Construction of the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort – the Skidome – crossed a major milestone with the raising of the final section of the ski slope into place.

The Majid Al Futtaim Investments (Mafi) project, which is part of the Mall of Emirates (MoE), achieved the task using a technique known as ‘strandjacking’, whereby a section of the slope, weighing 3,000 tonnes, was lifted 30 m into the air and connected to the main framework of the ski hill structure.
The completion of this phase signals a significant landmark in the construction process of the MoE, which continues on track for opening this September.
“This is a critical milestone in the MoE project and the finish line is now in sight,” commented Jeff Rossely, group vice president, development, Mafi. “It is a very significant feat of engineering in a scheme that pushes the boundaries of mall design in so many ways. I would like to thank all involved, especially our specialist contractors, Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke and Eversendai.”
The raising of the slope, which was completed over two days, creates space for another 3,000 carpark spaces and signals a shift into the final phase of the construction of the project. This phase will focus on internal finishes and retailer shop construction.
“The sheer scale of the project and the magnitude of the structure is now visible to everyone passing the MoE at Interchange 4 on Sheikh Zayed Road,” says Phil Taylor, chief executive, Ski Dubai.
When complete, Ski Dubai will hold over 6,000 tonnes of snow at any given time and will be the third largest indoor snow dome in the world, boasting  a 400 m ski run, a permanent 3.5 m radius quarter pipe for stunts, a snowboarding park, five multi-directional slopes with varying slope gradients, including a black run, and the world’s largest indoor snow play area.