RECORD BREAKER
Even by Dubai’s standards, plans for the recently announced Meydan One project take the breath away.
This leisure, residential and hospitality destination will cover more than 3.6 million square metres and feature a world record-breaking 711-metre residential tower, a huge mall complete with retractable roof, the largest indoor ski slope on the planet and a 25,000-square metre indoor sports facility.
More than 78,300 residents will eventually live at Meydan One, which will also accommodate a civic plaza with dancing water features, a 4 km-long canal and a 100-berth marina.
The first phase of the scheme, located between Meydan and Al Khail Road, is scheduled to be completed before 2020, becoming the emirate’s leading leisure destination.
The Meydan One Mall, complete with more than 300 restaurants, cafes and kiosks as well as flagship retailers, will feature a 150 by 80 metre retractable roof that will be opened during the cooler winter months to create an al fresco atmosphere.
An artist rendition of the Meydan One Mall interior
The ski slope planned here will be 1.2 kilometres long while the indoor sports facility will offer activities ranging from football, tennis, volleyball and basketball to indoor cricket, golf, hockey and even a baseball batting cage.
Other features will include more than 5.3 km of bicycle and jogging trails, a 9 km boardwalk, the world’s longest dancing fountain at over 430 metres, a 300 metre beach, a civic plaza capable of accommodating 60,000 people and a heritage village.
The Dubai One tower and its integrated podium, meanwhile, will become home to 885 residential apartments, a 350-room five-star hotel, conference centre, 360-degree observation deck and a sky restaurant at a world record 675 metres high.
Meydan Chairman Saeed Humaid Al Tayer said: “This development is a forward-thinking, interactive enterprise geared towards the Dubai of tomorrow.
“The encouragement and support we have received in the past from our trusted partners will now help the Meydan One development come to life. The first phase will be completed as Dubai prepares to host the World Expo 2020.”