How LEDs Helped Dubai Become the World’s Fastest Growing City

The saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” but the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai just may prove the opposite. Since the city’s decision to expand its economic scope beyond the oil industry in 2003, Dubai has experienced what some are calling an unprecedented boom. From tourism and international business to population and property development, Dubai is growing faster than Jack’s beanstalk.

Erinn Bone works for Alem International Management, a US-based event production company that organizes large-scale events of all types. In his sixteen year tenure with Alem, Bone has been a part of the team responsible for the logistical movement of the Olympic flame for the torch relays of 1996, 2002 and 2004, as well as the the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil. The Alem team has also hosted events for international guests of the Dubai World Cup since 2010.

Bone recently returned from the March, 2013 Dubai World Cup which, at $10 million, boasts the biggest purse of any horse race in the world, and he took a minute to discuss how and why LED lights are playing a role in Dubai’s exponential growth.

“In an effort to draw in tourism and international business, Dubai is positioning itself as one of the most architecturally and culturally cutting edge places on the planet; that becomes apparent when you look at the stunning skyline that surrounds you when you’re there,” he says. “LED lights are incorporated into almost every landmark building in the city.”

Bone notes that unlike cities with older architecture, many of Dubai’s buildings were conceived and built with LED lighting as an integrated part of their design. “In older architecture, you can retrofit the buildings to use LED lights, but the structure of many of Dubai’s buildings were designed around the dynamic displays that only LED lights are capable of. The results are mind-blowing, and play a key role in defining the aesthetic that makes Dubai what it is today.”

Following are some of Bone’s favorite architectural sightings in Dubai, and some of his own photos.

Burj Al Arab

The infamous “sail” hotel uses color-changing LED lights along its outer lines as well as throughout its interior panels, and is an unmistakable park of the horizon.

Burj Khalifa

The tallest building in the world (2,722 ft) uses RGB LED lights and programmable LED wall washers to create stunning effects on the outside of the building, and is the most recognizable structure on the Dubai skyline.

Dubai International Airport

The Dubai airport is peppered with LED light displays, from the ceilings to the stairs and walkways. “The airport is the world’s first impression of Dubai, and designers have definitely takes advantage of all LED technology has to offer to make sure it’s a good one,” says Bone.

“Dubai represents one of the contemporary architectural wonders of the world,” says Bone, “and LED lights are a huge part of that.”