Dubai looks ahead to 2010 with new airport, host of projects

Dubai: Dubai has pioneered some of the world's most exciting and extraordinary developments and 2010 will be no exception as the emirate defies the global economic downturn.

The travel and tourism industry is expected to directly contribute 5.4 per cent, or Dh47.3 billion, to the UAE's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The WTTC has ranked the UAE 21st in terms of absolute market size.

Dubai's standing can only improve when the world's tallest building opens early next year, along with a number of new hotels, sporting facilities and epic pathbreaking developments opening in the coming months.

After the opening of Dubai Mall — one of the world's largest shopping centres — and the launch of the Dubai Metro — the Gulf's first such venture — the emirate is gearing for the launch of Meydan — one of the world's biggest purpose-built horse-racing destinations.

The year ahead will also be a big year for Dubai in that Al Maktoum International Airport will see its first flight take off in June. Planned as the world's largest passenger and cargo hub, the airport will be ten times larger than Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined.

Doing the unthinkable

"Despite the global econ-omic downturn we dare to implement projects that others think unthinkable and we have an ambition that is the envy of other destinations around the world," says Ian Scott, director for the UK and Ireland of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

In mid-December this year the Rose Rayhaan, the world's tallest hotel tower, is set to open. The 72-floor Rotana property rising 333 metres will add to the beauty of the skyline along Shaikh Zayed Road. And next month the five-star Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa will fully re-open after an extensive refurbishment.

The Conrad Hotel Dubai with 550 rooms and suites will also strengthen Dubai's tourism offerings. A second Ritz Carlton is also on track for a 2010 opening. It will be a luxury business traveller hotel, with 124 serviced residences located at the Dubai International Financial Centre.

"These high-profile new developments are a clear sign that the emirate is moving into a period of recovery from the global economic downturn while also providing many new employment opportunities," DTCM said in a statement.

The Palazzo Versace Resort slated to open in 2010 will offer a new level of beachside comfort complete with the designer theme. The property will be situated by Dubai Creek and will boast 213 rooms and suites, 169 luxury villas, restaurants and a spa.

New hotels opening on the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah in 2010 include the five-star Ottoman Palace by Rixos offering 410 luxury rooms, suites and villas alongside 19 diverse dining outlets and a spa featuring the world's largest Turkish bath. Following this will be the five-star Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa which will introduce a flavour of the Indian Ocean to Dubai with its water villas.

The much-anticipated Jumeirah Golf Estates will open in late 2009 and 2010 as Dubai's premier golf-themed real estate development.

The Greg Norman-designed Earth course will open on November 19 this year when it hosts the inaugural Dubai World Championship, which is the culmination of the Race To Dubai. The resort will also house three other courses, Wind, Fire and Water, designed by Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Pete Dye.

Furthermore, only a 30-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, Tiger Wood's Al Ruwaya resort is also set to open in 2010. It will boast an 18-hole championship course.

"All of this combines to keep Dubai on track, with global visitor numbers up four per cent for the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year and current occupancy levels remain very strong," Scott says.

Emirates, Etihad Airways in reckoning for top honours

Major UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad Airways are among the top contenders at this year's World Travel Awards that will be announced at the World Travel Market here this week.

The UAE carriers are competing for the coveted title of the World's Leading Airline against Air Jamaica, Air Mauritius, British Airways, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, LAN Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mexicana Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International, TAM Brazil and Virgin Atlantic.

The World Travel Awards were launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry.

Thousands of votes are cast by travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organisations in over 160 countries across the globe. Votes are cast globally by fellow industry professionals in 919 categories.

Meanwhile, the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Essex House in New York, and the Emirates Palace are leading the top 20 contenders for the World's Leading Hotel.