The new sand castle: Dubai's latest luxury towers come with a 75K sq ft rain forest

Leave it to Dubai —Land of Pet lions, gold toilets and Lamborghini police cars—to build the world’s most decadent desert oasis.

Now rising in the city’s Al Thanyah district, the $550-million Rosemont Hotel & Residences will be the first building on earth with its own rain forest: A 75,000-square-feet jungle, complete with a splash pool and cafe. The supersize terrarium will use only recycled water collected from condensation and will feature a novel artificial beach—one without sand.

The 1.1-million-square-feet complex centres on a pair of glass skyscrapers—a 53-storey hotel and a 55-storey apartment building on Sheikh Zayed Road—atop a luxury retail space.

Designed by ZAS Architects Dubai, the development will have 448 hotel rooms and 280 furnished apartments, including a 6,300-square-feet presidential pad with its own private spa, sauna, jacuzzi and swimming pool with waterfall feature. The suites will be available for short- and long-term stays but not purchase.
     
Expected to open in 2018, the resort will also have a cantilevered infinity sky pool with a glass bottom plus a bowling alley, a nightclub and high-tech gaming entertainment. Perhaps the best part? Robotic luggage handlers—which means you won’t even have to tip.