 Mean machines in the dunes, in the hinterland of Dubai |
The United Arab Emirates is not exactly renowned for doing things by half-measures. For starters, the world’s biggest land reclamation project is currently underway. When completed, The Palm, a set of man-made islands and connecting keys at Jumeirah Beach, will add a full 120 km to the coastline of Dubai. The world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, is also currently rearing above the north-eastern suburbs of Dubai. The 560 metre tower will scrape the skies at 108 metres above its current nearest rival, the Petronas Towers of Malaysia. The Burj Dubai will even surpass the 507 metre spire proposed as part of the replacement for New York’s destroyed World Trade Centre.
Add to that, the planned Dubai Metro has been expanded in size and concept to four lines and 320km, from an originally-planned two lines and just 70 km of track. Construction work has already begun on the first two lines, which should be completed by 2009, to coincide with the scheduled opening of a new light rail system.
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