world's first temperature controlled city to be built in dubai

world’s first temperature controlled city to be built in dubai
all images courtesy of dubai holding / mall of the world

united arab emirates’ vice president and prime minister, sheikh mohammed bin rashid has announced the world’s first temperature controlled city to be constructed in dubai. the vast 48 million square foot project, entitled ‘mall of the world’, will contain the planet’s largest shopping mall and an indoor theme park covered by a retractable glass dome that opens during winter months.

additional aspects of the plan include a wellness center, a cultural celebration district and a range of hospitality options that include 20,000 hotel rooms. once completed, the development will welcome around 180 million visitors each year, forming a year-round destination for guests of all ages.

view from sheikh zayed road

envisioned as an integrated pedestrian city, seven kilometer promenades connect the design, bringing together a wide variety of leisure, retail and hospitality options under one roof. a cultural district forms the hub of the site, with a dedicated theater quarter comprising a host of venues. the ‘celebration walk’ modeled on barcelona’s las ramblas will connect the district with the surrounding mall containing a range of conference, wedding and celebration halls.

(left) dubai cultural district theaters
(right) temperature-controlled retail street network

another component sees the completion of a 3 million square foot wellness district, dedicated to rejuvenation services. it will offer a holistic experience to medical tourists and their families, ensuring access to quality healthcare, specialized surgical procedures and cosmetic treatments and high-end hospitality options.

(left) the development’s wellness district
(right) indoor parks form part of the design

commenting on the new project, his highness sheikh mohammed explained, ‘the growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible. 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.‘

the ‘mall of the world’ cultural district

‘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. 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. the project will be developed in phases in alignment with the gradual growth of family tourism in dubai’, commented his excellency mohammed abdullah al gergawi, chairman of dubai holding.

ahmad bin byat, chief executive officer of dubai holding, continued, ‘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. 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.’

the location of the scheme within dubai