Dubai, UAE
The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 will become a floating hotel. The ship, which crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times over 40 years, was sold this week to Istithmar, a Dubai company, for $100 million. Starting in 2009, it will be berthed off Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, one of three man-made islands shaped like palm fronds. The company said it would restore the ship’s original 1967 interior and décor in hopes that the hotel will become a tourist destination in its own right. Around 6.5 million tourists visited Dubai last year, more than any other Arab country except Egypt.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Controversial GOP plan to sell millions of federal acres hits major roadblockIN THE SPOTLIGHT Republican Sen. Mike Lee says he'll revisit legislation to sell millions of acres of federally held land to create 'freedom zones' of single family homes
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
5 high-concept animated science fiction shows for grown-upsThe Week Recommends How filmmakers are using a different medium to bring visionary science fiction to life
