Middle East Mega Projects

• Ideas, Innovation, and Brands come from the US
• Products come from China
• Services come from India
• and Experiences will come from the Middle East

Here are some of the Middle Easts's Mega Projects to deliver engaging experiences, staged in spectacular settings:

The Palm involves the creation of the world's largest three man-made islands known as The Palm, Jumeirah; The Palm, Jebel Ali; and The Palm Deira. Located just off the coast of the city of Dubai, the three palm tree shaped islands are expected to contribute to the city's position as a premier global tourist destination. www.thepalm.ae

The World was conceived by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, the development consists of 300 islands that together form the image of the world map. www.theworld.ae

Burj Dubai will be the centrepiece of Emaar's US$20 billion Burj Dubai District and the new emerging Downtown Dubai taking its place as one of the world's modern landmark buildings, alongside the likes of Empire State Building, Taipei 101, Malaysia's Petronas Towers, Sears Tower and London's Canary Wharf. Upon completion, Burj Dubai will hold the record in all four categories as recognized by the New York-based global authority - Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat - highest structure, roof, antenna and occupied floor.

A syndicate of three UAE banks, Mashreqbank psc, Emirates Bank International and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, have signed the agreement to provide the required contracting finance for the consortium chosen to construct Emaar's iconic Burj Dubai Tower, valued at AED3.2 billion (US$869m) and soon to become the world's tallest building.

The project, the Dubai Waterfront, is a conglomeration of canals and islands studded with luxury hotels and homes. Larger than the island of Manhattan, the development will reconfigure the map of this tiny desert emirate by adding 500 miles of man-made waterfront. www.dubaiwaterfront.ae

The 'The Mall of Arabia', due to open in 2008, will have four levels, around 1,000 outlets, its own theatre, and enough parking for 10,000 cars. The size of the mall will be 10 million square feet GLA (gross leasable area) when completed, making it the world's biggest mall.

Opening its doors in 2008, Restless Planet will set a new standard for imaginative theme parks, with three rides, including a special 'dark ride', and more than 100 lifelike, actual size 'animatronic' dinosaurs.

Ski Dubai is a formidable engineering feat, an incongruous 25-storey structure rising from the Gulf emirate's sands as some 1,000 labourers work round the clock building the Middle East's only indoor ski resort and the world's third largest. www.skidubai.com