Dubai Plans New ‘Mini World Park’, Central Library

Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved a number of new projects proposed by the Dubai Municipality, including a ‘Mini World Park’.

The development will be designed to showcase replicas of famous monuments from across the world. The location and financial details were not disclosed.

Some of the displays expected include miniature versions of the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Empire State Building, Carlton Tower, CN Tower and the Petronas Towers.

Historical landmarks such as Egypt’s pyramids, the Great Wall of China, Jordan’s Petra and the Roman Colosseum will also be featured, and the project will also contain models of natural monuments such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Raouche Rock from Lebanon, and the Niagara Falls, among others.

Apart from the Mini World Park, another project approved by Sheikh Mohammed is a new maritime museum, which will primarily host aquatic species.

The museum, to be built in the shape of a snail, will feature views of the Ras Al Khor Sanctuary and is estimated to cost Dhs35 million.

The municipality is also planning to construct a central library in Dubai.

Called the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum library, it will be designed in the form of book bearer or an open book. Spread across 50,000 sq metres, the building, which includes seven levels, will display one million books in addition to 1.2 million books in storage.

Other projects in the pipeline include the Al Mamzar Corniche Beach project, which aims to add 60,000 sq metres of area to the public beaches in Dubai and is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2014; the Methane gas extraction project, which is designed to extract methane gas from the waste land fill area in Al Qusais; and the Hatta housing project.