Water is flowing into the largest and most sustainable swimming pool in the Middle East – the leisure attraction at the centre of a rainbow-inspired resort recreating the celebrated lifestyle of the French Riviera at The Heart of Europe.
Grand Azur – which translates as ‘big blue’ – is set to be one of the most talked about elements of Côte d’Azur Resort within The Heart of Europe – the rapidly-evolving $5 billion hospitality and second-home destination amid The World islands, Dubai.
With a perimeter of more than 1km and containing a staggering 14,000 cubic meters of sustainably-desalinated water, the mega-pool is one of many Heart of Europe regional and international firsts. Grand Azur is clever as well as big, however, utilising solar energy to illuminate, recycle, heat and cool the eco-friendly water.
As well as providing extensive opportunities to paddle, chill-out or burn off a few calories, the pool will form the watery heart of the Côte d’Azur Resort. At 12,000 sq.m (129,166.93 sq.f), Grand Azur includes four connected blue water lagoons, shaped as rolling waves, with a white edge that emulates the Mediterranean’s natural froth.
While Olympic-sized pools are 50m in length, Grand Azur is eight times larger, dwarfing every leisure pool in the Middle East and delivering a unique venue for hosting social and sporting events. Water temperature will be maintained at 28° Celsius or 82.40° Fahrenheit courtesy of solar-powered pumps.
Grand Azur promises plentiful Instagram moments as its layout is completed with rainforest landscapes comprising 100 exotic plant species, trendy floating sunbed cabanas and DJ pods, plus a pool bar – all of which are adjustable in that they can be relocated on demand to freshen up the Grand Azur look.
The pool can operate a ‘standard’ setup for regular daily use, but can be ‘re-modelled’ for different seasons, such as providing peak summer shaded areas, and special events, including exclusive sets from top DJs and challenging water sports events.
Grand Azur lagoons link and weave between Côte d’Azur’s boutique hotels – each named after French Riviera hotspots Monaco, Nice, Cannes and St Tropez – to complete a waterfront lifestyle experience. Kleindienst Group, developer of the sustainable Heart of Europe mega-project, confirms that distinctive facade painting and cladding of Côte d’Azur’s five-star hotels is complete and a plush fit-out is underway.
Monaco will set the tone when it welcomes guests during a ‘soft’ opening in June 2021 (subject to government Covid-19 restrictions). All four uniquely-located, upscale Côte d’Azur hotels are scheduled for an official public launch in October, in time for Expo guests, adding 893 keys to the Dubai hospitality portfolio.
Kleindienst chairman Josef Kleindienst says Grand Azur will set new standards for future hotel swimming pool design. “This incredible, epic pool is both innovative and sustainability-orientated, like everything else at The Heart of Europe, we have long been known for normalising the unexpected and the future mega trends in the tourism industry. Grand Azur follows trend in that regard” he says.
“We have evolved a new way to build swimming pools, not from wall to wall with set areas, but an adjustable concept that is a world first.”
Graced with the striking blue of the South of France coastline, Grand Azur is the eighth largest pool in the world, occupying one and a half times the area of a football field and believed to be almost twice the size of the USA’s largest pool.
Robots and vacuums will clean the breath-taking facility, using a UV system to break down bacteria DNA while drastically reducing chlorine use. Energy-saving, low temperature desalination will remove salt from seawater specially filtered for micro plastics, all supported by solar power while underlining the destination’s zero discharge policy.
Part of a 15-hotel portfolio of upscale hotels within The Heart of Europe’s six island offering, Côte d’Azur’s open sea view and lagoon-view suites options range from 485 sq.ft to 678 sq.ft (45 sq.m to 63 sq.m). The total plot covers 94,022 sq.m.
Côte d’Azur guests will be able to select from eight food and beverage venues, including a classic French bistro, Mediterranean restaurant, champagne and piano bar, La Boulangerie all-day dining, a pool and beach club/lounge and a French Riviera-influenced café.