Five of the most incredible Dubai constructions

Rising up out of the hot and arid desert which surrounds it, Dubai is an oasis of all that’s contemporary, fusing modern architecture and clever design within a traditional Arabic community.
But Dubai is anything but stuck in the past, and the government goes to great lengths to ensure that foreign workers are made to feel particularly welcome in this land of sunshine.
Because of this continuous thirst for development, construction and engineering jobs in Dubai are always available, with workers from overseas able to walk into a lucrative position and take home a tax-free salary.
Dubai is a province which is ever-evolving but there’s some constructions projects which are just that little bit more ambitious or crazier than the rest. Here’s a look at five of the most incredible Dubai constructions, some of which are still in the process of being completed.
1) Hydropolis
Without doubt, one of the most inventive and madcap construction schemes ever to be attempted, Hydropolis is intended to become a world-class underwater hotel.
With a construction budget of around €600 million, it’s an unbelievably expensive venture and one which is struggling to raise sufficient funds to complete.
With a landing station on the surface, guests would descend through a silent tunnel into a huge underwater complex, approximately 20 metres below the surface. Impressive feats of engineering would be required to withstand the pressure of the water, with the dome built from plexiglass and then reinforced with steel and concrete in order.
A significant proportion of the construction has taken place but this sci-fi hotel is not yet complete. The engineering and the planning has been finished, it’s just the funds needed to execute the idea. If finished, Hydropolis would be the size of Hyde Park and provide a venue not just for guests to sleep in overnight, but with a range of other facilities such as a cinema for day visitors to enjoy too.
2) Ski Dubai
A successful venture which is up and running, Ski Dubai is the Middle East’s first indoor ski centre, complete with an 85 metre tall mountain and a 400 metre run.
A perfect winter wonderland, visitors to Dubai can experience the joy of snow all year round, with the world’s first indoor black run, and a tow lift to take skiers to the top of the ‘mountain’.

The impressive ski Dubai
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There are a number of other activities on offer in addition to skiing, such as tobogganing, giant snowballs, sledding and an ice cave. If you think you’ve spotted a penguin, don’t rub your eyes, you probably have! At various points in the day, penguins are released from their enclosures to interact with the public.
An extremely powerful insulation system allows the conditions to be maintained, but the entire idea and execution are real award-winning feats of engineering and construction.
3) Burj Khalifa
Previously known as the Burj Dubai prior to its unveiling, this building is the tallest man-made structure in the world taking five years to complete and standing at a whopping 2723 feet high.
With 163 floors, the Burj Khalifa is set in a 27 acre park and has a range of uses including a hotel, corporate suites, restaurant and an observatory.
When it first opened, it also held the record for the highest outdoor observation deck in the world, but this has now been eclipsed. Nevertheless, the features remain as breathtaking and stunning as they sound, with visitors afforded an unrepeatable view over the surrounding landscape.
4) Falconcity of Wonders
Not a single structure in this case, but a collection of them, and part of an ever greater project of amazing audacity known as Dubailand.
Dubailand is a theme park in the process of being built, expected to open by 2020 and set to put DisneyLand firmly in the shade once and for all. Falconcity of Wonders is a development within Dubailand which warrants a mention all of its own.
Falconcity will feature huge replicas of all of the Seven Wonders of the World, as well as other iconic structures and buildings such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. The replica of the latter is called Taj Arabia and is planned to become a venue for weddings, set amongst cascading water and lush green gardens.
The entire area of Falconcity will cover a total of 100 acres and is expected to cost no less than $36 billion.
5) Palm Islands
A pair of artificial islands, one of which has already been constructed, and the other being planned, Palm Islands lie just off the coast of Dubai.

The magnificent palm islands
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The one which has already been constructed, Palm Jumeirah, is shaped like a palm tree complete with crescent at the top. A tree trunk, 16 fronds, a crown and surrounding crescent arc add up to a total area of 5 km by 5 km, creating a total breakwater of 11km.
The islands were the brainchild of the Prince of Dubai who also insisted that they were made entirely from sand and rock; no concrete was used to create the amazing structure.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that Dubai is ambitious as can be seen from these innovative, and sometimes slightly crazy, engineering and construction projects. There’s plenty of more mundane projects too, with some estimates suggesting that as many as 25% of the world’s construction cranes are currently in Dubai.
A land of adventure and opportunity, why not take a look to see if there are any engineering jobs in Dubai which could tempt you today?
Image Source: Neekoh Fi and Global Spook