A replica of the Taj Mahal four times larger than the original. An underwater hotel. A 5 sq km complex of homes linked by canals. The world’s biggest mall (again). A crocodile park. If you wanted any proof that Dubai’s economy is back on track following the financial meltdown that shook the world in 2008, one need only look at the list of ambitious new developments announced over the past 12 months. Many of the proposals have had seasoned expats whispering ‘it’s like 2006 all over again’, with a look of both excitement and desperation in their eyes.
There’s no denying that the new developments – sublime, ridiculous, beautiful, thrilling and garish as they each might be – will be a marvel to watch evolve in front of our eyes. But for those who lived through the sky-high property prices of Dubai’s 2006-2008 boom (a time when general inflation alone soared to 10.8 percent by 2008), a sense of anxiety may be somewhat justified. With this recent recovered economic confidence, Dubai has also seen property and rental prices soar – most of the sales and letting firms we spoke to reported that property prices in prime areas have soared by as much as 25 percent over the past 12 months, with rental prices rising by up to 15 percent. ‘When 2008 hit, I thought it would take six years to recover,’ says Priyesh Patel, a sales director with real estate firm Aston Pearl. ‘Yet it only took three years.’
Reference:Time Out Dubai
Burjuman Centre
Burjuman is the home of high end fashion in Dubai; host to all the best brands money can buy such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Bvlgari to name a few. BurJuman is the height of shopping luxury in Dubai. Beyond the exclusive luxury brands, there are also some great ready to wear items on offer from brands like Guess and DKNY.
There are two parts to the mall, the old and the new. Stick to the older part for the more expensive brands all in one place. There is a play area on the third floor for children, which includes an interactive fountain. The mall is made up of sunny courtyards and impressive gardens, giving it a distinctive outdoor feel. There are great restaurants and cafes to choose form if you need a break form all the shopping. Parking is easy to find, there are plenty of spaces underground, and a taxi rank just outside the complex.
Deira City Centre
Located on the waterfront, Deira City Centre is known for it’s friendly service. Many shoppers are surprised to be greeted with a smile and a complimentary bottle of water. What a great relief from the hot sun of Dubai! There are over 350 stores with a diverse range of merchandise. You’ll find all of the great fashion brands, as well as electronics, jewellery and local specialities such as silk, cashmere and oriental rugs. It’s a great place for jewellery with 33 dedicated stores.
Jumeirah Plaza
Centrally located and close to many of the major hotels, Jumeirah Plaza is certainly one of the most convenient malls to visit. Opened in 1994, by Dubai standards it’s one of the older malls, although it’s still very much worth a visit. There are all the international brands you expect as well as jewellery, home wares and quite a lot of watch showrooms.
Don’t miss TGI Fridays fro a great steak and some happy hour mocktails! There is also office space, a hotel and furnished apartments that are part of the complex. A large exhibition centre plays host to a wide range of activities throughout the year, from fun interactive things for kids to art shows to cultural events. Many locals prefer to shop at Jumeirah Plaza as opposed to some of the larger malls as it is often less crowded.
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب, "Tower of the Arabs") is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. At 321 metres (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj Al Arab's height, will take away this title upon its opening in April 2008. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the billowing sail of a boat.
Burj Dubai
Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When it is completed in late 2008, it is predicted to be the tallest man-made structure in the world, as well as the tallest building by any measure. Scheduled for occupancy in September 2009, the building is part of a 2 km² (0.8 sq mi) development called 'Downtown Burj Dubai' and is located at the "First Interchange" (aka "Defence Roundabout") along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street.
The building is being built mainly by a South Korean company Samsung, along with the Belgian company Besix and the UAE company Arabtec. It was designed by American Adrian Smith before he left Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP (SOM) of Chicago to start his own independent practice, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture in October 2006. However, SOM continues to lead the architectural, structural engineering and mechanical engineering of Burj Dubai. The total budget for the Burj Dubai project is about $4.1 billion US and for the entire new 'Downtown Burj Dubai', $20 billion US.
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is a district in the heart of what has recently become known as 'new Dubai', in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is located at 25°4′52.86″N, 55°8′38.67″E on Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and the area which hosts Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and the American University in Dubai. The first phase of this project has been completed.
Reference: dubai-architecture info
DUBAI // Early morning fog blanketed the country for the third consecutive day yesterday causing yet more problems for air passengers
Eight flights coming into Abu Dhabi International Airport were diverted to alternative airports in the UAE and Oman. One flight went to Dubai, one to Muscat, three to Al Ain and a further three to Sharjah.
However, a spokeswoman for Abu Dhabi International Airport said there had been no cancellations yesterday due to the fog.
The budget carrier flydubai said a number of flights had been delayed or cancelled because of the weather and offered full refunds and free re-bookings to passengers affected by the delays and cancellations.
A statement from Dubai Airports said: “Foggy conditions and the backlog of delayed flights from Wednesday resulted in the cancellation of 20 flights at Dubai International.
