One of the most iconic ocean liners and world's most famous ship - the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), has departed from Southampton, UK making Dubai its new home. QE2 was purchased last year by Nakheel's parent company, Dubai World. Nakheel (Arabic: نخيل palm trees) is one of the leading real estate developer in Dubai and creator of big land reclamation projects; Palm Islands, The World, International City, Ibn Battuta Mall to name a few.QE2 has set foot here in Dubai on 26th November 2008 where it will be transformed into a luxury floating hotel..a hotel? Yeah..you read it right!
It would have been an experience to see its historical voyage porting near Al Mina rd. but too bad I have work that day.
The QE2 liner was built in Clydebank, Scotland and set sail for the very first time in 1968 and sailed over 40 years. She will take her final rest on the coast of Palm Jumeirah, a reclaimed island in Dubai which forms part of the Palm Islands, the worlds largest land reclamation.
It would have been an experience to see its historical voyage porting near Al Mina rd. but too bad I have work that day.
The QE2 liner was built in Clydebank, Scotland and set sail for the very first time in 1968 and sailed over 40 years. She will take her final rest on the coast of Palm Jumeirah, a reclaimed island in Dubai which forms part of the Palm Islands, the worlds largest land reclamation.
Over the coming months the ship will undergo extensive refurbishment before taking her place at a specially constructed berth on the Palm Jumeirah. She'll form the centre-piece of a luxurious place– where she will become a floating hotel and a-must-visit attraction for visitors and tourists.
Perspective of the QE2 project as a Floating Hotel in Palm Jumeirah
Being on the Palm Jumeirah and an historic vessel in its own right, the QE2 will be a seven-star hotel.
I’ve read on the gulf news that Nakheel purchased QE2 for $100m and with the recession the market is experiencing right now, I’m skeptic on how Nakheel will finance the overhaul of this project since very recently they have laid off almost 500 staff and scaled back some of their projects which obviously shows the gradual effect of recession.
Anyhow..The hotel is due to open by 2012.
