What if I told you that you could fly to Dubai and wake up in ‘Europe’?

That seems to be the idea behind a new luxury mega-resort, four kilometres off the coastline of Dubai, that is for all intents and purposes, Europe – or at least a version of it.

The resort comprises of six man-made islands modelled on a mix of European countries and cities. When completed, the $5 billion enterprises will be able to accommodate 16 000 tourists in the height of travel luxury.

Here’s CNN:

Called The Heart of Europe and currently under construction, it’s the latest chapter in one of Dubai’s grandest — and most eyebrow-raising — enterprises: The World.

Construction of The World began in 2003. A huge archipelago of 300 artificial islands in the shape of a world map, it was pitched as a playground for the rich and famous.

To make the islands, 34 billion tonnes of large rocks and 320 million cubic meters of sand were deposited in the sea over millions of square feet. So vast was the project, astronauts were able to track its progress from space.

The archipelago was completed on the eve of the global financial crash in 2008 and as a result The World — with very few exceptions — remained undeveloped for many years.

The project has been labeled a “spectacular white elephant.” But against all odds, one corner — The Heart of Europe — is readying itself for guests.

The Heart of Europe has 13 hotels and resorts and more than 4 000 holiday homes. Featuring climate-controlled streets and underwater bedrooms, the complex spans six million square feet and will be able to accommodate up to 16 000 people when completed.

The building below is a Swedish “palace”, with Scandi-influenced design throughout and a roof shaped like an upturned Viking ship.

This is the literal heart that encompasses the ‘Heart of Europe’.

The first Floating Seahorse (below) – Signature Edition (a larger model) has been recently completed and another 20 standard models are in construction.

For those who prefer to stay dry, the Floating Seahorses allow visitors to watch marine life from their underwater bedrooms and bathrooms.

Josef Kleindienst told CNN that the group is hoping to finish the entire project by 2020, just in time for the World Expo. “Expo 2020 is the time where everyone on this planet should come and visit Dubai,” he added.

If Kleindienst’s project proceeds as planned, there will also be a slew of underwater rooms throughout The Floating Venice, another of the themed complexes planned for The Heart of Europe. That is considered part of phase three of the development, along with chalets on Switzerland Island and nine other hotels on Main Europe.

Ambitious.

I wonder if the English section of the resort plans on leaving the EU?

[source:cnn]