World's First Air-Conditioned City

What if you had a a ton of money and liked where you lived but there was one problem, it was always sunny and unbearably hot just about all the time, like maybe 110 to 115 F. (43 - 46C) in the daytime? Why not cool everything off by building an air-conditioned city? 

Sure, no problem. It seems Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates has decided to build the world's first temperature-controlled city on Earth right there in the middle of the desert in Dubai. The ambitious project is not only going to feature a mall, an indoor family theme park, and a "network of temperature-controlled openable promenades." According to developer Dubai Holding, the 7 kilometer (4.35 mile) expanse of covered walkways will allow week-long stays without the need for cars or exposure to Dubai's harsh desert climate.

The project will be built in phases in alignment with the gradual growth of family tourism in Dubai.” The "Mall of the World will be the world’s largest mall occupying 8 million sq. ft. connected to 100 hotels and serviced apartments buildings with 20,000 hotel rooms. There will also be a temperature-controlled covered retail street network spreading over 7 km, the largest indoor family theme park in the world, a wellness district catering to medical tourists. Around 180 million visitors are expected to visit the mall annually. "The objective is to create an integrated city with a plethora of best-in-class options within pleasant environments," says the Prime Minister.

Neither a budget nor a completion date have been announced as of yet. The Mall of the World might seem like an outlandish, capitalistic fantasy, but Dubai is no stranger to extravagance. Among other things, the city is famous for containing the world's tallest building and throwing a record-breaking fireworks display.

The Prime Minister says, “We announced recently that we plan to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us; and we are determined to achieve our vision.