Turning Oil into Entertainment
Dubai's Chic Sheikh
With oil reserves dwindling Dubai has turned to a number of mega-billion-dollar projects. Among them the worlds tallest building, The Burj (by a long shot at about 3,000 ft, 9,000 m), a series of artificial palm shaped islands and another group of islands shaped like a map of the world to be populated by luxury homes. The latest mega-project is a series of amusement/theme parks and theme hotels. All of this aimed at making Dubai a tourist Mecca, in order to bring in a healthy income when the petro-dollars dry up.
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Tourism - Developing eco-friendly theme parks and hotels to attract conscious travelers and promote sustainable practices.
2. Urban Entertainment - Creating innovative and immersive experiences in theme parks and hotels to attract urban dwellers seeking new forms of entertainment.
3. Post-oil Economy - Diversifying the economy by investing in tourism infrastructure to reduce reliance on oil revenue and create new employment opportunities.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism - Developing and managing sustainable theme parks, hotels, and tourist attractions.
2. Hospitality - Innovating the design and operations of theme hotels to provide unique and immersive guest experiences.
3. Real Estate - Building luxury homes and resorts on artificial islands to cater to affluent travelers seeking exclusive accommodations.