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Ever since it became a viable ski destination with the opening of its giant indoor ski resort in 2005, Dubai has become the number one city on the planet for megaprojects designed to draw in the tourist masses. Now, the UK’s Telegraph newspaper is reporting the emirate’s next big thing: The Pearl of Dubai, the world’s largest underwater theme park.

Reef Worlds, the LA-based underwater tourism outfit developing the project, says the 220,000-square-foot park will be inspired by the lost city of Atlantis and the Hollywood movies Pirates of the Caribbean and Avatar. Promoted as the world’s largest sustainable underwater tourism site, it promises to attract scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers of all levels and ages.

The project will form part of an artificial archipelago of 300 islands called The World, which has already been under construction for more than a decade, but currently only consists of two islands, after the 2008 financial crisis all but halted development. Perhaps wisely then, Reef Worlds has not yet announced the Pearl of Dubai’s official opening date.

The ambitious plan isn’t the only underwater project announced by Dubai officials. Last year, reports emerged about the planned construction of an underwater hotel called the “Water Discus Hotel.” Guests will apparently be allowed to enjoy a view of marine life from rooms positioned below the surface of the sea.

Read more here.

Image: Reef Worlds