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That's pretty crazy to do in Dubai. I wonder how many people living in the desert know how or even have an interest in skiing? I have heard that Dubai is a popular european tourist destination so maybe they are banking on that? There have been lots of these indoor ski places in the past. Japan had a famous one for a long time, and according to this link there is even one in the UAE so maybe Dubai is trying to play catchup. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdome
They're trying to become one of the world's best tourist destinations. They built the "Palm" Island and are building the World Islands. They're getting ready for when the oil runs out. Pretty interesting because of their location.. will Americans want to vacation in the middle east?
I have been, just before the "grand opening." Some cool stuff (the run-off is used to cool the mall, which is now the largest in the world). The snow is better than fake powder, but obviously not as good as the real stuff. It's interesting, who knows if it will take off. They don't much care. It is cool to be sitting in 100-degree weather and say "grab your snowboards." --Dan
I just finished writing a paper for a construction document course on monumental construction around the world and focused on Dubai. The amount of projects going on in UAE is unbelievable. Check out www.DubaiLand.ae, the ski slope they have planned for that development is much more extraordinary then the one they just finished in the latest mall. My two friends just went out there to vacation for a week and had a wonderful time. Supposedly a lot of the locals have experience in downhill boarding and skiing from the sand dunes around the outskirts of the city.
Thats what you get when you hire an Engineer to design a builiding instead of an Architect. In context of Dubais yearning to aesthetically build its image through Architecture, this building seeks to go the complete opposite direction. The concept is great though. Its great cluturally. And keeping that snow, well, snow in 40 degree heat is no easy task.
Imagine all the good they can do with that money they just spent......... Like a show called who wants to be an F1 driver....where the winner gets a year contract to drive for a team around the world......that would be cool