The words “skiing” and “desert” aren’t often used in the same sentence. But that’s changing in Dubai, which appears to be on a mission to have the “biggest” of everything, including extravagant shopping malls, towers, and, now, ski slopes.
Gulf News reports that the oil-rich country is planning a project that will cover 3.67 million sm (39.5 million sf) and include a shopping mall, civic plaza, a 4-kilometer canal, a marina with 100 boat slots, and what’s being touted as the world’s longest indoor ski slope.
The developer, Meydan City Corporation, states that this project should be completed before 2020, the year that Dubai hosts the World Expo 2020. While the developer didn’t disclose what this project might cost, The Guardian reports estimates of up to 25 billion dirhams (about $6.8 billion).
The Dubai newspaper Al-Bayan reports that this project would extend from the Meydan racetrack to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower.
The shopping mall component of this project, called Meydan One Mall, alone will cover 25,000 sm (269,000 sf), and include a retractable roof measuring 150 x 80 meters. The mall will be adjacent to the 1.2-kilometer (4,922-foot) long ski slope. (The Emirate already holds the record for the largest indoor ski slope, at 400 meters long, which runs year-round inside the Mall of the Emirates, according to The Guardian.)
At the base of the ski slope will be 25,000-sm Meydan Arena, which will seat up to 8,000 people, and could be used for a variety of sporting contests and live shows.
This project also includes the construction of The Dubai One, a 711-sm-tall building that would be the tallest residential tower in the world. It will have 885 apartments and a five-star hotel with 350 rooms, as well as a conference center, a 655-meter observation deck, and skytop restaurant.
Residents and visitors will be able to avail themselves of more than 5.3 kilometers of bicycle and hogging trails, a 300-meter-long beach, and a heritage village that could house up to 78,000 people. The project will also feature a 420-meter-long “dancing” fountain, also said to be the world’s largest.
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jun 22, 2023
NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars release conceptual designs for ‘stadium of the future’
Designed by HOK, the Stadium of the Future intends to meet the evolving needs of all stadium stakeholders—which include the Jaguars, the annual Florida-Georgia college football game, the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, international sporting events, music festivals and tours, and the thousands of fans and guests who attend each event.
Arenas | Jun 14, 2023
A multipurpose arena helps revitalize a historic African American community in Georgia
In Savannah, Ga., Enmarket Arena, a multipurpose arena that opened last year, has helped revitalize the city’s historic Canal District—home to a largely African American community that has been historically separated from the rest of downtown.
Architects | Jun 6, 2023
Taking storytelling to a new level in building design, with Gensler's Bob Weis and Andy Cohen
Bob Weis, formerly the head of Disney Imagineering, was recently hired by Gensler as its Global Immersive Experience Design Leader. He joins the firm's co-CEO Andy Cohen to discuss how Gensler will focus on storytelling to connect people to its projects.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 30, 2023
How design supports a more holistic approach to training
For today’s college athletes, training is no longer about cramming team practices and weight lifting sessions in between classes.
Arenas | May 18, 2023
How can we reimagine live sports experiences?
A Gensler survey finds what sports fans' experiences have been like returning to arenas, and their expectations going forward.
Digital Twin | May 8, 2023
What AEC professionals should know about digital twins
A growing number of AEC firms and building owners are finding value in implementing digital twins to unify design, construction, and operational data.
Collegiate Stadiums | Apr 4, 2023
6 examples of modern college training facilities
HOK discusses the future of college training facilities, with six design takeaways derived from a discussion between Dan Radakovich, Director of Athletics at the University of Miami, and Trevor Bechtold, Director, HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 30, 2023
New University of St. Thomas sports arena will support school's move to Division I athletics
The University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minn., last year became the first Division III institution in the modern NCAA to transition directly to Division I. Plans for a new multipurpose sports arena on campus will support that move.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 17, 2023
Aurora, Colo., recreation center features city’s first indoor field house, unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains
In January, design firm Populous and the City of Aurora, Colo. marked the opening of the Southeast Aurora Recreation Center and Fieldhouse. The 77,000-sf facility draws design inspiration from the nearby Rocky Mountains. With natural Douglas Fir structure and decking, the building aims to mimic the geography of a canyon.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 15, 2023
Georgia State University Convocation Center revitalizes long-neglected Atlanta neighborhood
Georgia State University’s new Convocation Center doubles the arena it replaces and is expected to give a shot in the arm to a long-neglected Atlanta neighborhood. The new 200,000 sf multi-use venue in the Summerhill area of Atlanta is the new home for the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and will also be used for large-scale academic and community events.
