Dubai is an astounding place, going from nothing but desert to one of the most modern cities on the planet in just a few decades.
Surviving through the 2008 financial crisis, Dubai, the tourism capital of the UAE, is showing no signs of slowing down. The emirate has an eternal quest to create the most beautiful and futuristic things around.
Here are 10 of those things:
Quranic Park
Projected cost: AED 200 million (approx.) (recently complete)
Projected completion: 2019 (recently open)
Opened very recently this year and already named by Time Magazine as one of the World’s Great Places to visit, Qurantic Park is one of Dubai’s lesser known attractions. The entire park is inspired by descriptions and messages within the Quran, becoming the first park ever to be inspired by the text.
Among the key features of the park is the Glass House that it is home to 29 different plants and trees that are specifically mentioned in the Quran. The park has numerous gardens, as well as caves which depict the most important events to have been written in the Quran.
The park, which is free for visitors, even shows the parting of the Red Sea with a lake seperated with a marvelous walkway.
Cityland Mall
Projected cost: AED 1.469 billion (approx.)
Projected completion: 2020
One of the most futuristic malls we’ve ever seen, this massive space will have a 200,000 sqm Central Park-style botanical garden running from the centre and throughout. Made by the same people that worked on the Dubai Miracle Garden and the Miracle Butterfly Garden, this mall stands as a fusion of indoor and outdoor experience.
Flora and fauna aside, the mall has the largest Carrefour in all of Dubai, over 75 restaurants and cafes, 12 cinema screens, 350 retail outlets and 50,000 sqm of entertainment space.
It is said the use of nature and outdoor styles will create a unqiue sensory experience for the 7,000 or so shoppers that can occupy the space.
Ain Dubai
Projected cost: AED 6 billion (approx.) (cost of entire Bluewaters Island)
Projected completition: 2020
Set to release just in time for Expo 2020 Dubai, the Ain Dubai or Eye of Dubai is set to be the largest ferris wheel in the world, with a height approximation of 250m. For reference, the London Eye stands at only 135m high.
Set on the new Bluewaters Island, the Ain Dubai sits just off of Dubai Marina and JLT. Its position means that visitors will get to see sights such as the Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa and the Palm Jumeriah from totally new angles.
In line with Dubai’s mission to be a totally smart city, the Ain is packed with tech. Each pod is personally air conditioned, fitted with LED screens with information on the sights, and even is projected to have screens that come down to give videos and adverisments.
Dubai Stars
Projected cost: N/A
Projected completion 2019
Set along the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, the Dubai Stars is Dubai’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the United States.
Unlike the Hollywood version though, Dubai’s will be four times the size, with 10,000 celebrities given a star and named on the boulevard. Set to open in October 2019, the strip will at first have 400 named celebs as voted by the general public.
People whom have influenced a particular field of entertainment in an immense way will be given a star. These fields include: film, sport, literature, arts, social work, social media, architecture, and innovation.
The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour/ Dubai Creek Tower
Projected cost: AED 3.67 billion (approx.)
Projected completion: 2020 (2021 openning predicted)
Developed by Emaar Properties, the exact height of The Tower is kept under wraps at the moment. It’s estimated soar at around 1,300 metres, this will near dwarf the height of the Burj Khalifa which stands at around 828 metres. It will also beat the Jeddah Tower being constructed in Saudi Arabia which aims to clock in at around 1,000 metres.
Looking unlike any other structure in Dubai right now, The Tower is styled after an Arabian minaret, inspired to stand as a symbol of modern Islam. The structure’s metal beams keeping it standing also evoke the image of a blossoming lily flower.
It will stand in Dubai’s developing Dubai Harbour Creek, offering a prime location in terms of both retail opportunities and fantastic views. Its location will allow for never-before-seen views of Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa.
Expo 2020 Dubai
Projected cost: AED 33 billion (approx.)
Projected completion: 2020
One of the biggest megaprojects on Dubai’s to-do list, Expo 2020 Dubai is set to be an enormous affair showing off the national achievements of the UAE and many other nations around the world.
Taking up more than 1083 acres of space in Dubai, the Expo will showcase some of the most futuristic and jaw-dropping structures mankind has ever created. These buildings, or pavilions will explore the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
Not only will the Expo have incredible buildings to explore, it will also have shows, food stands and other attractions, all under the umbrella of this futuristic mission. This is where your sci-fi dreams will come true.
Human settlement on Mars
Projected cost: N/A
Projected completion: 2117
Dubai is on a century long mission to answer the question posed by David Bowie decades ago: Is there life on Mars?
By 2117 Dubai and the whole UAE hopes to make the answer to this question a big yes as it is hoped to create the first human settlement on the red planet. The Mars 2117 Project is a 100 year plan being spearheaded by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
It makes up a larger mission of the UAE, the Emirates Mars Mission. This mission aims to gain more knowledge on the planet, as well as make the most of the growing space industry for the benefit of the Emirati people. The UAE believes Mars to offer new possibilities for the improvement of humanity.
Autonomous transportation
Projected cost: N/A
Projected completion: 2030
Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy aims to convert 25 per cent of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous methods by 2030. The strategy is expected to bring AED 22 billion in economic revenue per year by reducing transportation costs, carbon emissions and accidents, and raising the productivity of individuals as well as saving hundreds of millions of hours wasted in conventional transportation.
The use of driverless transportation makes up a wider mission of Dubai to be a totally smart city, not only having vehicles drive themselves, but having them communicate with one another and the infrastucture of the entire city to make Dubai as smooth a city as it can be.
Dubai has ambitions for a host of different autonomous vehicles including the pods you see above, as well as larger vehicles for multiple people and personal vehicles.
Museum of the Future
Projected cost: AED 499 million (approx.)
Projected completion: 2020
Made in the shape of an eye as to evoke ideas of perception and knowledge, Dubai’s Museum of the Future is astounding both inside and out.
It’s set to host a display of the UAE’s and the world’s most futuristic and advanced technological aspirations and achievements. Built just seven minutes away from the Burj Khalifa, the museum will showcase the furthest extent of human creativtiy, and yes, it will have robots.
The museum will stand as a testament to the technological strength of Dubai and show everything from VR, to AI, to AR.
The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences
Projected cost: AED 5.15 billion (approx.)
Projected completion: 2020
43-storeys, 90 pools, 13 restaurants and 2,000 jellyfish, The Atlantis Palm’s sister hotel is set to impress just as much as its older sibling does.
With 231 luxury apartments, 693 hotel rooms and 102 suites being projected, it will become one of the most luxurious hotels in all of Dubai. The apartments, which come in various styles and formats, even have their own gardens and private pools.
It is just a short distance from the established Atlantis hotel, also sitting on one of the cresents of the Palm, this will give visitors tremendous access to private beaches as well as views of the ocean and of the built up Dubai ahead of it.
Please note that all prices and completions dates are estimates and may be subject to change upon fulfilment of the project(s)
