Dubai to build first underwater hotel
Dubai is to build its first underwater hotels at a cost of up to US$120 milliion.
The hotel will consist of a discus-shaped building 10 metres below the surface of the sea with 21 bedrooms adjacent to an underwater dive centre and a bar. The bedrooms will have a special lighting system and miniature underwater vehicles that will be operated from inside, allowing guests to take a closer look at sealife.
The building on the sea bed will be connected to another discus-shaped building above the water.
The underwater hotel is being built by Dubai government-backed investment company Dubai World and funded by Swiss company, BIG InvestConsult, which holds the technology rights.
Other investors are being sought for the project with plans to extend the concept beyond the Middle East.
The underwater hotels will be constructed by Dubai World’s ship building subsidiary, Drydocks World.
Khamis Juma Buamim, chairman of Drydocks World, told reporters, "This project has seven different types of designs in the range of around $US50 million to $US120 million each."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt