The latest project: Permanent Cirque du Soleil

Nakheel has signed an exclusive multi-million dollar 15-year deal with Cirque du Soleil to have a permanent venue and show at the heart of the Palm Jumeirah. Cirque du Soleil Dubai is expected to open by the first quarter 2010 with the premiere in December that year.The venue will be the only permanent Cirque show outside the US, China, and Japan .

Nakheel will build an 1800-seat theatre venue for the permanent show by 2010 with the name and theme of the show not yet decided.

Cirque du Soleil made its first appearance in Dubai at the beginning of this year from January 4 and ran an extended two-month long run of shows.

"The permanent show in Las Vegas called ‘O' opened in 1997 and every show has played to full houses for ten years bringing in six million people. In fact, people even plan their holidays around the show and we think we can the same effect on Dubai," commented the executives.