As the sun is just beginning to set, a constant stream of four-wheel drives and a few tenacious tiny sedans enter the Al Qudra oasis outside of Dubai. The enormous lakes that break up the desert are blazing with color as a result of the reddish tint to the sky and the burning orange of the sun. Visitors have come to see these enormous bodies of water in the middle of the dunes. They're setting up camp chairs and picnic blankets and taking pictures as a group.
Al Qudra is a man-made desert oasis with numerous man-made lakes, tall sand dunes, and native wildlife, making it a popular entertainment area for Dubai residents. But in 2018, a strange new lake developed, increasing the popularity of the nearby tourist destination.
The lake is, in reality, a place suited for royalty on this particular evening: When we arrive, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class with the number "1" on the licence plate drives by. This is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai.
Given that Sheikh Mohammed is frequently pictured in and near Al Qudra and that it was his son who initially revealed the Love Lake to the world, this may not come as a complete surprise.
In November 2018, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, unexpectedly posted on Instagram to introduce the new tourist destination. Because the interlocking love hearts appeared to materialise out of nowhere and no one knew that fresh lake development was taking place, the aerial image of the interlocking love hearts made news throughout the United Arab Emirates. But all of this was predetermined. According to a representative for Sheikh Mohammed's engineering office, the project, whose development officially began on March 11, 2018, was cloaked in secrecy from the beginning.
"A small number of people outside the project team were little involved in the discrete management of the project. The plan was to surprise the world by revealing and announcing this lovely product.
Dubai is home to several man-made wonders. The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the highest outdoor infinity pool, located at Address Beach Resort, and a few other attractions with dubious claims to fame, like Ski Dubai, the biggest indoor ski slope in a mall, and the Dubai Frame, the biggest picture frame in the world, are all located there. According to the spokesman, Sheikh Mohammed personally gave a straightforward design brief for the Love Lake project, which included the creation of "a symbol of love in the desert" as well as a novel new travel destination for couples and families.
In addition, the Love Lake embraced the social media frenzy and included several heart motifs and signage indicating the greatest selfie locations in a city where Instagram is king. At the location, thousands of floral plants and more than 16,000 trees that were specifically chosen for the desert climate were planted. Even from space, it is apparently visible.
Sustainability was a priority from the beginning, and the construction plan took care to guarantee that "the natural tranquillity of the area wasn't disturbed.
" All of the site's seating options were constructed with environmentally safe materials. Additionally, it offers covered spaces and fire pits, as well as distinctive bamboo water sinks with conventional-style taps. If you feel like taking a quick jog through the desert in the blazing sun, there is even a designated running track around the property.
The team has also ensured that the wildlife will be protected. More than 150 different bird species live around Love Lake, including flamingos, eagles, ducks, swans, and falcons. If you're lucky, desert fauna like gazelles and oryx may also be seen.
Nowadays, Love Lake can draw anything from 1,000 to 4,000 visitors each day. With specialised maintenance and operating teams allocated for that reason, it is kept in spotless condition. In order to guarantee that the water level stays high even during the hottest months, the lake is even outfitted with two filling lines with water level monitors.
Massive amounts of flowers have been used to write the word "Love" on the sand by the lake. More than 16,000 trees and many more blooms, all chosen to thrive in the arid conditions, were used to create this lovely landscape. After swimming at Love Lake, you and your partner can take a quiet stroll through the vegetation. You'll pass by heart-shaped buildings that are covered with flowers and other vegetation.
No matter how romantic your swim and stroll may be, if you are viewing Love Lake from ground level, you won't get the complete image. The best views of the lake may also be seen from a helicopter or a drone, which will let you see all of the intricate elements that went into making this oddly shaped attraction.
