World’s biggest shopping mall to open in Dubai

“The Dubai Mall will have about 1 million square metres of space,” says Rene Hingst of Dubai Tourism at the recent ITB travel fair in Berlin.

There will be about 1,200 shops, an ice-rink and an aquarium, according to the real estate company behind the venture.

On completion, the Burj Dubai will be highest building in the world.

In addition to offices and private apartments, the building will also house the first hotel laid out by Italian fashion designer Georgio Armani which is due to open in 2009.

Tourists, who do not plan on staying in the hotel, will also be able to visit the building. There will be special tours with the highlight a trip to the tower’s viewing platform, which according to Hingst, will be the highest in the world.

At the moment, the tower has over 165 floors and will have a few more before it is finished.

The building’s final height has not yet been decided on, but the 600 metre mark has been passed. Total height will exceed 700 metres.