Dubai Online Blog - Travel Videos, Tourism News and More

Arabian Business reports that the opening of the Hard Rock Hotel in Dubai has been delayed. The hotel is now scheduled to open in 2013.

The project was originally announced at the end of 2007.

Emirates Business 24|7 published an article today concerning the opening dates of several hotels on the Palm Jumeirah. The publication quoted a Nakheel spokesperson giving opening dates for several properties:

• Fairmont Kingdom of Sheba – 2011
• Fairmont Palm Jumeirah – 2011
• Kempinksi Hotel Emerald Palace – Residences opening March 2010, hotel opening 4th quarter 2010
• Movenpick Oceana Hotel & Spa – 2nd quarter 2010
• Movenpick Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa – 2010
• Jumeirah Al Fattan Palm Resort – end 2010/early 2011

Around 30 hotels are planned. None have been cancelled, but many, notably the Trump International Hotel & Tower, have been indefinitely delayed.

This HD video shows a trip on the Dubai Metro Red Line. It was shot on September 10th 2009, the first day the Metro was open to the public.

Things to look out for include:

• The train arriving at Rashidiya Metro Station from the depot (0:07)
• Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station (1:35)
• Going past the Deira City Centre shopping mall before going underground (3:10)
• Dubai World Trade Centre (4:30)
• Trade Centre Metro Station (4:59) – not open yet
• Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel (5:20)
• The Address Dubai Mall, Dubai Mall, and Burj Dubai (5:43)

The video was shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera.

This video shows the journey along the Dubai Metro Red Line. It was shot on first day that the Dubai Metro was open to the public, September 10 2009, when only 10 stations were open.

The journey starts at Nakheel Harbour and Tower Metro Station and finishes at Rashidiya Metro Station.

Stops are:

• Nakheel Harbour and Tower (0:00) – Jumeirah Islands
• Mall of the Emirates (0:46) – Al Barsha
• Financial Centre (1:39) – Dubai International Financial Centre
• Al Jafiliya (1:57) – Al Jafiliya
• Khalid Bin Waleed (2:10) – Bur Dubai
• Union Square (2:19) – Deira
• Al Rigga (2:27) – Deira
• Deira City Centre (2:34) – Deira
• Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 (2:54) – Garhoud/Dubai Airport Free Zone
• Rashidiya (3:12) – Rashidiya

The film is speeded up. The Dubai Metro is fast, but not that quick.

The Dubai Metro Red Line opened on September 9 2009. 10 of 29 stations planned were operational on the first day:

Dubai Metro Stations - Red Line

This video shows some of the adrenaline rides and motion simulators at SEGA Republic in the Dubai Mall.

Rides featured are:

• Initial D4 (0:10)
• Let’s Go Jungle! Special (0:18)
• Wild Jungle (0:36)
• Sonic Hopper (0:41)
• Half-pipe Canyon (0:46)

This video shows some of the rides at SEGA Republic, an indoor theme park at the Dubai Mall. It was shot on the opening day, August 21 2009.

Rides shown include:

• Sonic Hopper (0:24)
• Half-pipe Canyon (0:27)
• Storm-G (3:15)
• Spin Gear (4:27)

A preview publication for Cityscape Dubai contains an interesting interview with the one of the key players behind the City of Arabia project in Dubai.

Alex Vacha, Deputy Director for Projects, stated the following concerning the state of the development:

• Mall of Arabia – Piling works are now complete. 89 percent of the gross leasable area of phase one of the mall is leased and committed.
• Wadi Walk – Shoring works and bulk excavation complete.
• Elite Towers – Construction work on Wadi Tower, I&M Tower, and Metro Tower has begun.
• Restless Planet – 70 of the 110 animatronic dinosaurs being made in Japan by Kokoro are finished.
• Completion – The project will have a phased opening, commencing at the end of 2010.

The City of Arabia is a mixed-use development at Dubailand. Key components are:

• Mall of Arabia – Expected to be the world’s largest shopping mall once complete.
• Restless Planet – Theme park, earth science museum, and planetarium.
• Wadi Walk – Waterway lined with apartments, cafes, and shops.
• Elite Towers – 34 commercial and residential towers.

When the developers, the Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group announced the project in 2005, they claimed the Mall of Arabia and other components would be finished by 2008.

City of Arabia Dubai

Wadi Walk at the City of Arabia, Dubailand

Emirates Business 24|7 published an interesting interview today with Ah Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), concerning the Jumeirah Lake Towers development.

Key points arising were:

• All 87 towers should be completed by 2011/early 2012. 35 towers have received building completion certificates. The number is expected to reach 50 by the end of 2009.
• The development has been transferred from the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre to Nakheel.
• The 4 lakes (Almas East and West, Elucio and Allure) will be renamed. Excavation work on two of the lakes is almost complete.

Dolphin Bay is a facility at Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah that offers guests and visitors the chance to swim and interact with dolphins.

A 4.5 hectare network of saltwater lagoons is home to over 20 bottlenose dolphins.

Several programmes are offered:

Shallow Water Interaction – Guests enjoy an intimate encounter with one of the dolphins, including playing and feeding. The interaction lasts approximately 90 minutes, including the induction talk, and is limited to 10 guests per dolphin. Prices are currently AED 625 for Atlantis guests and AED 790 for day visitors. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Deep Water Interaction – Journey to the depths of the lagoon with one of the dolphins. Prices for the Dolphin Bay Deep Water Interaction are currently AED 810 for guests of Atlantis and AED 975 for visitors. Participants must be 12 years old and 1.35 metres tall.

Observer Pass – Observers can watch family and friends participating in one of interaction programmes. The price is currently AED 100 for hotel guests and AED 300 for visitors.

All prices include wetsuits, towels, soft drinks, and complimentary admission to the Aquaventure water park.

Here’s a video: