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World Islands

The archipelago, also known as "The World", is 300 artificial islands shaped like a map of the world.

Concept and history

One of Dubai's boldest engineering projects. Conceived and developed by Nakheel Properties, the archipelago was unveiled in 2003. The developers used advanced reclamation techniques to create more than 300 plots of land, arranging them in a map-like layout that mimics the continents and major parts of the Earth. They are separated by narrow waterways and generally cover an area about 9 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide.

Construction began with the embankment of a causeway surrounding the entire group and serving as a kind of barrier against storms and high waves. The individual islands then began to be formed by embanking sand taken directly from the bay and drilling at depth. Precise GPS technology was used to shape the shoreline, giving the mounds the shape of countries and regions.

Maintaining the project also requires considerable effort. Powerful drainage systems are installed underground to prevent flooding. Power is supplied from pumping stations on the mainland via submarine cables, and treated fresh water is delivered by sea.

Environmentalists have raised concerns about the impact of such extensive reclamation on coastal ecosystems, including changes in tidal movements and habitat for marine life. "The World" was designed with this in mind, with some areas left undeveloped to serve as ecological reserves.

World Islands transportation

The cluster is accessible by boat, seaplane and helicopter. Development plans also call for transportation hubs at some major sites to facilitate transit between the archipelago and the Dubai mainland. The islands are not connected by bridges, preserving their exclusive status.

World Islands infrastructure and real estate

The islands are named after different countries around the world, here are just a few of them

-         Germany comprises 32 luxury villas in the Bauhaus style, which combines German practicality, concise forms and modern technology. There are luxurious swimming pools, gardens with exotic plants and snow-white beaches.

-          Sweden is a gated community with ultra-luxury Swedish-style villas on five floors.

-           The Floating Seahorses includes a series of floating tri-level villas, the lower level of which is completely underwater and features panoramic windows.

-         Switzerland includes more than 100 luxury residences, a green mountain with a spa, ice cave and other amenities.

-         The Heart of Europe includes six islands with private villas, apartment complexes, hotels, floating residences, retail and entertainment facilities.