Everything there is to know about the Dubai World Islands

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.

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What are the Dubai World Islands?

The Dubai World Islands are a collection of smaller islands that were designed to stand as a miniature global replication, with individual islands being named after corresponding countries. When it was announced back in 2003, the clamoring of the elite to have a piece of the pie made it seem like the Dubai World Islands would be the next big thing.

Due to the financial crisis in 2008, the project developments had to be stopped, and since then, there have been conflicting reports about the recommencing of the project, though not much has come to fruition.

History of the Dubai World Islands

The Dubai World Islands concept was initially envisioned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and Nakheel Projects served as the developer. Van Oord and Boskalis, from the same company that built The Palm Jumeirah, were in charge of the construction of the islands, which began in 2003 but was eventually halted in 2008 due to a financial crisis.

At the time of putting the project on hold, only Lebanon Island had been completed. Since then, there has been the development of one other resort, belonging to Anantara and housed on the South American island.

Are there current developments underway?

To date, there have only been two completed projects for the World Islands and one that is still under development. Lebanon Island was the only island that had been completed when the project came to a halt in 2008 and is equipped with a swimming pool, beach club, restaurants, and beaches. One of the most exciting developments of the World Islands is the more recent Anantara development, which is located in the South America region of the World Islands.

The Anantara resort is a 70-room establishment with beach villas, pool villas, and suites that all feature outdoor spaces, such as a deck, terrace, or private balcony. The resort itself is host to several world-class amenities, including an open-air cinema, Thailand-inspired spas, a floating lounge, and a varied choice of dining options spread out around the resort.

Anantara is currently the only open resort on the archipelago for overnight stays, making it a highly sought-after destination with a sense of seclusion, privacy, and incredible views of Dubai’s mainland.

Can I visit the Dubai World Islands?

Currently, there are two islands you can head to and spend some time exploring. Lebanon Island was the first completed island and offers day access trips departing from Jumeirah Fishing Harbour 1 between 10:00 and 18:00 every day. On Lebanon Island, you’ll have access to two beaches, a beach volleyball court, a swimming pool, and one of the hottest dining spots in Dubai. There is evening access granted between 18:00 and 23:00, but it’s restricted to adults only.

Take the time out to sunbathe on one of the two beaches available, dig into some of the food supplied by the cafes and shacks at the beaches or try your hand at some of the water sports available including parasailing, jet-skiing, banana boating, and more. You’ll also have access to boat tours that’ll take you on a sightseeing journey around the other undeveloped islands.

Anantara is another developed resort, located on the South American island, and the only resort in the Dubai World Islands that offers overnight stays. Again, you can catch a boat from Jumeirah throughout the day. This unique destination offers dramatic skyline views of mainland Dubai, where you can relax and immerse yourself completely in the island lifestyle and take advantage of the complimentary high-speed WiFi, private resident-only beach access, beach views, a swimming pool, and even learn the art of mixing your own cocktails with the local mixologist.

Anantara offers a few other unique experiences that include culinary exploration. You can cultivate your inner chef with a guided masterclass in preparing authentic regional dishes, including finding ways to bring out the flavour of each dish by blending spices and learning skills that you can take home with you. The cinema under the stars is an open-air theatre, where you can relax into comfortable bean bags alongside loved ones, with a backdrop of the ocean and stars. A ticket for the cinema includes popcorn, a gourmet snack, and a drink of your choice.

Watch also: The best things to do in Dubai

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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