Transforming Dubai

Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed's dreams of turning Dubai into an internationally renowned city is getting a boost from 'Dubailand' -- a themepark almost twice as large as Disneyworld.

1 minute read

December 7, 2005, 6:00 AM PST

By Brenda Meyer

"Fast running out of oil, which now accounts for just 6% of its gross domestic product, Sheikh Mohammed is racing to transform Dubai into a huge business-cum-leisure park on a breathtaking scale... The plan also involves the creation of a city for 10m people, compared with the current population of 1.5m. Its free enterprise zone is booming, as is its stock exchange (up 1,200% in two and a half years with stocks valued at $253bn). The amount of money raised from initial public offerings will have hit $15bn in the past 12 months. Hundreds of luxury hotels are being built and many hundreds of thousands of flats and luxury homes aimed at housing the rich, the retired and the tourists as well as the immigrant workers tasked with making his dream reality."

FULL STORY: Building castles in the sand

Sunday, December 4, 2005 in The Business Online

Community / Economic Development Land Use Middle East

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.