UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin

Rashid Al-Maktoum, launched Saturday the world's first temperature-controlled

city, Mall of the World, in Dubai.
The project will comprise the largest indoor theme park in the world, which will be

covered by a glass dome that will be open during the winter months and the

largest shopping mall in the world with an area of 8 million sq. ft.
The mall will take the form of an extended retail street network, different to the

typical shopping mall concept currently available in Dubai, in Addition to districts

within the project will include a wellness dedicated zone catering to medical

tourists, a cultural celebration district as well as a wide range of hospitality

options comprising 20,000 hotel rooms catering to all types of tourists.
The City is projected to become a year-round destination, welcoming around 180

million visitors annually.
"The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai's

tourism infrastructure as soon as possible." Sheikh Mohammed said.
"This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist

and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us; and

we are determined to achieve our vision." Sheikh Mohammed added.
Sheikh Mohammed confirmed the need to work towards achieving Dubai's

ambitious tourism vision.
"Our ambitions are higher than having seasonal tourism, tourism is key driver of

our economy and we aim to make UAE an attractive destination all year long." Said

sheikh Mohammed.
"This is why we will start working on providing pleasant temperature-controlled

environments during the summer months, we are confident of our economy's

strength, optimistic about our country's future and we continue to broaden our

vision." added Sheikh Mohammed.
The new project, developed by Dubai Holding, will introduce an innovative concept

of an integrated pedestrian city connected to the mall and offering a wide range of

leisure, retail, cultural, wellness, recreation and hospitality options under one roof.
The tourists will be able to enjoy a week-long stay without the need to leave the

City or use a car, The 7km long promenades connecting all facilities will be

covered during the summer and open during the winter.
The project will see the addition of 100 hotels and serviced apartments buildings,

including 20,000 hotel rooms, to Dubai's hospitality sector.
The project will also include designated parking areas with a capacity to host up

to 50,000 cars on the ground level.
Dubai Cultural District will be the hub for national and multinational cultural

festivities and events in UAE, a dedicated theatre district with host of venues

similar to some of the world's most renowned landmarks such as London's West

End and New York's Broadway.
The Celebration Walk, similar to the Ramblas Street in Barcelona will connect the

cultural district to the rest of the Mall.
Dubai Cultural District will include a range of conference, wedding and celebration

halls with a capacity to host thousands of revelers, befitting the multicultural

social fabric of Dubai.
The Mall will offer a holistic experience to medical tourists and their families,

ensuring access to quality healthcare, specialized surgical procedures and

cosmetic treatments, wellness facilities and high-end hospitality options.
"Mall of the World presents an innovative concept in the international hospitality

sector, further strengthening Dubai's appeal as a tourism hub with a wide range of

options." Chairman of Dubai Holding Mohammed Al-Gergawi said.
This project is a product of extensive research studying international and regional

tourists' requirements and preferences; the objective is to create an integrated city

with a plethora of best-in-class options within pleasant environments, he added.
"We are ready to move forward with this unique concept, whose distinctive offering

and strategic location will play an instrumental role in advancing the growth of

Dubai's tourism sector." he said.
The project will follow the green and environmentally friendly guidelines of the

Smart Dubai model; it will be built using state-of-the-art technology to reduce

energy consumption and carbon footprint, ensuring high levels of environmental

sustainability and operational efficiency.
Source: KUNA