Article:
ISSUE No.2 January-February 2007

Dubai's Daily Wonders of the World
Artificial Islands, Divine Towers and New Historic Towns Characterise the Face of Dubai

It is thanks to the ambition and visions of Dubai's ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, that you are in constant awe in the modern desert emirate. Almost every day, huge large-scale projects are initiated, which should put Dubai on the map as an economic and tourist location. 

The emirate of Dubai's marketing triumphs began in 1999 with the inauguration of the seven-star hotel "Burj Al Arab". In the meantime, the visionary desert town's modern figurehead is engulfed by neighbouring towers and large-scale projects as new districts sprout up around the most famous hotel in the world, both on land and in the water. 
Dubai markets the two man-made islands "The Palm Jumeirah" and "The Palm Jebel Ali", both with a diameter of five kilometres and shaped like a palm, as the 8th wonder of the world. As palm islands enjoy enormous popularity, the construction of "Palm Deira" was decided in eastern Dubai shortly afterwards. At the same time, there is another artificial island which modestly bears the name "The World". The world's most exclusive resort is to emerge on the 200 islands in the form of the five continents, whereby every single island is shaped like a different country. One proud owner of one of the artificial islands is none other than Michael Schumacher, which he was generously given by Dubai's ruler following the end of his career as a racing driver. 
"Dubai Waterfront" is another mega project on the water, which is being constructed at the beginning of 75km-long canal around the up and coming location Jebel Ali. One day, 750,000 people could live in the ten districts of the new water metropolis, covering 440 square kilometres off the coast of Dubai. In Jebel Ali, where the first free-trade area in the United Arab Emirates was founded 20 years ago, the world's largest airport "World Central" is being built, situated near the world's largest man-made port and surrounded by the artificial waterway,  the"Arabian Canal". 
It goes without saying that the tallest tower in the world is also being constructed in Dubai. "Burj Dubai" is growing at a rate of two storeys per week and will soon tower above the new historic town "Old Town Dubai".
Even Disney World is too small for Dubai! The gigantic amusement park "Dubailand" will soon be constructed in the desert. The giant theme park will be twice as big as its American counterpart and will house the world's largest shopping centre, the "Mall of Arabia". And because the yearning for snow and winter sports proved unbearable, the largest artificial ski slope was opened in the "Mall of the Emirates" in 2005 with 6,000 tons of artificial snow in an ultra-large hall. Thank goodness! 
Within the last five years, a number of influencial construction companies and project developers have changed the face of the town. The numerous large-scale projects often develop under the personal guidance of the visionary leader Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai Holding with the Jumeirah group, companies such as Emaar, Nakheel and Al Habtoor launch one mega project after another in the desert sand. All of these projects should push the economic progress of the UAE and secure its prosperity. Dubai has been successful in developing new sources of income besides oil through successful diversification strategies which have amazed the world. The ecological consequences of the gigantomania remain to be seen.