LYON, France (AFP) — A quirky project to recreate a French city in the desert emirate of Dubai was launched Wednesday in the muse in question -- the east-central city of Lyon.
"We are flattered that Lyon...can inspire a city like Dubai," Lyon's mayor Gerard Collomb said at a press conference.
The brainchild of Dubai entrepreneur and Lyon-aficionado Buti Saeed Al Gandhi, the project will not only recreate French urban basics -- houses and offices -- but also include a hotel school, a film library, subsidiaries of Lyon museums and a football training center run by Olympique Lyonnais.
"I have fallen in love with Lyon and I think this city has a lot to offer Dubai," said Gandhi, who argues the project's aim is not to reconstruct the French city but recreate its best elements, including its spirit.
Urban specialist Jean-Paul Lebat said some 3,000 homes are to be built during the first stage of the scheme, which first began with plans to build a French university in Dubai.
Estimated at 500 million euros (740 million dollars), the 300-400 hectare (741-988 acre) project will be located either in an urban area near the Burj Dubai tower or in the desert near the emirate's planned second international airport.
Lyon-Dubai City is the latest manifestation of Francophilia sweeping through the Emirates: fellow city-state Abu Dhabi recently struck a deal to build a Louvre museum spinoff at home.
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