Plans have been unveiled for a US$1bn development at Al Ain Zoo in the foothills of the Jebel Hafeet in Dubai, which will see residential apartments and villas built around new desert safari areas.

A five-star resort, a family hotel, a shopping and restaurant complex, interactive desert science and learning centre and botanical gardens will reportedly be surrounded by deserts from Central Asia, South America, Africa, California and Australia.

Some of the wildlife will be free to roam the resort.

Work on the 900-hectare redevelopment, to be known as the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, could begin this year and be completed by 2010.

The plans were announced at the Tourism Development Projects and Investment Market Exhibition held in Dubai recently.

Emirates Business has reported that EDSA of Fort Lauderdale Florida US, are the development planners.