News

Saudi Arabia Will Be Home To A $5BN Floating City

The superyacht, to be named Pangeos, will have room for 60,000 guests along with shopping malls and beach clubs.

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2022

Nour Nasir

saudi arabia will be home to a $5bn floating city

Lazzarini

An Italian design studio called Lazzarini has begun a massive project to design and eventually build a $5 billion “terayacht”. The colossal floating city will be based in Saudi Arabia, and will have the ability to host 60,000 people.

As if the sheer size of this craft wasn’t headline-grabbing enough, the yacht, named Pangeos, will be shaped like a giant sea turtle.

According to Lazzarini, Pangeos is named “after the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras.”

The design studio went on to add: “Translating this into a somewhat futuristic expression, Pangeos extends its length for 550 meters (1,800 ft) and measures 610 meters (2,000 ft) at its widest point — the wings. If realized, the turtle-shaped vessel will become the world’s largest structure ever built.”

pangeos terayacht floating city

The floating city will be home to 19 luxury villas and 64 apartments on each of the turtle’s wings. Lazzarini expects to pump $8 billion into construction, creating the largest-ever floating object after an eight-year build period.

pangeos floating city villas

The design of Pangeos is based around a main square that resembles a giant sports stadium, which extends into a wide terraced villa area with private houses, shops, and other buildings, plus a rooftop terrace with an upper “shell” zone for landing flying vehicles.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia Reveals Plans To Build The City Of The Future

In the lower spaces, 30,000 cells provide an unsinkable floating platform, with the bulk of the vessel being constructed from steel.

As well as being notable for its outrageous size and head-turning design, Pangeos will offer unrivaled luxury for guests, with a rooftop garden, mall, beach club, and a massive central shipyard with direct access to the sea.

News

Dubai Duty Free And TerraPay Partner For Seamless Digital Wallet Payments

The move will enhance convenience for the 100 million customers traveling through Dubai Airport each year.

Published

1 day ago

February 4, 2025

Nour Nasir

dubai duty free and terrapay partner for seamless digital wallet payments

Dubai Duty Free (DDF), the world’s largest single airport retailer, has teamed with payment provider TerraPay to simplify transactions for international travelers. The partnership will allow over 100 million customers to pay using their home-country digital wallets, including Airtel Money, M-PESA, and MTN MoMooffering, allowing for seamless and accessible shopping experiences.

With TerraPay’s global network of 3.7 billion mobile wallets and its cross-border payments infrastructure, Dubai Duty Free is expanding its payment options to meet evolving consumer preferences. By integrating digital wallets into its system, DDF provides a convenient alternative to traditional payment methods, making transactions much smoother for travelers.

Digital wallets are rapidly becoming the dominant payment method worldwide: In 2025, they are expected to handle 52% of global eCommerce transactions and 30% of all in-store purchases. In addition, digital wallets are already projected to surpass 35% of all cross-border payments this year, highlighting the growing demand for fast, easy, and secure transactions.

Also Read: Visa Partnership Takes X Closer Toward Musk’s “Everything App” Vision

Ambar Sur, Founder & CEO of TerraPay, stated, “Our partnership with Dubai Duty Free […] reflects our shared vision […] to enhance convenience and accessibility, building an inclusive ecosystem that prioritizes customers. It also aligns with the launch of TerraPay’s Wallet Interoperability Council, which aims to create a more connected global payment landscape”.

Echoing this sentiment, Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said, “We are reinforcing our commitment to empowering our customers by enabling them to pay with their preferred methods. Dubai Duty Free has always been at the forefront of technological advancements, and with access to TerraPay’s vast network, we’re excited to offer this new payment solution”.