Dubai plans $1.7 billion tourist project

DUBAI: Dubai plans to develop a 6.3 billion-dirham ($1.7 billion) tourist resort on two manmade islands it will build on both sides of the Burj Al-Arab, its luxury sail-shaped hotel.

It is the latest development planned by the emirate as it aims to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2020 when Dubai will host the World Expo 2020 exhibition.

Spanning 4 million square feet, Marsa Al-Arab will be made up of two islands, one dedicated to entertainment and family tourism and the other featuring luxury villas and a private marina, state news agency WAM reported on Monday.

Dubai is already one of the world’s most visited cities, although its hotels, shopping malls and stateowned airline, Emirates, have been buffeted by a strong US dollar which has made the emirate pricier for many overseas visitors. The UAE pegs its dirham to the dollar.

Around 4.6 million tourists visited Dubai during the first quarter, up by 11 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Dubai Tourism data.

Marsa Al-Arab will feature 140 villas, a marine and water park and a theater with capacity for 1,700 people to host Cirque du Soleil, local media reported. Work on the project will break ground in June and be completed by late 2020, WAM said.

The agency did not mention how the project would be funded.