Overview

A journey. A saga. A legend. The World is today’s great development epic. An engineering odyssey to create an island paradise of sea, sand and sky, a destination has arrived that allows investors to chart their own course and make the world their own.

The World Islands, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Palm World or Globe Islands, are a collection of man-made islands shaped into the continents of the world, located off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It will consist of 300 small private artificial islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands.

The World Islands will be located 4 kilometers off the shore of Jumeirah, close to the Palm Jumeirah, between Burj Al Arab and Port Rashid at approximately 25°13 North and 55°10 East. The AED 6.6 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) project will cover a total area of 9 kilometers (5.4 miles) in length and 6 kilometers (3.6 miles) in width, surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater. The only means of transportation between the islands will be by marine or air transport and boat transportation from the mainland will be from the umm suqeim and jumeirah fishing harbours.

Each island of The World will range from 250 to 900 thousand square feet (23.2 to 83.6 thousand square meters) in size, with 50 to 100 metres (164 to 328 feet) of water between each island. Each island will be sold to selected private developers and are expected to have pricing beginning at AED 25 million (US$ 6.85 million). Individuals who own on an island in The World Islands include Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.

A master plan as richly imagined as The World requires a mix of aesthetic beauty and seamless functionality. From the width of the canals, the convenience of strategically placed transportation hubs and marinas to world-class commercial centers and the stunning halo-effect of the islands, the development is designed to provide visitors and residents an experience they’ll wish to return to again and again.

Islands are sold as contiguous plots with both land and water areas. The developer can then use their imagination to reshape the islands to create unique features such as private beaches, coves, harbors, and marinas, by merely moving the sand within the designated setbacks and regulations. This Terraforming allows the developers to create their own environment within The World.

Boats will be the primary mode of transportation in The World and to and from The World. Water taxis and ferries will handle a large portion of the transportation, however, it is also anticipated that a majority of property owners on The World will own, maintain, and or operate a boat. There are four distinct strategies to meet the marina demand on The World.

In its current state, near the completion of the land reclamation, The World exists harmoniously with the diverse, surrounding marine life that inhabits its waters, and this is the basis for its future standard towards the environment. Based on Posford Haskoning’s Environment Gulf report, the quality of seawater surrounding the islands was superior to that tested along the shoreline of Dubai. There exist today at least 31 different types of flora and fauna, including asparagopsis which creates a protective canopy above the seabed. As a result, colonies of pearl oysters and other molluscs are beginning to proliferate.

Various sea life, such as coral anemones and sea squirts, thrive along and in between the breakwaters surrounding the islands, accepting it as part of their natural environment. The shoreline areas comprise diverse marine life such as sea cucumbers, oysters, sponges, plankton, butterfly fish and jellyfish. Marine life in and around The World is flourishing. Initiatives, such as the water treatment plan to reuse water and recycle waste, or the incentives provided for ‘Green’ developers, will aid in the continued harmony of The World, its customers and its environment.

2 Available Properties in The World

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