Dubai to get the Dome

A German consortium is planning to build a $1 billion residential, leisure and commercial development on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Emirates Towers in Dubai. Most of the costs will be covered by sale of the luxury apartments.

“The Crystal Dome is a modern concept, which will symbolize the hi-tech and touristic activities of Dubai as well as being a world benchmark in architecture,” stated a spokesman for the consortium.
The Crystal Dome will be the biggest ‘exterritorial’ of the world soaring; to a height of 455 metres with a gross area of about 2.3 million sq m.
The InterGlob Europe-Arab Consortium is developing the property, which will also serve as a main station for the Dubai Magno Metro, when implemented.
Construction work on the new project will start in January or February, 2004 and the project will be implemented in stages over five years, according to Professor Alexander Wagner, chairman of the group.
Wagner explained that the project has secured provisional approval from the Dubai authorities and the financing has been arrange from a German real estate fund.
The dome will have unique features that offer fast access to the building: new elevator technology in the form of tilted diagonal spiral lifts; emergency slides (spirals) instead of endless stairs; safety against air pirate terrorism; comfort car parking at personal floor level, and own cars are parked in the backyard of the apartments.
The Crystal Dome will provide space for about 3,000 residences or luxury apartments and 500,000 sq m of space for business offices.
The project will off clinics, sports facilities, conference space, a six-star hotel, food outlets, shops and a leisure park for children of the working parents and a wellness centre.