Two ambitious new attractions in Dubai, the Dubai Safari and the Dubai Frame both look to be edging closer to opening.
Speaking to Gulf News, Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, said the new safari and zoo would be ready by 46th National Day of the UAE (December 2nd).
Work is going “in full swing” and is expected to be wrapped up by the end of November. He also said that, “Dubai Frame will also be complete around the same time. We can have a lot of things by the end of this year.”
Dubai Safari and Dubai Frame “in full swing”
He was then asked when the public would be able visit Dubai Safari.
“By the end of November [the first phase of] the project will be complete. But for the official opening, we have to wait for the right time when His Highness will do it”. This was a reference to the planned grand inauguration by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Tim Husband is the technical director of Dubai Safari. He said, “We are pushing hard to meet this deadline and at this time I can’t see why we wouldn’t reach our goal.
We will have most of our collection in place for the soft opening”.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Frame is also getting nearer to opening. It is 150 m (492 ft) and 193 m wide. The Dh160m tower building is designed to “frame” the city’s iconic buildings. It is sited in such a way that the iconic landmarks of modern-day Dubai can be seen on one side, whilst visitors will see a view of the older parts of Dubai from the other. One feature is a glass bridge. The Dubai Frame will offer a 360 degree view of the skyline on either side of it.
The huge emblem structure is currently under construction near the Star Gate of Zabeel Park. It is also the subject of some controversy. This is because the architect Fernando Donis is in a legal dispute with the Municipality of Dubai. It is focused on ownership of the copyright for the building. This is despite the fact that the Dubai Frame should be inaugurated by the end of the year.
https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/tourism/dubai-safari-to-be-ready-before-national-day-1.2095619
