dubai

The $10 Million Race to be Held at The New $2 Billion Meydan Track

Filed under: Sports

The $10 million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, is slated to be held on March 27, 2010 at the new Meydan Racetrack in Dubai. The complex however is open and the first races of the season took place the last week in January at the start of the Dubai International Racing Carnival.

The new complex cost $2 billion to build and is quite unlike anything else in the horse racing world. In part this is due to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the ruler of Dubai and the driving force behind the racing region. In something out of another era, he had a special route built to the venue just so he can avoid traffic and arrive by boat. The complex and the Dubai creek are now linked by a 4 kilometer canal so the ruler can travel with ease and avoid any log jams that build up in the falcon shaped parking lot which has a capacity for 10,000 cars.

Tags: dubai, horseracing, Meydan, racetrack, world cup, WorldCup

Continue reading “The $10 Million Race to be Held at The New $2 Billion Meydan Track”

A.R.T. Gives Mercedes G-Class a Middle Eastern Makeover

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

A.R.T., the German exotic auto tuner that created the custom Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG for the royal family of Abu Dhabi that we wrote about last summer, gave the otherwise innocent super-luxe SUV another Middle Eastern makeover for the recent Dubai Motor Show. You won't find any Mercedes badges on this monstrosity, dubbed the Streetline G, which will no doubt make the German automaker very happy. Finished in glaring white with a repellent placenta pink leather interior, it features a new front and rear bumper, roof spoiler, aero bonnet and flared wheel arches, along with more LED lights than a Vegas strip show. A new six-pipe stainless steel sport exhaust system makes for a power increase to 601 hp, 800 Nm of torque, and a top speed of 160 mph. You'll need it to outrun the taste police.

Tags: A.R.T., Dubai, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, Mercedes-benzG55Amg, U.A.E.

$750,000 Supercharged 41 Luxury Cat Goes 125 MPH

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Bespoke Bugattis weren't the only things unveiled at the recent Dubai Motor Show. Liquid Glass Powerboats based in Iowa also unveiled its new 41-ft. Luxury Cat, which costs $750,000 and can go 125 mph thanks to twin 700 hp Mercury Racing engines with copper-nickel alloy superchargers. The custom-built catamaran features a state-of-the-art infusion-molded hull and deck and a high-tech foam core. It comes equipped with Mercury's VesselView driver information display, showing vital engine stats such as RPMs, engine temperatures, trim positions, trip history logs, and engine efficiencies in real time across more than 20 screens. There's cockpit seating for six passengers and the luxuriously-appointed below-bow cabin has a spectacular audio / video entertainment system.

Tags: catamaran, Dubai, Dubai Motor Show, DubaiMotorShow, Liquid Glass, LiquidGlass, powerboat, speedboat

The Burj Dubai Opens On Monday

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

This year will finally see the long-awaited opening of the world's tallest tower, the Burj Dubai. The tower which is essentially a vertical city will have over 12,000 people living and working in it and has over 160 stories. The mixed-use tower includes the Armani Residences, prime apartments with furnishings by Armani Casa which will open up for residents in February. The Armani Hotel Dubai will open later and is one of nine hotels planned for the tower.

On Monday, developer Emaar Properties will take charge of the property and from January 5 on, the public will be able to visit 'At The Top', the world's highest observation deck on Level 124 of the tower. Construction started back in 2004 and the tower has topped out at a height of 2,683 feet. The Burj Dubai will be the tallest free-standing structure in the world with the highest number of stories in the world and has an elevator with the longest travel distance in the world.

In many ways the lofty skyscraper is a symptom of Dubai's overweening belief in its own future. The tower was meant to show the world the strength of Dubai's real estate market and is growing draw in the world but it already seems to already be outdated, a shining symbol of a more carefree time, a time before people lost their faith in real estate. The tower has 37 floors of office space which is expected to be mostly vacant for a long while even though Emaar Properties has said that the building is sold out.

The world's news media is gathering in Dubai for Monday's event but for those of us not able to get to Dubai, there is a revamped website on the tower.

Tags: armani, burj dubai, BurjDubai, dubai, tallest tower, TallestTower, worlds tallest tower, WorldsTallestTower

Brabus GLK - World's Fastest Street Legal SUV for $570,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Brabus GLK V12 (above), a modified Mercedes-Benz billed as the world's fastest street-legal SUV, just made its world debut at the Dubai Motor Show. The $570,000 beast is powered by a 750 hp 12-cylinder twin turbo engine, the vehicle set a new speed record of 200.3 mph at Italy's Nardo test track in October and can do 0 – 62 mph in 4.2 seconds. Other upgrades include air intakes and a carbon fiber spoiler lip on the front apron, a four-pipe sports exhaust system, fender flares, a rear roof spoiler. The interior is done in full leather interior with Alcantara elements, an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel and wood or carbon fiber trim for the dashboard, doors and center console. Custom consoles for the backs of the vehicles front seats contain multimedia devices in case the passengers get bored between neck-snapping accelerations.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Brabus, carbon fiber, CarbonFiber, Dubai, Mercedes-Benz, SUV

Dubai Says Tiger Woods Development Will Proceed as Planned

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Real Estate Developments, Wealth, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Some of Tiger Woods' sponsors and business associates are distancing themselves from the sports star in the wake of his mushrooming mistress scandal; however the Dubai backers of the first ever Woods-designed golf course and housing development say they'll proceed as planned with the megabucks project. The move is surprising given the iffy emirate's recent financial troubles as well as the UAE's extremely strict laws and outlook on sexual misconduct, real or perceived. The company building The Tiger Woods Dubai housing development and golf course said in a statement Wednesday it remains committed to completing the course, a 60,000-square-foot clubhouse, an 80-suite boutique hotel for VIP guests, 300 luxury villas, 20 mansions and a community retail area, all bearing the increasingly dubious Tiger Woods brand. The developer, part of the Dubai Holding conglomerate owned by the city-state's ruler, says "progress continues" on the project but gave no specifics, the AP reports. As we reported the other day, Woods' travails are likely to end up preventing him from becoming the world's first billionaire athlete, a goal he had nearly attained.

Source

Tags: celebrity, Dubai, golf, Tiger Woods, TigerWoods, UAE

Dubai-Based Fund Loses W Union Square Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The fallout from the Dubai cash crunch seems to have begun. Dubai-based Istithmar lost control of the W New York Union Square hotel during a foreclosure auction on Tuesday. The Real Deal reports that one of the property's lenders LEM Mezzanine, a private equity fund holding a junior portion of the mezzanine debt bid $2 million for the debt on the hotel which Istithmar bought in 2006 for $285 million. Istithmar had also submitted a bid of $2.1 million but they had asked for certain loan changes and so LEM was named the winning bidder taking on $212 million in debt. The hotel will continue on as usual and LEM is banking on an eventual upturn in the tourism market.

What will Istithmar unload next? Two potential targets seem to be Barney's New York which has been rumored to be for sale for a long time. The problem is that no one is willing for pay what Istithmar paid for it ($942 million in 2007) especially at a time when department stores have been going through a deep and painful purge. This year's holiday season could be key for the department store brand. Another target could be the Queen Elizabeth 2, the luxury liner which is supposed to become a floating hotel. Istithmar also owns shares in Yacht Haven Grande, a mega-marina and resort complex in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Source

Tags: dubai, istithmar, istithmar world, IstithmarWorld, new york city, NewYorkCity, union square, UnionSquare, w hotel, WHotel

One&Only Resorts to Open on Palm Island in Dubai

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

One&Only Resorts, the luxury resort company known for its stunning properties in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, will open its second property in Dubai. One & Only The Palm will open on Palm Island in October 2010. The property is being developed by His Highness Sheikh Bin Saeed Al Makthoum (right) and Sol Kerzner, (left) CEO and Chairman of Kerzner International, parent company of One&Only Resorts.

The property will have a striking location on the peninsula of Palm Island crescent with spectacular views of new Dubai's skyline. Resort guests will be able to indulge in an exclusive island feel getaway or choose to be whisked away by the resort's private water taxis or limousine to Dubai's wide array of activities, from golf at award-winning courses to world-class shopping, dining and entertainment at the most sought-after of venues.

Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, One&Only Resorts offer a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture. Other locations include One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas and One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. The One&Only Cape Town, South Africa opened on April 3, 2009.

"We believe the government's continuous commitment to developing tourism in the region combined with all the destination has to offer, its constant innovation and its easy international access make this the perfect place for us to expand the One&Only portfolio," says Kerzner.

Located at The Palm Jumeirah, the resort's external architecture will blend Moorish and Andalucian influences, while the interiors will display contemporary, chic living environments, promoting a sense of understated elegance with privacy being of the utmost importance. Surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, the resort will provide an oasis of tranquility amid cosmopolitan Dubai.

Guest accommodations at this intimate resort will be composed of 35 suites and apartments within the grand Manor House, six independent low-rise mansions with eight to ten suites and exclusive two and three bedroom beachfront villas. Stunning and spacious with every modern amenity, guest rooms and suites will have a stylish modern design with an elegant palate of rich fabrics in hues of turquoise and purple. Sumptuous bathrooms will feature over-sized, freestanding bath tubs and rain showers with the finest inlaid marble from Italy and Spain.

All accommodations will offer outdoor terraces or private pool. Guests staying in suites, apartments and villas will also be indulged by a dedicated butler, 24 hours a day. The resort will also feature private cabanas by an 850 square meter pool, a private beach and a freestanding 2,400 square meters spa, fitness and beauty complex. The One&Only Spa will be set amidst outdoor gardens and will offer a fitness center featuring state-of-the-art equipment by Technogym and Kinesis studio, tennis court and a beauty salon.

The resort's Marina Restaurant will offer al fresco dining adjacent to the marina. Guests can reach the restaurant by private yacht or One&Only water taxis.

Tags: awards-main, Dubai, luxist-awards, OneOnly Resorts, OneonlyResorts, sol kerzner, SolKerzner, united arab emirates, UnitedArabEmirates

Dubai Launches New Luxury Metro, Seeks Riders

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

There's no denying that Dubai's new public transportation system is sleek. It is the longest automated metro system in the world and offers luxury compartments with Wi-Fi and air conditioning. The question is, will anyone be riding on it? The Dubai Metro recently went into service but in a place where gas is cheap and privacy is at a premium it's not clear exactly who will be the passengers. Some have speculated that Dubai's car-centric culture may find switching over to this type of transportation a bit difficult but it is expected to help ease Dubai's legendary traffic snarls.

The Metro was to provide easy transport for expatriates and tourists but with the economic future of the country in turmoil and a mass exodus that includes dusty luxury cars being left in airport parking lots, the Metro could be yet another Dubai big idea which is looking increasingly foolhardy. But let's not write the world's largest driverless train off quite yet. BBC News surveyed a couple of young people who live and work in Dubai who seem excited to ride the train and work it into their normal schedule.

Source

Tags: dubai, metro, public transporation, PublicTransporation

Is It The End For Dubai's World?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

What in the world is happening to The World? The London Times reports that one of the world's most ambitious building projects, a series of islands in the Arabian Gulf shaped like a map of the Earth, may be in real trouble. We've been following this project for years watching as various people laid claim, or were rumored to have laid claim to country-named islands. Richard Branson even planted a Union Jack on one of the islands as one of his infamous stunts. But now the project is becoming an ocean wasteland, a half-finished project of rocks and sand surrounded by breakwaters. Work has stopped inside the manmade lagoon and instead of neatly defined islands in the shape of recognizable countries and continents, ragged sandy blobs pushed barely above the water remain. The Times article quotes a Dubai property agent as saying that the project has been cancelled, a fact which leaves many investors in the lurch.

Source

Tags: dubai, real estate development, RealEstateDevelopment, the world, TheWorld

What Will Become Of Dubai's Istithmar World?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

The sudden fall of Istithmar World, is one of the shadowiest and most interesting stories going on right now. Bloomberg reports that the Dubai sovereign wealth fund, is halting investments as part of a restructuring effort. The fund has been on one crazy decade-long spending spree of more than $25 billion that include shares in Yacht Haven Grande in the Virgin Islands, Barneys New York, the W Hotel Union Square in New York City and the Queen Elizabeth 2 yacht.

But as Dubai's fortunes have undergone a major shift in the past year or two the load of all those investments has become particularly onerous. One major burden is the CityCenter project in Las Vegas which Istithmar shares with MGM Mirage. Isithmar may end up selling the fund or some of its assets. Some say the fund will cease to exist which could put some of its investments in danger. Rumors of a sale of the Queen Elizabeth 2 and of a possible bankruptcy filing for Barneys have been swirling for weeks. For the most part Dubai tries to keep its financial flailings out of the public eye but that may not be possible this time.

Source

Tags: citycenter, dubai, istithmar

Will Dubai Drivers Wear Gucci Seatbelts?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Like the United States, the United Arab Emirates, wants to encourage young drivers to wear their seatbelts. But the UAE has a unique approach to their nationwide safety campaign. Instead of an ad campaign and the fear of tickets they are creating the Fashionable Seatbelt campaign which will be launched after Ramadan. Seatbelts will be covered with images of the national flag, sports logos and logos of fashion houses like Gucci. Figures from the Health Authority Abu Dhabi say that only 11 percent of Emiratis wear their seatbelts. Designers will be invited to submit ideas for the seatbelts and the plan is to eventually have the color of your seatbelt as something that is chosen when you pick out your car. It seems like an interesting idea but knowing how notoriously litigious Gucci and other luxury brands are when ti comes to protecting their intellectual property, I think that the campaign might have a tough time using the fashion logos.

[Thanks, Ben!]

Source

Tags: dubai, fashion, gucci, uae, united arab emirates, UnitedArabEmirates

Dubai Airport's Ultra-Pricey Wine Shop

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Many duty-free shops in international airports sell expensive wine and spirits but a new shop at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 is one of the most extravagant yet. The shop, Le Clos, sells many of the world's most sought-after wines including not just recent vintages but some legendary bottles like the Chateau Petrus 1947, Château Cheval Blanc 1961 and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2005. Their website shows that their range of vintages starts in 1945.

The shop is staffed with wine advisors with expertise on specific regions and varietals and whisky experts are also on staff for help with selecting the best single malts. There are several options for buying. You can pre-order through the online store and collect your bottles in the store before you fly out of Dubai. Or if you are making a return journey back into Dubai you can choose your wines ahead of time and pick them up after your flight.

[via Decanter]

Source

Tags: dubai, duty free shops, DutyFreeShops, le clos, LeClos

Will Nakheel Sell The QE2?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

A few months back we saw that plans to turn the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship into a floating hotel in Dubai had been delayed. The owner, developer Nakheel had planned to moor it at the Palm Jumeirah development but now word has come that the ship may be on the move. The AP has an email from Nakheel saying that other ports have expressed interest in hosting the ship. Nakheel had purchased the ship for a reported $100 million and had plans to recreate the original decor and fittings of the ship from when she was launched in 1967 only with a modern day spin that included adding a 500-seat theater and building a massive spa complex. Those plans are are on hold as Nahkeel, which has developments across Dubai, is considering all offers and has applied to anchor the ship in Cape Town, South Africa.

The email said that the company is working "to ensure opportunities to experience QE2 in her current condition are maximized whilst ensuring her important heritage is at all times protected." This seems like more continued spin from Nakheel which has been hard hit by Dubai's real estate slump and tourism decline. The company has shelved a variety of projects including Donald Trump's planned hotel and has received some of the $10 billion in government bailout funds. There are also reports of widespread layoffs. The company has said before it has no plans to sell the ship. There is widespread speculation as to whether the company will be able to pay off $3.5 billion worth of debt coming due this year so it seems that they might be willing to sell the QE2 if they can find a buyer.

Source

Tags: cruise ship, CruiseShip, dubai, nakheel, qe2, queen elizabeth 2, queen elizabeth ii, QueenElizabeth2, QueenElizabethIi, yacht

Burj Al Arab Gets 4 New Custom Rolls-Royces

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

The ultra-opulent Burj Al Arab hotel, symbol of Dubai's excess, has just received four new custom Rolls-Royce Phantom limousines, pushing its total fleet of Phantoms to 10. Produced by Rolls' Bespoke Programme, the cars' interiors feature Grecian key marquetry applied to the wood veneer, and the distinctive Burj Al Arab logo embroidered into the leather headrests. The cars are all white like the exterior of the hotel itself, which is home to the $18,000-per-night Royal Suite, one of the world's most expensive hotel rooms. Last year we wrote about the bespoke Rolls created for the Four Seasons George V in Paris with a custom Hermès interior.

Tags: bespoke, Burj Al Arab, BurjAlArab, Dubai, hotel, Rolls Royce, Rolls-Royce, RollsRoyce, UAE

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