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Dubailand will be twice the size of DisneyWorld and will have a total of 45 mega-projects within the development.

Dubailand

Part of Tatweer (part of Dubai Holding), Dubailand represents the focus of Dubai's drive to meet 15 million tourists a year by 2015. Officially announced on 23 October, 2003, Dubailand will be built on a 278km² site (twice the size of DisneyWorld), with private investment expected to reach $6 billion for the first phase alone.

Construction will be spread over four phases, with Tatweer targeting seven master themes: theme parks, culture and art, science and planetariums, sports and sports academies, well-being and health, shopping and retail, and resorts and hotels. It will have a total of 45 mega-projects within the development. A number of developments can be seen off the Emirates Road already taking shape; Dubai Sports City is already well underway, with Motor City undergoing expansion, while the Polo and Equestrian Club and Al Sahra Desert Resort are already operational.

Dubailand projects a population of 2.5 million, which includes tourists, workers and residents, once fully operational. Other highlights include Bawadi and the Tiger Woods Dubai - the world's first golf course designed by Tiger Woods.

Bawadi - the world's largest hospitality and leisure development will double the number of rooms in Dubai by 2016 to 29,000 - a joint venture signed earlier this year with Al Ghurair Investment will see the development of the world's largest shopping area, encompassing 3.7 million m².

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mousaed Economic City

The second in a series of economic cities being planned in the Kingdom by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), is another key element in Saudi Arabia's initiative to develop its economy, generate regional growth and create employment opportunities.

Covering an area of 150 million m², the $53 billion city will incorporate a cluster-based development comprising: transportation, logistics and supply chain centres; educational services; agricultural and food processing services; mining and commercial services. In terms of logistics and supply chain, an international airport is expected to capture three million passengers per year, a railway station for two million passengers annually and dry ports capable of handling 1.5 million tonnes of cargo. Located at Hail, it is equidistant from Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern province, which provides a good ‘northern gateway' to the Kingdom along a number of key trade routes.

Rakisa Holding Company has signed a strategic agreement with three financial institutions in the region to launch several investment funds, with total investments topping $2.9 billion. These institutions include Kuwait Finance & Investment Company, Gulf Finance House and Abu Dhabi Investment House.

Yas Island

Central to Abu Dhabi's aspirations as a cultural tourism destination, Yas Island will be the site for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be inaugurated in 2009.

The $40 billion Aldar project occupies a total land area of 25 million m², of which 17 million m² will be claimed for development. Alongside the F1 track, the development will feature a Ferrari theme park, water park, hotels, marinas and 300,000m² of retail area.

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