailshaped Burj Al Arab, the indoor snow resort Ski Dubai, and construction of the world’s tallest building, the Burj...