The House of Greyjoy from Game of ThronesCredit:
Alamy
Game of Thrones fans rejoice – a
Middle Eastern consortium has announced plans to build a scale replica
of the fictional continent of Westeros off the coast of Dubai.
The emirate is well known for its artificial islands, created using
sand dredged from its shallow coastal waters. Already realised is the
Palm Jumeirah, home to the outlandish Atlantis Dubai resort, while three
more are under construction: the Palm Jebel Ali, Deira Island, and The
World, an archipelago in the rough shape of a world map.
But a replica Westeros would outshine them all for sheer ambition,
particularly if it lives up to the proposals outlined today by one its
biggest financial backers, Fropal Oil.
Documents detailing the project, seen by Telegraph Travel, address
the obvious differences between the climate of Westeros – which ranges
from Arctic at its northern tip to Mediterranean in it southern reaches –
and that of the UAE.
A vast irrigation system will allow Dubai to recreate the rolling hills and forests seen in the hit HBO TV seriesCredit:
REX/HBO
It says that, while dredged sand will also be used to create the
island, a vast irrigation system will allow soil, grass and trees to be
planted, to recreate the rolling hills and forests seen in the hit HBO
TV series.
Dubai certainly has previous in this regard. Its Miracle Garden,
launched in 2013, covers 780,000 square feet, making it the world’s
biggest natural flower garden, and uses 166,535 gallons of water a day.
The Dubai Miracle GardenCredit:
ALAMY
Other features will include reconstructions of King’s Landing, the
fictional capital of Westeros, complete with its towering Red Keep and
labyrinthine streets; the ruined and haunted castle of Harrenhal; and
the Eyrie, a dramatic mountaintop fortress.
The Wall will also be built, though with George R. R. Martin’s
fictional version stretching 300 miles across and 700 feet high, it will
of course be a miniature version, while snow cannons will be used to
create the lands beyond The Wall. It wouldn’t be the first time Dubai
has used fake powder to lure tourists – the emirate is already home to
an indoor ski resort with five runs.
Dubai already has its own ski resort
Visitors will be allowed to spend the night in some of the key
locations – there will be campsites around Winterfell, for example, and a
luxury hotel at Casterly Rock. The plans raise the possibility of
actors from the TV series making appearances, and suggest that Komodo
dragons could be flown in from Indonesia and left to roam freely.
Developers hope to convince the show's stars to make appearancesCredit:
Helen Sloan
Sheikh Yousuf Bin Had, chief executive of Fropal Oil, claims
construction of the Westeros replica could begin within the year, and
admits that the costs would far exceed the estimated $12bn (£8.3bn) that
was spent on the only completed artificial island in Dubai, the Palm
Jumeirah. However, he believes the attraction would become a magnet for
Game of Thrones fans and quickly become profitable.
The Palm Jumeriah
He added: “Iceland, Northern Ireland and Croatia
have all seen a huge rise in visitors thanks to their roles as filming
locations for Game of Thrones. Soon travellers will be able to see all
of Westeros in one place.”
Dubrovnik fulfills the role of King's Landing in the TV series
The announcement certainly couldn’t have been timed any better.
Series six of the show will be hitting screens in a matter of weeks. Update: This was, of course, an April Fools' Day joke. Fropal Oil
is an anagram of April Fool, and Sheikh Yousuf Bin Had is a figment of
our imagination.
