The Dubai World Island project could have ended up as an epic failure has been showing some more signs of life in recent years, despite being subject to a bucket load of speculation since its launch.
Initially, the only island to have been developed was Lebanon Island, but Anantara Island has recently come into the mix. It provides an exciting opportunity to explore parts of the World Islands alongside Lebanon Island and portions of the Heart of Europe. These exciting ventures have revived some of the interest in the coastal destination, and we could just end up seeing the World Islands come to fruition.
What are the Dubai World Islands?
History of the Dubai World Islands
Are there current developments underway?
Can I visit the Dubai World Islands?
Are any of the islands still for sale?
The development and sale of islands are mostly a closely kept secret and most of the information available online dates back to the conception of the project. There is an island listed at a cost of $16 million, though which island it is hasn’t been divulged. If anyone is interested in purchasing one of the World Islands, there may be opportunities to purchase portions of the Heart of Europe, which is offering potential investors an opportunity to buy luxury villas, mansions, or private portions. At this moment, most of the information is hearsay with nothing concrete outside of the Anantara builds having been released.
FAQ about Dubai World Islands
As with any exciting project of this magnitude, there are bound to be a host of unanswered questions. Here are a couple of the FAQs regarding the project.
Why are the World Islands unique?
This is the first attempt to recreate the map of the world. The entire project is a man-made development that consists of 300 islands ranging from 250,000 to 900,000 sq ft in size. The whole collection of islands is over 8 km (5 miles) across. There has been more than $15 million spent on the project and only one island and one resort have been fully developed.
Is the project sinking?
In 2010, Penguin Marine, a marine company, warned that the Dubai World Islands were sinking into the ocean, based on measurements that were taken for safety reasons. The International Space Station took photographs back in 2010 that suggested the islands were beginning to disappear because of the rising of the Persian Gulf. However, the project developer, Nakheel, denied the allegations and also managed to stop Penguin Marine from cancelling their contract by winning a trial in court. NASA provided information that The Palm Jumeirah, another man-made island on the Dubai coast, was slowly sinking due to the rising Gulf.
Did the World Islands project fail?
The Dubai World Island project was all but forgotten for close to 10 years, with the only island open to visitors being Lebanon Island. In December of 2021, another resort was opened and is the only one allowing overnight stays in the World Islands. Anantara World Islands Resort has 70 rooms, suites, and villas available. The Heart of Europe is set to be fully developed by 2023, barring any further delays. Though this could hardly be called a success, it isn’t a complete failure; with more than 70% of the islands being sold and the potential for further development, the state of the islands is uncertain at best.
How do I visit the World Islands in Dubai?
Aside from seeing the islands through an airplane window or from the safety of a helicopter or hot air balloon, there are only two islands you can visit. You can pick up a day pass for Lebanon Island online and join a tour that will arrange transport for you. They usually depart from The Palm Jumeirah and include a hotel pickup, a boat transfer, sunbeds on the island beaches, and lunch. Transport to Anantara will be arranged when you make your booking and will consist of a boat transfer from The Palm Jumeirah.
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