Developing Dubai: How the no. 1 UAE destination is continuing to grow in business and leisure

Over the past ten years Dubai has become famed for its rapid growth, big money and ambitious development. Although the continuing recession is set to have some effects on many of the area's building projects, many of its developments continue to amaze and astound. With such growth, and airlines worldwide offering cheap flights to Dubai, the area has become a prime destination for businesses and those seeking leisure. What follows is an introduction to four of the areas major developments.

Dubai Waterfront
When completed the Dubai Waterfront will be the biggest man-made development in the world and will cover an area of 1.4 billion square feet including canals and islands. The development will include commercial and residential areas and aims to be a world class destination for all tourists. With construction beginning in 2007, Nakheel - the company behind the project - announced in February that over 1,000 homes will be completed by the end of the year.

The World
Similarly, Nakheel have also been constructing another ambitious archipelago named The World. The World is made up of islands that resemble the countries of Earth from the air, including Great Britain, Greece and the USA, and has been under construction since 2003. Each Island ranges in size from around 14,000 to 42,000 square metres but price tags vary widely - from $15 million to $250 million. Many major celebrities have been rumoured to have purchased an island including David Beckham and Tommy Lee.

DuBiotech
DuBiotech is a development that aims to attract biotechnology research and development to the region. The project began in 2005 under the instruction of UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and primarily consists of two high rise buildings which will cover 30 million square feet when completed. The pattern that will be seen on the side of the buildings represents strands of DNA. The development is seen as a major step in establishing a knowledge-based economy in the Emirates.

Burj Dubai
Not only is Dubai soon to include the biggest man-made structure in the world, but it is also home to the tallest. The Burj Dubai has been under-construction since 2004 and now stands at 818 metres including 160 habitable floors. Due to be opened by September 2009, the building will offer a hotel, 700 private apartments, as well as a swimming pool and commercial offices. Aside from the tower, the entire development includes 30,000 homes, another nine hotels and a mall.

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