Off the coast of Dubai lie hundreds of artificial islands built specifically for the ultra-wealthy.
These unique artificial islands were created using massive amounts of sand from the Persian Gulf.
Aerial view of 300 nearly empty islands.
Currently, only 2 islands allow tourists – Lebanon Island and Anantara Resort.
One of the islands that has remained vacant since the 2008 financial crisis.
The design layout of these islands is said to resemble the 5 continents of the world from above, divided into individual islands representing each country. Thus, it has been aptly named The World Islands.
Dubai, a city renowned for its rich and luxurious lifestyle, has never failed to impress the world with its unique and striking architectural ideas. From the Burj Khalifa—the tallest building in the world—to the dazzling Museum of the Future, the city stands as a testament to innovative design.
However, the World Islands project may be somewhat different, as in this case, reality has not yet met the ambitious vision.
This project spans 8 kilometers and consists of 300 empty islands, each ranging from 2.3 to 8.3 hectares in size.
The World Islands project viewed from Dubai.
Billions of dollars have been invested in the idea that Dubai could gift each country its own island for the ultra-wealthy to visit, allowing them to experience diverse cultures all within one city.
Several high-profile figures, including Richard Branson, the late Karl Lagerfeld, and Michael Schumacher, have visited some of these islands. Notably, racer Michael was gifted the island named “Antarctica”, valued at $7 million, in recognition of his record-breaking career in Formula 1.
However, the global financial crisis in 2008 severely impacted the economy of the United Arab Emirates, particularly the real estate sector. It is estimated that projects worth up to $300 billion had to be scaled back, paused, or canceled. This unfortunate fate befell one of the most unique and ambitious construction projects the world has ever witnessed.
Since the 2008 financial crisis, only one island has been completed and opened to tourists – Lebanon Island.
To date, the project has cost around $15 billion.
This remains the only success from the World Islands project until December 2021, when Anantara World Islands Resort opened in the South American region of the archipelago.
The Heart of Europe project is the next significant idea from Dubai related to the World Islands. Each island in the European group is planned to host a range of luxury hotels, private villas, and floating villas. Through this plan, Dubai aims to attract more tourists, especially from the ultra-wealthy demographic.
Developer Kelindheist Group intends to bring European culture to Dubai. Several cities inspired by Monaco, Nice, Sweden, and Germany are being developed with restaurants and hotels.
The website Heart of Europe states: “We combine the best of European culture, architecture, and hospitality with the luxury and innovation of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the white sandy beaches of the tropical islands.”
The Heart of Europe offers unique experiences, from underwater living to a climate-controlled Rain Street.” The final completion date is set for 2026, with a total investment of $5 billion.
70% of the remaining islands have been sold, awaiting development. However, investors are facing significant challenges with the artificial islands. The World Islands project has long been rumored to be at risk of sinking due to its sandy foundation being eroded by the surrounding seawater, not to mention the rising sea levels in the Persian Gulf.
