IANS
RAK, Jul 11: The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has started work on a brand new multi-million dollar city that will house 200,000 people.
The new city, which will also have its own mass rapid transport system, is being built by Rakeen, the real estate development arm of the Ras Al Khaimah government, the Emirates Business 24-7 newspaper reported.
To be called Gateway City, the self-contained city will have schools, hospitals, shopping malls, souks and entertainment venues.
According to the report, a group of international consultants are working on a master plan for the city, which is expected to be complete in six weeks' time.
''The grading work has commenced and we estimate the project to be completed in 2012,'' the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
According to the Rakeen website, the development will consist of five phases, extending over 400 million square feet. Phase 1 will consist of an integrated city to service, support and supplement the capital city of Ras Al Khaimah.
It described the new development as ''a self-contained and sustaining setting catering to the inhabitants' every conceivable want and need''.
''There will be no need to exit the city for any requirements. Every whim or fantasy will be fulfilled from within its confines,'' it stated