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
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