Peking duck pancakes, here we come…

Every major city in the world has a Chinatown: London, New York, Sydney. It’s a place that is synonymous with fantastic bargains and amazing food. And the good news is, Dubai will soon be home to the biggest Chinatown in the Middle East.

Property developer Emaar has just announced its plan to establish a Chinese-themed precinct within the upcoming Dubai Creek Harbour development. The announcement coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to the UAE this week.

Here’s what the district is set to look like (yes, it’s a very “Dubai” interpretation of a Chinatown):

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Emaar said the Chinatown will feature some of China’s top brands, as well as international fashion brands that appeal to Chinese tourists. By the sounds of it, the area will compete with Dragon Mart, which is currently the largest shopping centre for Chinese products outside of mainland China.

The UAE has been pulling out all the stops to welcome President Xi. Several Dubai landmarks, including the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Dubai Frame, have lit up in red to mark UAE-China week, which is being held from July 17 to July 24 in honour of the Chinese president’s visit.

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Many UAE residents also woke up on Thursday to find their mobile carrier had changed its network name to “WelcomePresChina”.

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Images: Supplied