Eagle-eyed Dubai Marina residents will already know that a new zipline has been installed over the Dubai Marina.
Brought to you by XDubai, the people behind the zipline over the Dubai Fountain in 2015, the new zipline is now open to the public. The double zip line, described as the world’s longest urban zip line is priced at Dhs650 per person, or Dhs1, 200 for two people.
Building on the earlier archetype, the new XLine is twice the length, and is two ziplines running adjacent, rather than one. Also new is the Superman style harness, which allows zipliners to ride Superman-style, belly down, as they zip from one of the Amwaj towers in JBR, 170 meters in the air, down to the terrace of Dubai Marina Mall (which means, yes, you are at times zipping over the road).
XLine, Dubai Marina, 10am to 6pm Sun to Thurs, 10am to 7pm Fri and Sat.
The world’s tallest building has been recreated in gingerbread.
A 14-metre tall Burj Khalifa, constructed entirely out of the delicious medium, now stands proudly at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport (you can find it near the B gates). As with any great piece of gingerbread architecture, icing is key to the tower’s structural integrity: The impressive feat of engineering is part of the airport’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ village, which features plenty of festive entertainment for travelers.
It was created by The Address Hotel in Dubai Marina’s culinary team, led by head chef Avinash Mohan and six engineering professionals. The team meticulously constructed the show-stopping replica in 432 hours, using more than 30,000 gingerbread panels, 180 kilograms of flour, over 1,600 kilos of icing sugar, 216 litres of honey and 23 kilos of ginger powder.
It’s not the first time the Burj Khalifa has been rendered in biscuit form. In previous years, the Address Dubai Marina has also erected an edible version of the iconic tower in their own lobby.
CLYMB, a Dhs367 million indoor attraction on Yas Island, will break two world records when it opens in 2018 – not only will it feature the world’s tallest climbing wall, but the world’s largest flight chamber as well. The climbing section will offer spaces for beginner, intermediate and expert climbers.
Abu Dhabi’s growing list of attractions is set to include the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall and its widest skydiving chamber – housed in a giant futuristic multi-sided diagonal cube on Yas Island. Developer Miral said the US$100 million “Clymb” is scheduled to open next to Yas Mall in 2018. Work is already under way and the project is 35 per cent complete as of the beginning of this month.
Dubai has test-flown an uncrewed two-seater drone designed to transport people autonomously. Called the Autonomous Air Taxi (AAT), the city claims the vehicle will be the world’s first “self-flying taxi service.” The AAT is environmentally friendly, powered by electricity, and the prototype version has a maximum flight time of 30 minutes, at a cruising speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and a maximum airspeed of 100 km/h (62 mph).
There are also plans to make AAT available to the public via a smartphone app that would allow users to book flights and track routes. The Government of Dubai says over the next five years, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) will work with the country and city’s aviation authorities to develop policy and laws for the AAT and its services.
You’ll find it just down the road from Ferrari World on Yas Island.
Abu Dhabi’s newest theme park is on track for a 2018 opening, with 29 rides inspired by classic Warner Bros characters such as Scooby Doo and Bugs Bunny, as well as heroes and villains from the DC Universe like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is a planned indoor amusement park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, owned and developed by Miral Asset Management at an expected cost of $1 billion. The park will feature characters from Warner Bros’s franchises, such as Looney Tunes, DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, and others. The park will be located on Yas Island near Ferrari World and Yas Waterpark, and will be the third Warner Bros.’s theme park. An adjoining hotel is also being built at the center of Yas Island. The park will contain 29 rides, restaurants, attractions, shops and shows.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will be organized into six themed areas; Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros Plaza. Gotham and Metropolis would be based on the fictional settings of DC Comics super heroes Batman and Superman, respectively. Warner Bros.’s Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera cartoon libraries would be featured in Cartoon Junction and Dynamite Gulch, along with Bedrock, which will be themed around The Flintstones. Warner Bros Plaza would mimic the Hollywood of the past.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard word of this magical new development, but it looks like plans for Aladdin City are ticking along nicely. The spectacular location at Dubai Creek is now in “detailed design” stage, according to Dubai Municipality. The development, inspired by the ancient legends of fictional heroes Aladdin and Sinbad, is made up of three golden structures designed to look like glimmering genie lamps.
Two underground parking blocks – each with a public park on its roof – at the entrance points to the development will provide 900 parking spaces. The buildings – one 33-floor hotel and two commercial towers of 24 and 25 storeys – are expected to be designed in detail within 12 months. “The concept design is there with the whole detailed design being completed in a year’s time,” Al Hajri told Arabian Business.
The towers will cover a total area of 110,000 square metres, while the attached bridges are said to be designed like dragons and lizards, further enhancing the mythological inspirations. “The development of such a project in this area will have a global cultural and historical impact and pride for generations to come, and will contribute to the progress of the emirate and its dream to be No 1 in everything.
With more than 1.5 million folks set to make their way into Downtown Dubai this New Year’s Eve, visitors and residents are busy chalking up their plans for the celebrations. We’re getting ready for something a little bit different this New Year’s Eve, as Dubai’s most iconic landmark is preparing for a break from the norm. NYE in Dubai is synonymous with enormous fireworks displays coming from the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai (see above photo) at the stroke of midnight.
Well, Emaar, the master developer, has announced via the Downtown Dubai Instagram account that instead of the traditional fireworks shebang on Sunday December 31, this year we can expect a brilliant light show instead. It’s being dubbed Light Up 2018, and is promising NYE in Dubai this year is “nothing like you’ve seen before”.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will suspend the metro service between Ibn Battuta and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) Stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line from January 5, 2018 to the middle of 2019. The service suspension is dictated by construction works required for Route 2020 Project, namely the construction of a new station at Nakheel Harbour and Tower and linking it with the existing one. Accordingly, the station, as well as the attached multi-story car park, will be fully closed.
“To ensure the smooth mobility of riders between Jumeirah Lake Towers Station and Ibn Battuta Station, RTA will deploy regular free express buses to shuttle commuters between the two stations during the metro service hours. This alternative transit service between the two stations will be running throughout the closure period to complete construction works required for the extension of the Metro Red line as part of Route 2020 Project,” said Abdul Mohsen.
“Metro riders heading to UAE Exchange Station are required to alight at JLT Station, board a free bus to take them to Ibn Battuta Station and then continue their metro journey to the UAE Exchange Station. Metro riders in the direction of Rashidiya Station are required to alight at Ibn Battuta Station, take an alternative bus for free to take them to JLT Station and from there continue their journey in the direction of Rashidiya Station. RTA advises all passengers and Metro users to plan and allow an additional 20 minutes to complete their journey to avoid any delays.
Very often, plant lovers travelling outside of the UAE on a long holiday come back to see that all their plants have dried-up or are dead. To prevent this, home garden enthusiasts are often faced with having to donate their plants to other gardeners or place it under the care of public nurseries for a steep price.
Chinese company Ningbo Yinzhou Fuqiang Electrical Appliances and Metal Products Factory have developed a device and an app that helps plant-lovers water their plants from any given remote location. With the device, gardening enthusiasts can place up to three-four flower pots inside the metallic frame and connect it to their home or office Wi-Fi network. “After that you need to download the app and connect any device to the frame. At the click of a button, you can water all plants inside the frame,” she added. Timings to water the plants can be preset and the quantity can also be customized.
“You don’t need to be home, you can click the buttons from your office or any remote location. It’s perfect for long-time travelers,” said Zhang Jianfei, the developer of the product. “The biggest benefit is that the water is recycled. The water inlet at the bottom of the case pumps water into the plants at any given time,” he said. Since the plants are placed on another metallic pot holder, the soil on the bottom of the plants remains fresh. Apart from a floor-type metal case, the company has also developed a wall-mounted case for plants.
The free camp, called ‘Go for Orbit! Mars’, is organized by Dubai-based Compass International, the US Space and Rocket Centre and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Giftedness and Creativity, and has been designed for students who have a passion for science, technology and engineering.
The exam measures and examines many characteristics of gifted children, including their IQ, creativity and academic performance. The participants will also take part in two challenging design projects during the 10-day programme, including building a Mars design project and a fabrication launch of a flight rocket that will travel more than 500 meters high from the edge of the desert just outside of Dubai.
“The Mars design project will challenge the students, in small groups of five, to plan their own mission to Mars. As part of the project, they will have to design a launch system, Earth to Mars transit vehicle, Mars lander and their Mars base. Groups will do the design work on a computer and on the final day present their small group design project to the other students and intentional instructors for evaluation,” Lissy Donald, the managing director of 3D Education by Compass International, told Khaleej Times.