Located in The World development, off the coast of Dubai, the Floating Venice hotel complex will be spread over four decks, offering 414 cabins, 180 of which, along with the resort’s spa and three of its restaurants and bars, will be underwater.
Dubai has unveiled plans to build a floating replica of Venice, complete with its own Piazza San Marco, gondolas imported direct from the Italian city, as well as canal walkways and bridges.
The developers - the Kleindienst Group (a Dubai-based Austrian developer) - claim the property will be "the world's first underwater luxury vessel resort".
Located in The World development, off the coast of Dubai, the Floating Venice hotel complex will be spread over four decks, offering 414 cabins, 180 of which, along with the resort’s spa and three of its restaurants and bars, will be underwater.
The floating resort will accommodate up to 3,000 guests daily who can arrive by boat, seaplane or helicopter to the complex's main square.
Corals planted around the resort will foster marine life, which can be viewed from pools (there will be 24 of them) with transparent floors made of acrylic glass (paying homage to Venetian glass).
There will be, of course, 12 floating beaches for sun bathing and two beach clubs.
The resort will also host a number of traditional Venetian festivals, including the Carnivale di Venezia, Binnale di Venezia and Festa del Rendentore.
Construction is expected to begin in 2018 and be completed by 2020, the year of the Dubai Expo.