Large scale urban development projects are also commonly known as mega projects. These are exceedingly large-scale investments located in many parts of the world. There are many mega projects in the world, and their list is endless. In monetary terms, megaprojects are defined as the ones that cost up to$1 billion and they have attracted much public attention due to their tremendous impact on people and the environment. Megaprojects require great caution in planning and implementation since they are long-term and it is not easy to reverse any mistake that may occur during the planning. The precaution during planning and implementation helps to reduce future misinterpretation and any negative criticism that may arise. Some of the mega projects across the world are bridges, highways, airports, power plants, tunnels, railways, dams, seaports, Special Economic Zones (SEZ), wastewater projects, public buildings aerospace projects, gas extraction projects, weapon systems and many more.
Mega projects are rapidly emerging both in the developing and developed nations. Their appearance is a result of the political and economic goals aimed at improving urban competitiveness. However, the driving force behind the construction of megaprojects is the changing face of globalization. In short, the rise of megaprojects is a result of the interaction among various factors such as globalization, economic competition, changing the face of the real estate, advanced architectural know-how as well as the strong political ambitions.
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is one of the popular districts in Dubai, UAE. Dubai Marina is the unique and best artificial canal found in the world. It is constructed along a 3km stretch on the Persian Gulf. It consists of both villas and residential places that can accommodate up to 120,000 people. Dubai Marina is connected to four other cities including Jebel Airport, Dubai Internet City, American University, and Dubai Media City. The strategic position is one of the key factors that have contributed to its growth. The development of Dubai Marina was a direct inspiration of Concord Pacific Place Development. The individuals who nurtured the idea of building the city had a dream of developing a world-class city that would be a major business hub.
Project Development
The Dubai Marina is built on a place that was formerly a water body. The first step was to move the water from elsewhere to the site where Dubai Marina was to be constructed, which created a water body that was not there. A huge central waterway that extended for 3 km from the desert was created. This area was developed into a large city with extensive walkways. Dubai Marina is one of the biggest manmade features in the world. Its emergence can be attributed to the real estate firm known as Emaar Properties, but it was architecture by HOK Canada. Indeed, it will be the largest manmade Marina in the whole world. It is going to overtake Marina Del Rey, which is currently the largest in California, USA.
Dubai Marina is developed in several systematic phases. The first phase is about 25 acres consisting of six freehold residential and business buildings. The phase on completion costs more than AED 1.2 billion. Out of these six buildings, three of them are named after valuable stones, namely, Murjan, Al Mass, and Fairooz. The rest three were named after popular Arabic scents, namely, Al Yass, Mesk and Anbar. There is also a 7 km pedestrian walk that runs around the Marina. This walk has cafes, restaurants, and boats for recreation purposes. The community around the Dubai Marina functions and holds events at Marina walk.
The second phase consists of tall buildings only. These buildings are clustered into one block. The block is described as the “tallest block in the world.” The buildings in this phase range between 820 and 984 feet. These towers are named Sulafa Tower, Infinity Tower, Marina Pinnacle, and Ocean Heights Tower. However, there are other taller skyscrapers that rise above 350 meters, such as Dream Dubai Marina, 23 Marina, Princess Tower, and Elite Residence. The combination of the two phases is what constitutes the Dubai Marina in terms of buildings.
Alongside the Marina is Jumeirah Beach Residence which is a 1.7 km community situated along the Persian Gulf. It is estimated to have over forty residential towers making it the largest residential development built on one phase. JBR can host about 15,000 individuals in its houses and hotels. The project has about 6,917 apartments and 5,500 penthouses. It was developed by Dubai developers and handed over to the government in 2002. There are five hotels in JBR that are either four stars or five stars.
There is also a popular walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, which is a 1.7 km strip beside the complex. This walk was also developed by Dubai Properties and completed in 2007. It is estimated that the walk holds about 330 occupants including restaurants, boutiques, clothing stores, cafes, department stores, and gyms. Apart from the beach, there are numerous features that make Dubai Marina a suitable place for holidays. One of them is Al Sahab. It is a twin tower that has a waterfront. There is also Almajara that is a residential house with a high-rise waterside. The main thing that has made the city perfect for tourists is the beach. It was built and renovated by Meraas Holding. The beach has beautiful hotels known as Sheraton and Hilton. It was later equipped with a complex that could hold parking, food and beverage outlets and entertainment facilities.
There is also Marina Quays within Dubai Marina. It is 20 meters long and lies over the water consisting of apartments, outlets, and stores. It is a three-building residential house named Quay North, Quay West, and Quay East. In addition, there is another four-tower house consisting of residential homes. It is known as Park Island since it has numerous landscaped gardens and parks. It has four big mansions, namely, Sanibel, Blakely, Fairfield, and Bonaire. Dubai Marina Mall is the biggest shopping mall in