UAE. It has been announced that the Dubai-land theme park, now being built at a cost of US$5 billion and scheduled to open in 2006, will also boast the added attraction of the Dubai Sunny Mountain Skidome.
“The idea for a winter leisure and sports facility evolved in 1998 when I realised that the hot season here encouraged residents to spend their holidays and money in much cooler and more enjoyable climes,” said Majid Pishyar, chairman and president of 32Group, a multinational company based in Dubai.
The project, which will cover over 1.4 million sq m (15 million sq ft), consists of a steel-structured dome that will include a huge revolving ski slope. Skiers will pass through and around an artificial mountain range, created to emphasise an “˜Arctic Experience’ effect. The Skidome will also house a deluxe hotel, a shopping mall, restaurants and other related retail outlets. Two huge columns of real ice will mark the entrance to the dome.
In May, Dubai announced plans to build an exclusive artificial US$2 billion residential island on top of three similar developments as it invests billions to promote itself as a tourist and leisure hub.
Also now being constructed in the desert are Dubai Marina, a US$10 billion city to house 100,000 people; the US$1.6 billion Dubai Festival City and the US$2.5 billion airport and Dubai Duty Free expansion.
