Brave New World: Dubai Announces World's First Climate-Controlled City

Dubai announces plans for world’s first climate-controlled city (Photo: Dubai Holdings)

Imagine what the AC bill will look like.

Dubai — continuing its quest to become the world’s most over-the-top tourist destination — has announced plans for the world’s first climate-controlled city.

“Mall of the World” would include the world’s largest indoor shopping mall (Photo: Dubai Holdings)

The project, called Mall of the World, would potentially allow residents and visitors to avoid stepping outside for weeks at a time — an appealing notion considering summer temperatures in the United Arab Emirates routinely top 100 degrees.

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Temps in Dubai can top 100 degrees in the summer, so a climate-controlled city might sound appealing (Photo Dubai Holdings)

This city will consist of 100 hotels and apartments, an 8 million-square-foot shopping mall (which would be the world’s largest), a domed indoor family theme park (which also would be the world’s largest), a theater district, a shopping district, and a “wellness district” catering to medical tourists willing to travel for outpatient surgeries. All the facilities would be connected by 4-mile-long enclosed promenades that will be covered during Dubai’s harsh summers. They’ll be opened during Dubai’s mild winters to air the place out.

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In a statement, UAE Vice President and Dubai Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us.”

Despite running what would presumably be the world’s largest air-conditioning system, the Mall of the World will be environmentally friendly, officials insist. Ahmad Bin Byat of Dubai Holding, the project developer, promises it “will be built using state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint, ensuring high levels of environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.”

The entire city will be connected by covered promenades that eliminate the need to go outside (Photo: Dubai Holdings)

Organizers hope to attract 180 million visitors per year. How those visitors will feel about spending their entire trip indoors remains to be seen. But, if completed, the Mall of the World will no doubt attract plenty of curious travelers eager to try out life in a futuristic city straight out of “The Jetsons.”

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