[BITList] Fwd: Dubai

[John Feltham]

World's first refrigerated BEACH to be built next to luxury hotel in  
Dubai
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:26 PM on 15th December 2008

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The world's first refrigerated beach is to be built at a luxury hotel  
in Dubai so the filthy rich holidaymakers don't burn their feet on the  
scalding hot sand.

The revolutionary beach will sit next to the new Palazzo Versace hotel  
and will include a system of heat-absorbing pipes built under the sand  
and giant wind blowers, designed to keep tourists cool in the searing  
40-50C heat.

The hotel, which is due to open late next year or early 2010, will be  
controlled by thermostats linked up to computers and feature a cooled  
swimming pool.

Enlarge
(Above and below) Artist's impressions of the Palazzo Versace Hotel in  
Dubai. The refrigerated beach will include a system of heat-absorbing  
pipes built under the sand and giant wind blowers


Enlarge

However, the plans have been criticised by campaigners who are  
infuriated by the  potential impact on climate change.


Rachel Noble, of Tourism Concern, said: 'Dubai is like a bubble world  
where the things that are worrying the rest of the world, like climate  
change, are simply ignored so people can continue destructive  
lifestyles.'

The lavish project will enhance Dubai's appeal to the celebrity jet- 
set and increase competition to a region that already houses the  
world's first seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab.


Luxury: The first Palazzo Versace hotel in Australia. The second  
luxury hotel is set to open in Dubai late next year

However, the city's continued expansion will also add to its huge  
carbon footprint. Each person living in Dubai has a carbon footprint  
of more than 44 tons of CO2 a year.

Despite the environmental fears, Versace says the beach will be  
environmentally sustainable.

Soheil Abedian, president of Palazzo Versace, said: 'We will suck the  
heat out of the sand to keep it cool enough to lie on. This is the  
kind of luxury that top people want.'


A source added: 'The super rich want pure luxury. They don't want to  
walk on scalding sand.'

A British firm, Hyder Consulting will oversee the project, and it is  
hoped the 10-storey hotel will help attract some of the 800,000 Brits  
who visit Dubai each year.

There is already one Palazzo Versace hotel, operating on Australia's  
Gold Coast, which has attracted the rich and famous. Fifteen more  
hotels are in the pipeline.


ooroo

If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door.

Anon.



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