Dubai Blog

Dubai World Records

Thank you for visiting back. You may want to subscribe to my RSS feed and save time.

Traveling to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) means experiencing what it’s like to be in a place that’s been heavily occupied with construction projects left and right in the last twenty years. And to think they’re not just the ordinary infrastructures we see rising up elsewhere – they’re potential world record breakers in terms of being the first, the tallest, or the largest.

One of current Dubai world records that must be mentioned here is the Dubai Mall, now the largest shopping mall in the world based on total area (1,124,000 sq. m. or 12.1 million sq. ft.).

Now and within the next ten years, several more Dubai world records are expected to be established. Here are eight:

1. Burj Dubai – “Tallest Freestanding Structure in the World”

Construction of this building began on September 21, 2004 and officially opened few months ago. The Burj Dubai is 818 meters (2,684 feet) tall, which will surpass the 610 meters (2,001 feet) height of China’s Guangzhou TV and Sightseeing Tower. This project has a total budget of approximately 4.1 billion US dollars (USD 4.1 billion).

2. Dubai Marina – “Largest Man-made Waterfront and Largest Man-made Marina in the World”

This project has two phases. Phase 1 covers 10.12 hectares, while phase 2 is expected to have more than 200 high-rise buildings. Once both phases are completed, the Dubai Marina will send the Marina del Rey (located in California, USA) down to second place.

3. Atlantis (Hydropolis) Underwater Hotel and Resort – “First Luxury Underwater Hotel in the World”

This project is situated 20 meters (66 feet) below the Persian Gulf’s surface. It has an area of 642.5 acres. The Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort has a total budget of USD 482.5 million.

4. Dubailand – “Biggest Amusement Park in the World”

On October 23, 2003, Dubai announced the construction of what is believed will become the world’s biggest entertainment complex – Dubailand. This project will cover about 278 square kilometers (107 square miles) of land. Within the complex will rise 45 vast projects and some 200 secondary ones.

5. Dubai World Central International Airport (DWC) – “Largest Passenger and Cargo Hub in the World”

This project, when completed, will surpass two similar facilities in two different categories – annual cargo capacity and annual passenger capacity. In the first category, DWC will push Memphis International Airport down to second place, with its 12 million-ton per year cargo capacity; in the second, it is expected to surpass the 90 million per year passenger capacity of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with its 150 million per year figure. This project is estimated to be fully operational by the year 2017.

6. The Tower in Motion – “First Rotating Skyscraper in the World”

This project will have a total of 80 floors. The first 20 floors will serve as the building’s retail section; the 21st to the 35th floors will have a luxurious hotel; the next 35 floors will have the usual units of accommodation; and the 10 uppermost floors will have suburban residence-style apartments, designed with yard and garden space.

As per the project’s design, each floor will have the capability to rotate independently right or left. This will be made possible by a “voice recognition” technology, which may be programmed in any language. This means that the building’s occupants will be able enjoy constantly-changing views. 

7. The 6th Crossing – “Longest and Tallest Arch Bridge in the World”

This project is also called the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing. It is expected to be completed in 2012. It will have a length of 1.6 kilometers (about 1 mile), a width of 64 meters (210 feet), and an altitude of 15 meters (49 feet) above the water level. Each of the traffic directions will have 6 lanes. On an hourly basis, the bridge is expected to be able to carry 20,000 vehicles. At the center of the bridge will be a track, which is intended for the Green Line of Dubai Metro. The 6th Crossing has a total budget of USD 681 million.

8. Dubai Metro – “Longest Fully Automated Rail System in the World”

The original plan for this “driverless” project shows it will have at least two lines. The first, called the Red Line, is partially in operation; the second (called the Green Line), which will have a distance of 20 kilometers (12.43 miles), is under construction. When both lines become fully operational, it will cover a total distance of 72 kilometers (44.7 miles), enough to bring the Vancouver Skytrain down to second place.

Outside of these mega construction projects, there are other Dubai world records now in place. For example, there is the Dubai World Cup, which is billed the “Richest Horse Race in the World.” The horse race has a prize fund of USD 10 million. Dubai also boasts of the Golden Star, which is labeled the “Longest and Most Expensive Yacht in the World.” The yacht measures 160 meters (525 feet) in length, and is valued at more than USD 300 million.

Dubai Healthcare City

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai, envisioned a grand project that will make Dubai a highly-preferred healthcare center in the world. And so the Dubai Healthcare City came into being.

The Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is an integration of the best in clinical services, research, and medical education. Basically, two very important zones make up the DHCC – the Medical Community and the Wellness Community. The former is already operational, while the latter is still in the planning stages.

The Medical Community:

This zone, which has an area of 380,902.5 square meters (4.1 million square feet), has seen rapid growth since its establishment. The 80 or so clinics located here are staffed by more than a thousand healthcare professionals, all of whom are licensed by the Centre for Healthcare Planning of the DHCC. This licensing prerequisite ensures that all the services being provided at DHCC satisfy the standards set by the different international accreditation bodies (example, the Joint Commission International).

The Medical Community houses the following medical entities:

• Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre (HMSDC) Institute for Postgraduate Education and Medical Research;

• University Teaching Hospital (UH);

• Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR);

• Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai (BUIDRE).

• Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library.

The Wellness Community:

This zone, which has an area more than four times that of the Medical Community’s (1.77 million square meters or 19 million square feet), is intended to serve as the region’s center for integrative and preventive medicine. As the name it carries suggests, this zone also aims to be the region’s primary center for the advancement of wellness.

The Wellness Community will have the following features:

• A health and long-term care facility;

• Outpatient clinics;

• A facility for sports medicine;

• A cosmetic services center;

• A center for the promotion of active lifestyle;

• A five-star hotel and spa resorts;

• A residential district with food and retail outlets.

As a whole, the DHCC offers a complete range of medical and other complementary services, which include those in the following 19 fields:

1. Cardiology

2. Immunology

3. Chiropractic

4. Family medicine

5. Anesthesia

6. Dentistry

7. Pediatrics

8. Obstetrics

9. Urology

10. Dermatology

11. Orthopedic

12. Neurology

13. Internal medicine

14. Physical therapy

15. Radiology

16. Plastic surgery

17. Endocrinology

18. Gastroenterology

19. General surgery

Consider these big names that are getting on board the DHCC: Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, the Mayo Clinic, Astra Zeneca, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, and the German Heart Center, among others.

The entire Dubai Healthcare City is expected to be fully operational in 2011 at the latest. It is strategically located at the heart of Dubai City, in the historic district of Bur Dubai. It is near the Dubai Creek and is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the Dubai International Airport. The best way to reach DHCC from Abu Dhabi is via the E 11 highway.

Dubai Desert Classic

If you don’t know much about Dubai, this is one of the seven states that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as an important tourist

destination. Visitors to this city find the place excitingly attractive and bustling with activities. Mega construction projects are going on all over the

city, most of which are either the “first” or the “best” in their respective categories.

Adding to Dubai’s popularity are the many sporting events it holds. And these are not just ordinary sporting events; they’re Dubai sports events – considered

the richest, again, in their respective categories. The Dubai World Cup, for example, is considered the richest horse race in the world. The Dubai Tennis

Championship, on the other hand, is an important tournament where the biggest names in tennis participate.

Another one of the biggest Dubai sports events is the Dubai Desert Classic. This is a professional golf tournament held annually at the Emirates Golf Club.

But first, let’s look back at how the Dubai Desert Classic started.

In 1986, the plan for constructing a world-class golf course in Dubai was approved. The plan became a reality a couple years later, when the Emirates Golf

Club was completed. Soon after, the “Majilis” course was created at the Emirates Golf Club. It is in this par-72, 7,301-yard course where the Dubai Desert

Classic is being held every year since (the 1999 and 2000 editions of the tournament, though, was held at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club).

The tournament’s format is known as the “stroke play.” This is a scoring system in which the total number of strokes taken on each hole during the series of

rounds is counted. The player with the least number of strokes for the rounds wins the tournament.

Since its inauguration in 1989 (then known as the Karl Litten Desert Classic), the Dubai Desert Classic has been part of the European Tour timetable. The

tournament was likewise the first European Tour event to be held in the Middle East. The following year (1990) the tournament was called the Emirates

Airlines Desert Classic.

Dubai Desert Classic became the official name of the tournament beginning in the 1992 edition, which was won by Severiano “Seve” Ballesteros Sota of Spain.

Past winners of the Dubai Desert Classic were as follows:

• 1993 – Wayne Brett Westner of South Africa

• 1994 – Theodore Ernest “Ernie” Els of South Africa

• 1995 – Frederick “Fred” Steven Couples of the United States

• 1996 – Colin Stuart Montgomerie of Scotland

• 1997 – Richard George Green of Australia

• 1998 – Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain

• 1999 – David Alexander Howell of England

• 2000 – Jose Eusebio Coceres of Argentina

• 2001 – Thomas Bjorn of Denmark

• 2002 – Theodore Ernest “Ernie” Els of South Africa

• 2003 – Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands

• 2004 – Mark Francis O’Meara of the United States

• 2005 – Theodore Ernest “Ernie” Els of South Africa

• 2006 – Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods of the United States

• 2007 – Henrik Stenson of Sweden

• 2008 – Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods of the United States

• 2009 – Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland.

Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, both big names in golf, were the most successful participants thus far in this tournament. The Dubai Desert Classic has a purse of

2.5 million US dollars.

Dubai Cruises and Water Sports

Planning to visit Dubai? Then you don’t want to miss Dubai water sports activities and cruises. Here is a a bit more about this subject.

Dubai is a favorite tourist destination mainly because of its many attractions. It has fine beaches, theme amusement parks, gardens, archaeological sites, and museums and galleries to name a few.

Dubai likewise boasts of cruises and water sports, and these two are attractions that tourists do not want to miss when traveling to the Emirates.

Dubai cruises:

Couples traveling in Dubai, for example, book on one of the Dubai cruises for a romantic evening. They enjoy the Arabian Gulf’s stillness and unspoiled water. Dubai cruises offer the following sights:

• The Bastakiya area, which has been restored, with the elegant windrowers (called barajeel);

• The Gold souks (traditional markets in Dubai);

• The abras (small motorboats) crisscrossing the water;

• The heritage village;

• The spectacular skyline of the financial district of Dubai.

Dubai’s dhows-wooden cruise cruisers is a special attraction because those who take these cruises are treated to the breathtaking picture offered while traversing the famous Dubai Creek. They are regaled by the beautiful view of Dubai’s skyline and major tourist sites. The average number of dhows that traverse the waters of Dubai Creek on a daily basis is one hundred fifty.

Taking one of the Dubai cruises is a real experience. The best views are presented at dawn, nighttime, or dusk. The services one gets from a cruise are comparable to those provided in a 5-star hotel. An international buffet menu is served to tourists, with a choice of continental or oriental fare.

Taking their adventure a little further, some tourists also try fishing while on the cruise. Each cruise takes about 3 hours to complete.

Water sports:

Most travelers to Dubai look forward to experiencing some of the recreational activities offered in the Emirate, and the water sports are almost always on top of their list. Dubai’s pleasant climate and the tranquility of the waters of the famous Dubai Creek are the reasons why the water sports in Dubai are popular.

The adventure begins at the Wild Wadi Water Park. It has 24 rides, with eight Master Blaster and two Flow Riders. Children and adults who are fond of water sports will have a great time, especially with the many thrills and spills that are offered here.

More adventures are offered here with the following:

• Fishing – This is the most favorite and, understandably, the easiest water sport.

• Water skiing – This water sport offers the chance of experiencing the gentle sea breeze as well as the cress of the azure waters.

• Scuba diving – This is a great water sport in Dubai, since the scuba diver will encounter many different marine life forms, such as sharks, eels, turtles, shoals, various species of small fish, and aquatic plants.

• Sailing – This is a highly-recommended water sport when in Dubai. The facilities offered for this adventure provides all the luxury the tourist needs.

It is obvious that the single biggest factor that makes Dubai cruises and water sports famous is the serene condition of Dubai Creek and beaches, where all these adventures take place.

Apple iPhone 4G Launched in Dubai

The market has gone crazy with the launch of iPhone 4G in Dubai. The most frequently asked question is “which supplier is providing the best price in Dubai?”

Well, the price is almost the same except for some of the online shops.

Emirates Avenue online shopping portal has special discounts for iPhone 4G devices. You can order online, but do not have to pay until they deliver to you free of charge. You have the opportunity to check your iPhone and then make the payments.

New Features in Apple iPhone 4G

The new phone has over 100 new features. Following are few of them.

• Playlist creation – Create custom playlists right on your iPhone.
  5x digital zoom in the camera app.
• Multitasking – You can run third-party apps and switch between them instantly without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily.
• Folders – Organize apps into folders with drag-and-drop simplicity. Get faster access to your favorites and browse and manage up to 2160 apps.
• Tap-to-focus for video – While shooting video, tap the display to choose where to focus.
• Auto photo-geotagging.
• The addition of Places functionality.
• The ability to change the Home screen wallpaper.
• Improved spell-checking.
• Support for Bluetooth keyboards.
• Improved email – See messages from all your accounts in a unified inbox, organize messages by threads, open attachments in third-party apps, and more.
• iBooks ebook reader.
• Gift Apps – Send apps as gifts to your friends or family.

Weather in Dubai

We are almost in the summer season in Dubai. The temperature is rising higher and higher day by day. If you are not in Dubai or haven’t travelled to any of the middle-east countries then this article will help you to understand the weather in Dubai and in the middle-east.

What’s the weather like in Dubai? People wishing to travel to this beautiful and highly developed state in the United Arab Emirates, but who’ve never been to anywhere in the Middle East before, have this question.

One of the factors that seem to dictate the trend in Dubai tourism (i.e., the number of tourists to Dubai at any given period of the year) is the weather. Throughout the year, the weather in Dubai is characterized by sunny days. This is understandable considering that Dubai has an excessively dry subtropical climate.

Summer in Dubai, which is during the months of July to September, can be very humid and hot. The temperature during this time is around 45 C (113 F), although it can peak to 48 C (118.4 F), especially in the inner areas of the city. The humidity level, on the other hand, can get to as high as 90 percent. Shamal (Arabic for wind) blows from mid-May to mid-July, and causes large sandstorms.

A marked decrease in temperatures is experienced beginning October. For the entirety of this month, temperatures range from a low of 26 C (78.8 F) to a high of 36 C (96.8 F). The weather in Dubai begins to be comfortable for tourists in the months of November and December. During this period, temperatures range from 21 C (69.8 F) to 30 C (86 F). Some rainfall likewise occur during these two months.

Winter sets in at the start of the year and ends around the end of March. It is during this time of the year when Dubai experiences an increase in the number of tourists because of the ideal weather. Average minimum temperature during this time is 14 C (57.2 F), while average maximum temperature is 29 C (84.2 F).

Beginning April up to late June, the weather in Dubai turns warmer. Temperature during this period is anywhere between 34 C (94.2 F) and 41 C (105.8 F). Humidity level at this time ranges between 50 and 56 percent. Also during these months, the days remain sunny for 10 hours or so.

Rain is scanty for the entire year, with the highest precipitation taking place during the winter months of January to March. The average rainfall in Dubai for the entire year is only about 13 centimeters (just a little over 5 inches).

Here are the temperature averages in Dubai, on a per-month basis:

• January and February – 20 C (68 F)

• March – 23 C (73.4 F)

• April – 25 C (77 F)

• May – 30 C (86 F)

• June – 33 C (91.4 F)

• July and August – 35 C (95 F)

• September – 31 C (87.8 F)

• October – 28 C (82.4 F)

* November – 25 C (77 F)

* December – 22 C (71.6)

In a nutshell, the weather in Dubai is marked with year-round sunshine and very little rainfall. Those who are planning to visit Dubai should choose the period in the year in which they think they will best enjoy their travel to that destination.

Burj Dubai Grand Opening Ceremony

Once again Dubai made the history. This time it was the fireworks, laser work and other items at the grand opening ceremony of Burj Dubai (now known as Burj Khalifa).

Watch the Burj Dubai opening ceremony video.

New Year’s Eve 2010 in Dubai

New Year’s Eve 2010 in Dubai is once again going to be a grand celebration. Preparations are underway for fireworks and other events.

You can see fireworks from multiple locations. Anywhere along the Jumeirah beach starting from the Palm Entrance will have a view to watch the fireworks. Make sure to go early as there will be a big crowd.

What else is on in the Dubai New Years Eve 2010?
�
Almost all hotels in Dubai have organized dinner dance to celebrate the event. Some hotels have organized events to cater certain nationals.

Lama Tours has organized a special New Year’s Eve celebration on Lama floating restaurant (Dhow cruise). They also have special events with full of actions (Jazz music, dance etc) in the middle of the desert. Visit http://www.lama.ae/NewYear/NewYear2010.html for more details. If you are interested contact us for a special 10% discount for any of the events organized by Lama Tours.

If you have a limited budget then Ramada Dubai has special New Year’s Eve dinner dance for a reasonable price.

Dubai Holiday Tips

Dubai holiday season has begun. Thousands of holidaymakers from all over the world are flocking to Dubai during these winter months.

The quite often asked question by our website visitors is what are the things they must do while in Dubai. Well it is purely a personal preference. But here are my personal favourites.

• Dubai Desert safari
• Enjoy in Wild Wadi theme park
• Visit to Dubai Ski
• Perhaps a hot air balloon or a seaplane tour if I my budget permits

Visit Burj Al Arab and World or Palm islands

What about you? I would love to see what would you do if you were on a holiday in Dubai. Spend few minutes and post your comments.

Dubai Airshow 2009

The 11th Dubai airshow opened this morning. 890 companies from 47 countries are exhibiting at the Dubai Airshow 2009.

The highlight of this years event is the display of fighter jets. You will be able to see the newest fighter jets at the Dubai air show 2009.

The airshow will be held for five days. I think this is one of the events that you should visit.