Hydropolis Luxury Underwater Hotel Delayed

The Hydropolis, an underwater Luxury hotel in Dubai (or more appropriately, under and off the coast of Dubai) has run into construction issues. Originally the plan was to open the luxurious underwater locale beginning 2008, but that has been moved back now and the current estimate is that the complex will open early 2009.
The Hotel is still under construction and once complete will include three parts: a land station, a connecting tunnel with a train that will run to the hotel complex proper. The plan is to have 220 luxurious suites in the hotel complex.
“Hydropolis is not a project; it’s a passion," enthuses Joachim Hauser, the developer and designer of the hotel. His futuristic vision is about to take shape 20m below the surface of the Arabian Gulf, just off the Jumeirah Beach coastline in Dubai. The £300 million, 220-suite hotel is due to open at the end of 2007 and will incorporate a host of innovations that will take it far beyond the original blueprint for an underwater complex worthy of Jules Verne.
There are only a few locations in the world where such a grandiose dream could be realized. A high proportion of today’s architectural marvels are materializing like fanciful mirages from the desert sands. We have come to expect extravagant enterprises to be mounted in the Middle East, and especially in Dubai. "This venture could only be born here in Dubai," says Hauser. "It has a very open-minded, international community – and that’s what makes it so special."
I take that to mean very open-minded planning restrictions, but you have to admire their ingenuity and ambition. Whether there will be any wildlife left to view once the other luxury developments around the area are complete remains to be seen. Apparently, the recent completion of the World Islands breakwater is having a detrimental effect on the water currents, but every one involved seems to be keeping quiet on this issue.
The developers, Crescent Hydropolis resorts PLC, are planning more underwater luxury hotels in the Isle of Man, London, Monaco, New York and Qingdao.