No Dubai conversion for QE2?

There are a number of rumours circulating in Dubai that the massive conversion plans to transform the former Cunard cruise ship QE2 into a floating hotel/conference/leisure centre have fallen through, due to the immense costs and the global credit crisis. However, owners Nakheel deny such suggestions. Manfred Ursprunger, CEO of QE2 Enterprises, the Nakheel company set up to run the QE2 project said that plans for the conversion of the ship are still going ahead. ‘We are not selling the ship. We are still in the planning stage and we are looking at the best way we can use this magnificent ship,’ he said. But why is it taking so long to finalise details of the ship’s conversion? Nakheel’s had plenty of time and is using some of the industry’s best in this business, such as V.Ships Leisure. It’s well known that Nakheel is putting a number of construction projects in the Emirate on hold for the time being, including the much hyped Trump Towers. Mr Ursprunger said that ‘no definite designs for the QE2 have been so far Okayed.’ I wonder if they ever will! Sphere: Related Content