Atlanta, For Immediate Release: Well-planned creative development can do much, much more than simply catch the eye. It can also foster more development, creating more jobs and bettering living standards. And when it comes to creative development, the small Mideast emirate of Dubai has set a king-sized standard, noted futurist McKinley Conway asserts in his new book, Global Super Projects: Mega Ventures That Are Shaping Our Future. Conway, in fact, singles out Dubai for mounting “the world most significant creative development program.”

Dubai’s landmark program, however, is only one of a host of mega-endeavors in which Conway has selected the most significant projects in recent history. In addition, the author of several dozen other books has chosen the top projects in 19 other important categories, ranging from environmental and conservation undertakings, to new airports, highways and other infrastructure elements. (To access all of Conway’s selections, as well as the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, look for the online version of the entire book that will be available by Jan. 16, 2006, at www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects. To go directly to the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, go to www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects/registry.)

Conway, a pioneer in the economic development field, made his selections from what he calls “Super Projects, the billion-dollar babies that are changing the face of world development.” A Super Project, he explains, “represents a cost of US$1 billion or more and/or a represents a technological breakthrough of worldwide significance.” Conway’s Atlanta-based research firm, Conway Data Inc., maintains a global Super Project database that now includes some 2,000 ventures.

Just how did Conway, who has studied major global projects for decades and brought together leading Super Project experts in a series of historic worldwide conferences, choose the crème de la crème? The winners, he explains, “were those deemed to be most significant in improving the quality of life for large numbers of the world’s citizens.”

Here, for example, is how the author explained his choice for the world’s most significant creative development program:

“Our vote for the world’s top creative development program goes to Dubai, where leaders have achieved a new global image. The scope and audacity of Dubai’s new projects take the breath away! For example, the offshore ‘ Palm Islands’ reclamation projects involve clusters of small, man-made islands with striking shapes. One early cluster has 8,000 villas. The latest includes 250 small islands shaped like a world map.

“On shore, the Jebel Ali container port and free trade zone has attracted 1,200 firms from around the world. Active Dubai projects include “Dubailand,” a $5 billion mixed-use development, and the 2,000-foot (6,600-meter) Burj Dubai tower, which is projected to be tallest in the world when completed in 2008.

“For visitors Dubai boasts the world’s most luxurious hotel plus a schedule of world-class golf tournaments and horse races.”