Dubai develops ahead of the competition

Maintaining its position as an exciting and progressive destination with something for everyone, Dubai continues to enhance its offer with a staggering array of new developments showcased by Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM). The last 12 months have seen a raft of exciting new projects and there are many more in the pipeline for 2009 and beyond.

Ian Scott, director UK and Ireland for the Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), comments: “The secret of Dubai’s success is a real commitment to developing a world-class leisure and business offer for discerning travellers. As a destination, Dubai is establishing clear ground ahead of the competition and attracts an ever increasing number of visitors drawn by the emirate’s unparalleled visitor experience.”

Dubai is an all encompassing destination and this year has again seen an abundance of hotel openings fuelling a diverse visitor demand, from large scale luxury properties to beautiful boutique developments. Atlantis The Palm from Kerzner International opened in September 2008 with over 1,500 rooms and features everything for the ultimate family holiday, including the Aquaventure water park with water slides and its own magnificent 700 metre beach. Atlantis also provides all the ingredients for a fun filled luxury break for couples, with celebrity style dining at Nobu and Ronda Locatelli, stylish bars, lounges, a nightclub and a lavish spa.

In contrast Per Aquum’s boutique hotel Desert Palm, which opened earlier in 2008, offers a completely different side to Dubai. Located in the emirate’s spectacular desert landscape within a lush polo estate, Desert Palm offers holiday makers the opportunity to unwind in serenity at the luxurious Lime Spa and relax in one of the 24 individually decorated suites and villas. Or visit The Address hotel in Downtown Burj Dubai, which opened its doors in October 2008. This contemporary hotel features 196 rooms and suites, and a rich array of amenities that appeal to both leisure and business travellers including a a luxurious spa, and boasting eight restaurants with a range of food from around the globe. Emaar will unveil two more The Address properties in Dubai in 2009 at Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina.

New hotel openings for next year also include the first ever Armani Hotel, which will open at the world’s tallest tower the Burj Dubai in the newly emerging Downtown Burj Dubai area. Designed by Georgio Armani himself and covering 40,000 square metres, the prestigious Armani Hotel Dubai will feature 160 guestrooms and suites, a luxurious Armani Spa, a private members’ club, two gourmet restaurants and a nightclub. In addition, it will boast 144 exquisite Armani Residences. Also located in the Downtown area is Dubai Mall, which at the size of 50 football pitches is one of the world’s largest shopping malls, expecting to attract well over 30 million visitors in its first year alone.

2009 will also see the opening of high profile Lebanese designer Elie Saab’s project by Tatweer, which is scheduled to open in September. The lavish development which is located within an exclusive gold community will include a sumptuous spa, clubhouse, villas, mansions and community service facilities. Decorated in his own distinctive style, the development will overlook Tiger Woods’ first golf course, All Ruwaya, located at Dubailand that is also due to open in 2009.

In line with the increased number of visitors and hotel developments, Dubai International Airport has expanded; Terminal 3 opened in October 2008 exclusively for Emirates airline. This underground terminal has more than doubled the passenger handling capacity and will ease the burden on Terminal 1 as visitors continue to flock to the emirate. Direct flights to Dubai from the UK have also increased to 138 per week, approximately 20 per day, fuelling the increase in demand from UK consumers. And in the first nine months of 2008 the emirate experienced a huge increase in visitors from the UK, up 9.2 per cent, compared to the same period in 2007.

Dubai is continually at the forefront of architectural developments with one of the most impressive and ever-evolving skylines in the world. When it opens next year, Burj Dubai from the developer Emaar will be the tallest building in the world. And fellow developer Nakheel has recently unveiled plans to top this, by creating a building that will tower above its rivals at more than one kilometre high. Nakheel Harbour and Tower will be the centrepiece of a 270 hectare development, stretching between phase two of the Ibn Battuta shopping mall and the 75-kilometre Arabian Canal.

In addition to Dubai’s astounding architectural developments, the emirate is increasingly becoming one of the world’s leading cruise destinations. Located at the crossroads between East and West, the emirate provides an ideal cruise centre within the Middle East. Costa Cruises initially led the way making Dubai its regional hub, and now Royal Caribbean Cruises has now announced it will deploy the ship “Brilliance of the Seas” to Dubai from 2010. Other cruise news reveals that the iconic QE2 will be docked on The Palm Jumeirah from November and be transformed into a hotel with extensive conference facilities by 2010.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to developments in Dubai. This year at WTM the DTCM, along with some 120 co-participants, will highlight the emirate’s success over the last year and the plans for the future as the emirate continues to innovate and inspire its international audience.