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Dubai is set to build the world's largest manmade mega lagoon, with the Crystal Lagoon Corporation to develop its largest ever project in District One, a joint venture between Meydan Group and Sobha Group located at the Mohammed Bin Rashid City master development.

The project will cover 40 hectares and will be four-times bigger than Crystal Lagoon's largest existing lagoon. It will include custom-made beaches, luxury residences, green parklands, waterways, a shopping and dining pavilion and large recreational spaces.

First developed in Chile at the San Alfonso Del Mar mega lagoon, Crystal Lagoons' mega lagoons use a 'pulse oxidation' water cleaning system. Pioneered Crystal Lagoons Corporation founder and Chairman Dr Fernando Fischmann, the technology uses at least 10 times less chemicals than conventional pool cleaning systems.

Introducing the Dubai project, Crystal Lagoons Chief Executive Kevin P Morgan explained "our pioneering concept and state-of-the-art technology, which allows for sustainable, swimmable, turquoise lagoons of unlimited sizes to be built and maintained at low cost anywhere in the world, is proving extremely popular with our growing list of partners across the Middle East.

"Dubai gives us an outstanding strategic position in the Middle East, and the opportunity to participate in a world-class development that adds prestige to our current project portfolio."

Mohammed Bin Rashid City is a planned mixed-use development containing four components; family tourism, retail, the arts and entrepreneurship and innovation. Elements will include the world's largest mall, a public park larger than Hyde Park in London and Universal Studios theme park.

Crystal Lagoons is currently working on 250 projects in 50 countries, including two lagoons in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh, which currently includes the world's largest lagoon at 12 hectares, and other projects in Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Morgan added "as the only company in the world offering this concept and technology, we continue to expand globally and revolutionise the real estate market by partnering with international developers and resort operators to improve overall sales prices, velocity, and project densities.

"Based on our track record in the Middle East, we have proven that our technology can add value to a top destination, making beachfront real estate a reality anywhere in the world."

At last year's Cityscape exhibition in Dubai, Morgan told Arabian Business the firm was planning to announce up to US $3 billion worth of deals in the the region.

Developed by Chile-based Dr Fischmann, a property developer and biochemist, 'pulse oxidation' uses a special lining that is laid over compacted sand. When filled, it uses a patented filtration and unique disinfection system, which unlike a traditional swimming pool, responds to environmental conditions such as the sun, rain and algae.

The San Alfonso Del Mar mega lagoon was featured in the March/April 2008 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

29th May 2009 - MEGA LAGOON VISIONARY VISITS AUSTRALIA

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