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'''The World''' or '''World Islands''' is an [[Artificial island|artificial]] [[archipelago]] [[synecdoche]] of various small [[island]]s constructed in the rough shape of a [[world map]], located {{Convert|4.0|km|mi}} off the coast of [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name="Progress Update">{{cite web|url= http://www.ameinfo.com/133896.html |publisher= ''[[AMEInfo]]'' |title= Dubai's Palm and World Islands - progress update |date= 2007-10-04 |accessdate=2008-02-02}}</ref> The World islands are composed mainly of sand [[dredging|dredged]] from Dubai's shallow coastal waters, and are one of several [[artificial island]] developments in Dubai.<ref name="Progress Update"/> The World's developer is [[Nakheel Properties]], and the project was originally conceived by [[Sheikh]] [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], the ruler of Dubai.
'''The World''' or '''World Islands''' is an [[Artificial island|artificial]] [[archipelago]] [[synecdoche]] of various small [[island]]s constructed in the rough shape of a [[world map]], located {{Convert|4.0|km|mi}} off the coast of [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name="Progress Update">{{cite web|url= http://www.ameinfo.com/133896.html |publisher= ''[[AMEInfo]]'' |title= Dubai's Palm and World Islands - progress update |date= 2007-10-04 |accessdate=2008-02-02}}</ref> The World islands are composed mainly of sand [[dredging|dredged]] from Dubai's shallow coastal waters, and are one of several [[artificial island]] developments in Dubai.<ref name="Progress Update"/> The World's developer is [[Nakheel Properties]], and the project was originally conceived by [[Sheikh]] [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], the ruler of Dubai.


Construction of the 300 islands began in 2003, only to halt due to the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref name="Sinking">{{cite news|title='The World' is sinking|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/international/4594274/The-World-is-sinking|accessdate=28 January 2011|newspaper=The Age|date=28 January 2011}}</ref> Though 60 percent of the islands had been sold off to private contractors back in 2008, development on most of these islands has failed to initiate.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2529539/Building-work-restart-Dubais-artificial-World-islands-emirate-finally-starts-recover-effects-economic-meltdown.html |title= "Work to restart on Dubai's artificial World islands as the emirate finally begins to recover from economic meltdown" |last1= Smith |first1= Jennifer|date= 26 December 2013 |website= http://www.dailymail.co.uk|publisher= Associated Newspapers Ltd|accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref> As of late 2013, only two of the islands had been developed. In January, 2014, Kleindienst Group's JK Properties announced the launch of "The Heart of Europe" project; <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jk-properties.com/newsletters/january2014/ |title= "KLEINDIENST GROUP LAUNCHES ICONIC THE HEART OF EUROPE PROJECT"|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= January, 2014 |website=http://www.jk-properties.com/ |publisher= JK Properties |accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref> by February, 2014, JK Properties' monthly newsletter announced that the project was was "well underway". <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jk-properties.com/newsletters/february2014/ |title= "WORK CONTINUES TO PROGRESS AT A PACE ON THE HEART OF EUROPE" |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= February, 2014 |website= http://www.jk-properties.com/ |publisher= JK Properties |accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref> The first of these series of islands will be Germany, with development led by Kleindienst Properties.
Construction of the 300 islands began in 2003, only to halt due to the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref name="Sinking">{{cite news|title='The World' is sinking|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/international/4594274/The-World-is-sinking|accessdate=28 January 2011|newspaper=The Age|date=28 January 2011}}</ref> Though 60 percent of the islands had been sold off to private contractors back in 2008, development on most of these islands has failed to initiate.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2529539/Building-work-restart-Dubais-artificial-World-islands-emirate-finally-starts-recover-effects-economic-meltdown.html |title= "Work to restart on Dubai's artificial World islands as the emirate finally begins to recover from economic meltdown" |last1= Smith |first1= Jennifer|date= 26 December 2013 |website= http://www.dailymail.co.uk|publisher= Associated Newspapers Ltd|accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref> As of late 2013, only two of the islands had been developed. In January, 2014, Kleindienst Group's JK Properties announced the launch of "The Heart of Europe" project; <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jk-properties.com/newsletters/january2014/ |title= "KLEINDIENST GROUP LAUNCHES ICONIC THE HEART OF EUROPE PROJECT"|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= January, 2014 |website=http://www.jk-properties.com/ |publisher= JK Properties |accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref> by February, 2014, JK Properties' monthly newsletter announced that the project was "well underway". <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jk-properties.com/newsletters/february2014/ |title= "WORK CONTINUES TO PROGRESS AT A PACE ON THE HEART OF EUROPE" |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= February, 2014 |website= http://www.jk-properties.com/ |publisher= JK Properties |accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref> The first of these series of islands will be Germany, with development led by Kleindienst Properties.


==Project==
==Project==

Revision as of 10:33, 21 March 2014

The World
Map
Geography
LocationU.A.E
ArchipelagoThe World
Administration
The development's logo

The World or World Islands is an artificial archipelago synecdoche of various small islands constructed in the rough shape of a world map, located 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi) off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[1] The World islands are composed mainly of sand dredged from Dubai's shallow coastal waters, and are one of several artificial island developments in Dubai.[1] The World's developer is Nakheel Properties, and the project was originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

Construction of the 300 islands began in 2003, only to halt due to the 2008 financial crisis.[2] Though 60 percent of the islands had been sold off to private contractors back in 2008, development on most of these islands has failed to initiate.[3] As of late 2013, only two of the islands had been developed. In January, 2014, Kleindienst Group's JK Properties announced the launch of "The Heart of Europe" project; [4] by February, 2014, JK Properties' monthly newsletter announced that the project was "well underway". [5] The first of these series of islands will be Germany, with development led by Kleindienst Properties.

Project

Islands in the archipelago range from 14,000 to 42,000 square metres (150,000 to 450,000 sq ft) in area.[1] Distances between islands average 100 metres (330 ft); they are constructed from 321 million cubic metres of sand and 386 million tons of rock.[1] The entire development is an area that covers 6 by 9 kilometres (3.7 by 5.6 mi) and is surrounded by an oval-shaped breakwater island. Roughly 232 km (144 mi) of shoreline was created. The World's overall development costs were estimated at $14 billion USD in 2005.

History

The project was unveiled in May 2003 by Sheikh Mohammed[6] and dredging began four months later in September 2003.[6] By January 2008, 60% of the islands were sold, 20 of which were bought in the first four months of 2007.[1][6] On 10 January 2008 the final stone on the breakwater was laid, completing development of the archipelago.[6] As of July 2012, a second island, the Lebanon Island was developed and was 'the only island that has so far been developed commercially, is used for private corporate events and public parties.' [7]

Project difficulties

The Times Online reported in September 2009 that work on The World had been suspended due to the effects of the global financial crisis.[8][9] And in February 2010 the Daily Mail reported that the islands had started sinking back into the sea.[10] This was later denied by Nakheel and independent technical reports as wholly inaccurate.[11] Despite the denial, The Daily Telegraph reported in January 2011 that an independent company, Penguin Marine, provided verification on the erosion of the islands and the silting of the passage ways between the islands.[12] Due to finance and technical problems Penguin Marine, the company contracted to provide transportation to the archipelago, is attempting to get out of the annual fees of $1.6 million paid to Nakheel properties.[12]

As of early 2011, only one of the islands had been occupied by a building (a show home) on it,[2] and commercial or residential properties were not currently being constructed on any of the other islands. Property prices in the Emirates had fallen 58 percent from their peak in the fourth quarter of 2008.[13] The world economic recovery from the "Great Recession" which has benefited the super-wealthy has resulted in a rebound for the Dubai real estate market: it has been reported that "residential prices [in Dubai] rose by 17.9% from August 2012 to 2013, while rents soared by 14.9% in the same period." [14]

Purchase and development plans

The World 2010 (airview)

The World was serviced by four major transportation hubs linked by waterways. Land parcels are zoned for various uses: estate, mid density, high density, resorts and commercial.[15] A Dubai Infinity Holdings construction planner has stated that developers have been negotiating with Nakheel about temporary siting of a cement batching plant on one of the islands to supply subdivided construction.[16]

Utilities are routed underwater, with water plants at each of the hubs pumping fresh water to the islands. Power is supplied by the Dubai Grid and distributed through underwater cables. Waste water and refuse systems are an individual concern for each island.[15]

Nakheel Group is itself further developing a resort named Coral Island over 20 islands that make up the North American part of The World. The low-rise development will include a marina and hotel village.[17] The second largest confirmed development is the purchase of 14 islands that make up Australia and New Zealand by Investment Dar of Kuwait. The islands are being terraformed to be developed as a resort named OQYANA.[18] Irish business consortium Larionovo had plans to develop the Ireland island into an Irish-themed resort.[19] The plans include a large internal marina, apartments and villas, a gym, hotel, and an Irish-themed pub. In July 2007 it was announced that the Ireland Island would feature a recreation of Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway. However on 25 November 2008 a provisional liquidator was appointed to Larionovo.[20]

In April 2008, Salya Corporation announced that it had acquired the islands of Finland and Brunei in The World and planned to develop them into fashion-themed resorts. Salya spent about Dh800 million ($218 million USD) to purchase the islands and plans to spend a further Dh2.4 billion ($654 million USD) on development. Brunei Island will be turned into a Fashion TV resort and Finland Island will be turned into a fashion community called FTV palace.[21]

The islands of Great Britain and Moscow on The World were acquired by Premier Real Estate Bureau in the Summer of 2008. The news was leaked in a Daily Mail article of January 2009, refuting claims that Great Britain was owned by Irish investor John O'Dolan, Richard Branson or Rod Stewart.[22] Safi Qurashi, the one-time multi-millionaire entrepreneur [23] at the head of Premier and his business partner Mustafa Nagri, paid an estimated $64 million USD for the 11-acre (45,000 m2) piece of land; he was later convicted for non-payment of cheques and sentenced to seven years in jail.[24] The Irish businessman John O'Dolan, who purchased the "Ireland" island, committed suicide in February 2009, after his consortium fell into financial difficulty.[25]

Timeline of construction

See also: List of Developments on The World Islands
Undeveloped islands on 1 May 2007
  • May 2003: The World development was announced by Nakheel, total completion scheduled for 2008. It was initially to have 200 islands and an area of 60,000,000 square feet (5,600,000 m2).[26]
  • February 2004: It was announced that The World would comprise 260 islands, and its area would be 6 km by 9 km, with an area of 250 - 900,000 square feet (84,000 m2) for each island, with 50–100 meters of water between each island.[26]
  • August 2004: It was announced that land reclamation would cost at AED 7.3 billion ($2 billion).[26]
  • April 2005: Sand dredging 55 percent complete, 88 islands had been completed.[26]
  • 30 March 2006: Richard Branson appeared at a media conference on the Great Britain island. However, this was to announce direct London-to-Dubai flights by Virgin Atlantic, and was not related to his investing in the project.[27]
  • October 2006: Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher was presented with one of the islands by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the occasion of his final Grand Prix, in Brazil. Schumacher's manager Willi Weber, suggested, "Perhaps he'll build a kart racing track on [the island].[26]
  • December 2006: The World reclamation 90 percent complete.[26]
  • October 2007: Nakheel announced the sale of Ireland, and Shanghai in October 2007.[26]
  • 15 November 2007: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were reported to have purchased the island Ethiopia. This has since been denied by the couple.[26]
  • January 2008: The World breakwater is completed.[26]
  • 19 February 2008: Cinnovation Group acquired a 37,000-square-metre (400,000 sq ft) island as part of a project valued at $200 million USD. Guest and residential villas and a hospitality complex are planned.[28]
Artificial archipelagos, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 25 February 2008: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre announced that it will establish a 6,000-square-metre (65,000 sq ft) pearling and marine entertainment center in association with Paspaley Pearling Corporation. It will be located on an island in the Antarctic region of The World.[29]
  • September 2008: Dubai's Limitless announced plans to develop a $161 million USD wellness resort on an island in "Siberia". Pearl Dubai paid $27.2 million USD for a 1,600,000-square-foot (150,000 m2) island nearby.[30]
  • October 2009: An Emirates Business report on 13 October 2009 that 2 islands were sold in July and August 2009.[26]
  • 28 December 2008: Turkey island was bought by Turkey's MNG Holdings in June 2008 for $19 million USD.[30]
  • 28 December 2008: China's Zhongzhou International announced that it will be developing a hotel resort on Shanghai island.[30]
  • 28 December 2008: Nakheel said 70 percent of The World had been sold.[26]
  • December 2009: Dubai based Kleindienst Group said they would start construction of the Heart of Europe in early 2010, according to a press report of 17 December 2009. Islands include Austria, Germany, Netherlands, St Petersburg, Sweden and Switzerland.[26]
  • January 2010: On 28 January 2010 Emirates Business reported that Major Trade had started development of their projects on an island in the Greenland area, a villa and hotel resort.[26]
  • 23 February 2010: Dubai-based Kleindienst Group started work on the Germany island of The World, according to a press release on 24 February 2010.[31]
The World islands map, annotated with existing developments
  • 17 July 2012: The Royal Island Beach Club opened on Lebanon Island.
  • 6 May 2013: Nakheel announces that an out of court settlement has been reached between itself and developer Kleindienst Group, allowing construction on "The Heart of Europe" to resume. [32]
  • 10 June 2013: Construction began on the island Taiwan.[33]
  • 2 July 2013: Nakheel announces that settlements "with Sao Paulo Development Ltd for Sao Paulo Island and a GCC investor for the purchase of Nord Island", totaling "AED185 million", along with the earlier out of court settlement with Kleindienst Group (valued at AED622 million) have "put The World back on the map". [34]
  • 10 December 2013: Nakheel announced plans to connect the islands with a road.[35]
  • January 2014: Kleindeinst Group's JK Properties announces that "[w]ork has commenced on The Heart of Europe".[36]
  • January 2014: Website "The Heart of Europe" publishes monthly construction updates for the project. [37]
  • February 2014: JK Properties announces that "THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEART OF EUROPE ISLANDS IS NOW WELL UNDERWAY"[38]


See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The World.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Dubai's Palm and World Islands - progress update". AMEInfo. 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2008-02-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b "'The World' is sinking". The Age. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  3. ^ Smith, Jennifer (26 December 2013). ""Work to restart on Dubai's artificial World islands as the emirate finally begins to recover from economic meltdown"". http://www.dailymail.co.uk. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  4. ^ ""KLEINDIENST GROUP LAUNCHES ICONIC THE HEART OF EUROPE PROJECT"". http://www.jk-properties.com/. JK Properties. January, 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |website= (help)
  5. ^ ""WORK CONTINUES TO PROGRESS AT A PACE ON THE HEART OF EUROPE"". http://www.jk-properties.com/. JK Properties. February, 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |website= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d "The World islands in Dubai complete". ArabianBusiness.com. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-02-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/the-world-is-back-on-dubais-map
  8. ^ McLean, James (September 12, 2009). "Credit crunch signals end of The World for Dubai's multi-billion dollar property deal". London: Times Online UK. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  9. ^ Johann Hari (2009-04-07). "The dark side of Dubai". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  10. ^ Bates, Claire (2010-02-02), "Is it the end of the world? Nasa picture suggests Dubai globe is sinking back into the sea", Daily Mail, London, retrieved 2010-04-07 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ^ Shane McGinley (2010-02-04). "Island owners hit back at 'sinking' claims". arabianbusiness. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  12. ^ a b Spencer, Richard (2011-01-20). "The World is sinking: Dubai islands 'falling into the sea'". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  13. ^ "The End of The World". Kompas.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  14. ^ "JK Properties Monthly Newsletter (Nov. 2013) "A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR DUBAI'S PROPERTY MARKET"". http://www.jk-properties.com. JK Properties. November 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  15. ^ a b Nakheel. "The World Video Gallery".
  16. ^ The National Newspaper. "'The World' three-quarters sold out".
  17. ^ "Nakheel unveils super-luxury resort at Coral Island of The World". National Media Council UAE. 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  18. ^ "Nakheel sells Australasia segment of The World". AsiaTravelTips.com. 2005-04-13. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  19. ^ "The Island of Ireland". Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  20. ^ "Larionovo".
  21. ^ "World's Finland and Brunei to be hub of fashion". Emirates Business 24/7. 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  22. ^ Delgado, Martin (2009-01-17). "Homesick Balham boy buys Britain-shaped island for £43m". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  23. ^ Leftly, Mark. Anger over pay is just the free market in action, The Independent 10 June 2012
  24. ^ Syal, Rajeev (2010-07-23). "Owner of Dubai's 'little Britain' jailed for non-payment of cheques". The Guardian. London.
  25. ^ McLean, James; McDonald, Brian (September 12, 2009), "Extravagant Dubai island project sinks under weight of the credit crunch", Irish Independent, retrieved 2010-04-07
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Dubai FAQs. "The World Dubai". Dubaifaqs.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  27. ^ smh (2006-03-30). "Sir Richard Branson 'Stakes his Claim' on The World in Dubai". Asiatraveltips.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  28. ^ "Cinnovation acquires Nova Island on The World (UAE/SG)". Europe-re.com. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  29. ^ "Dubai unveils 'Pearls of Arabia' at The World | DMCC". AMEinfo.com. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  30. ^ a b c 04:14AM - Saturday (2012-06-06). "'The World' three-quarters sold out - The National". Thenational.ae. Retrieved 2012-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ "First developer breaks ground on The World | Real Estate". AMEinfo.com. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  32. ^ ""The World LLC settles with Kleindienst Properties"". http://www.nakheel.com. Nakheel PJSC. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  33. ^ http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/dubai-s-the-world-construction-on-taiwan-begins-post-ramadan-2013-06-10-1.509715
  34. ^ ""Settlements worth AED807 million put The World back on the map"". http://www.nakheel.com. Nakheel PJSC. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  35. ^ http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-25515-road-could-be-built-to-man-made-world-development/#.UsrFm2SzAa4
  36. ^ "JK Properties Monthly Newsletter (January 2014), "KLEINDIENST GROUP LAUNCHES ICONIC THE HEART OF EUROPE PROJECT"". http://www.jk-properties.com. JK Properties. January 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  37. ^ "The Heart of Europe - Construction Updates". http://www.thoe.com. The Heart of Europe. January 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  38. ^ "JK Properties Newsletter (February 2014), "THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEART OF EUROPE ISLANDS IS NOW WELL UNDERWAY"". http://www.jk-properties.com. JK Properties. February 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)

External links

25°13′00″N 55°10′00″E / 25.21667°N 55.16667°E / 25.21667; 55.16667

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