Dubai's own tropical wonderland

Dubai-based developer Damac Properties plans to create a tropical rainforest in the city of Dubai to attract tourists. The company will develop an educational and cultural dome structure in its Akoya Oxygen green residential community, spread over an area of 55 million sq. ft. Damac Properties aims to replicate the natural environment with a deep rainforest featuring tall, dense trees integrated with the dome structure.

It will work with Amazonian rainforest experts to ensure that the project is an accurate representation of a natural tropical environment. The rainforest will also feature an expansive retail and entertainment zone, which will be completed ahead of the World Expo 2020 exhibition.

Damac Properties managing director, Ziad El Chaar, said, “Dubai is known around the world for attracting the biggest and best, and the Dubai rainforest joins that list of unique attractions, which will support the growth of the city. The rainforest will fit perfectly into the ethos of Akoya Oxygen, the greenest community in Dubai, and provide a new space for educational and cultural events which will raise awareness of this exciting ecosystem.”

Rainforest visitors will enjoy the jungle first from the ground level before climbing into the canopy and learning about the flora and fauna throughout the habitat. They will have the option to fly through the treetops on a zip wire to gain a bird’s-eye view of the environment. “The Dubai rainforest will be a tropical wonderland, which tourists, residents and school groups can immerse themselves in and inspire a new generation,” El Chaar said.