DUBAI was set to have the first underwater stadium with a jaw-dropping 108ft glass roof looking up into the ocean.
The plans would not only give a crowd the chance to enjoy a thrilling tennis match but they could also gaze out and see stunning marine life.
The groundbreaking project comes with an eye-watering price tag of £2billion and is designed by Polish architect Krzysztof Kotala.
The complex was planned to be situated in a swanky part of town between the Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah islands in Dubai.
As well as housing array of fish and marine animals, the complex would boast seven tennis courts with a breath-taking rooftop coral reef.
The part-aquarium, part-sports complex was said to cost $2.5 billion (£2billion) in 2015 when Kotala first began to seek funding.
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“There is not an investor but I would like to get interest as I think it is a good idea,” he told Arabian Business at the time.
He added that the project was “something original” and that Dubai was “perfect for this idea.”
But, despite the finished plans, Kotala’s mind-bending brainchild has not come to fruition.
And the staggering cost of constructing the complex was not the only barrier the ambitious architect faced as there were also safety concerns.
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These included potential leakage as well as the question of if it would be possible to ensure the structure could withstand earthquakes and tsunamis.
With a huge quantity of water sitting above there was the added complexity of light refraction, too.
Then there was the task of managing to make a gigantic piece of 108ft glass that would cover the roof and withstand the water pressure.
It seems the project carried too many risks which prevented it from even getting beyond the concept stage.
Although it is unlikely the plans will come to fruition the polish architect still has picture of them up on website as a reminder of what could have been.
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Saudi Arabia are hoping to make a brand new mega city the centre-piece of their 2034 World Cup bid.
The city of Neom was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017 as part of the country’s Vision 2030, with the aim to complete construction by the end of the decade.
Neom is located near the Red Sea and will have a floating industrial centre and port city.
Its mountainous surrounding climes also means the city has a varied climate – with a mountainous ski resort called Trojena set to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
An airport will also be built to connect the city to the rest of the world.
But the most striking thing about Neom is a mirrored megastructure called The Line.
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The Line is a a 110-mile, 500m tall and 200m wide mirrored building that will connect Neom to the rest of the kingdom.
The linear structure will function as one massive city, with Neom’s publicity website claiming residents will be able to get everything they need for daily essentials “within a five minute walk.”
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Olivia Allhusen
