UAE Islands and Archipelagos; 10 Artificial Archipelago Islands in Dubai, Abu Dhabi

UAE Islands and Archipelagos off the coasts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the world’s largest artificial islands under construction. Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Deira Islands, and The World Islands are among them. The United Arab Emirates’ most populous city and emirate is Dubai. The city is a popular destination for wealthy tourists, and the islands were built to create more coastal real estate.

UAE Islands and Archipelagos

The construction of the UAE Islands and Archipelagos began in 2001, but only Palm Jumeirah has been completed to date. Palm Jumeirah is one of the world’s largest artificial islands, covering over 1,380 acres (5.6 square kilometers / 2.2 square miles). These are just a few examples of creative land reclamation in the UAE. Bluewaters Island, home to the Dubai Eye, the world’s largest observation wheel, and the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, a world-famous luxury hotel built on its own artificial island, are two other major projects in Dubai. Besides, an artificial archipelago of various small islands.

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The Artificial Islands in Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Emir of Dubai is the driving force behind these massive projects, which are intended to boost tourism and expand Dubai’s coastline. So, sets of islands is an artificial archipelago come to be by dredging sand from the floors of the Persian and Arabian Gulf in a process, known as land reclamation, then the sand was sprayed and vibro-compacted into shape with GPS precision, surrounded by millions of tons of rock for protection.

Dubai may have the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s largest indoor theme park, and soon the world’s first rotating skyscraper, but the city’s man-made archipelagos, Palm Jumeirah, Deira Islands, Palm Jebel Ali, The World, and Bluewaters Island, are most impressive.

Challenges of Construction

The construction of these man-made islands archipelago is a massive undertaking. The archipelago of islands constructed is formed by dredging sand from the gulf and re-depositing it. The Palm Jumeirah was built without using any concrete or steel. Only millions of cubic meters of dredged sand and locally quarried rock were used for the archipelago of small artificial islands constructed.

Erosion and liquefaction are two of the construction’s challenges. Furthermore, Gulf currents are now flowing around the structures, eroding the Dubai coastline in previously unaffected areas.

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The Palm Jumeirah Island

The Palm Jumeirah was designed to resemble a palm tree. A crescent-shaped structure surrounds the palm and serves as a breakwater. To allow for water circulation, two gaps were cut in the crescent. Rows of luxury villas have been built on the palm’s 17 fronds, and numerous hotels and resorts have been built on the crescent. The palm trunk is home to a mix of retail stores, apartments, and hotels.

The Atlantis is the largest hotel built on Palm Jumeirah thus far. At the top of the crescent, the hotel, and adjacent water park take up over 113 acres of land. The hotel, which opened in 2008, has 65,000 marine animals in its aquarium, a bay, and a lagoon where guests can interact with dolphins, over 20 restaurants and bars, high-end boutiques, a large spa, underwater suites, and more.

Palm Jumeirah is home to over 10,000 people. It is currently one of the world’s largest man-made islands. The Palm Jumeirah and other man-made islands in the Persian Gulf are best seen from above and are popular subjects for aerial and astronaut photography.

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

The Burj Al Arab, which opened in 1999, is a luxurious 5-star hotel built on its own artificial island. The interior design is stunning. The world’s tallest atrium features a large fountain that shoots water more than 42 meters into the air. The hotel used over 30 different types of marble, some of which were imported from Italy and Brazil.

The amount of gold gilded on walls, columns, staircases, fixtures, and more draws most people’s attention; there is even a gold-plated elevator. The interior is covered in approximately 1,790 square meters of 24-karat gold leaf. This amount of gold weighs about 180.4 troy ounces and was worth $52,361 in 1999. This is a lot of money, however, the labor to carefully install all the gold leaf was most likely much more expensive than the gold itself.

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Palm Jebel Ali

The Palm Jebel Ali is shaped similarly to the Palm Jumeirah, but it is approximately 50% larger. Satellite images show the palm and crescent structures, but since construction was halted in 2008, the islands have remained mostly undeveloped. The global financial crisis in 2008 had an impact on many businesses, including property developers in Dubai.

The real estate market crashed as a result of the crisis, and developers such as Nakheel, the company behind the Palm Islands and The World Archipelagos, could no longer afford to build. In 2018, Nakheel’s CEO stated that the Palm Jebel Ali is a long-term project that will be revisited in the future.

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The World islands

The World Islands are a group of 300 islands arranged in the shape of a map of the Earth’s continents. Each of these islands is supposed to represent a different country or region. These islands have seen some development.

The first island to be transformed was a Greenland island given to racing driver Michael Schumacher in 2006. Lebanon Island has since been commercially developed and is now used for corporate events and parties. Sweden, Monaco, the Netherlands, St. Petersburg, and Honeymoon Island are among the islands that make up the Heart of Europe.

A portion of Clarence Island has been developed in the South American region and is home to the Antara World Islands Dubai Resort. The five-star resort features a private beach, five restaurants, a gym, a spa, and 70 luxurious rooms, suites, and villas. In addition, a number of “Floating Seahorse” villas have been completed and are for sale.

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Deira Islands

When construction on the Deira Islands was halted in 2008, it was in its early stages. The original plan for Palm Deira was to create another set of artificial islands in the shape of a palm tree. It was intended to be the largest of the three palms, roughly eight times larger than the Palm Jumeirah.

Despite the fact that land reclamation and palm construction have been halted, the southwestern portion of the base structure is being developed to house the world’s largest night souk, a marketplace or bazaar where people can shop for food, spices, clothing, textiles, crafts, jewelry, housewares, and almost anything else you can imagine.

There are several other artificial islands near the Deira Islands, but the Deira Islands contain the most man-made structures, including Port Rashid, Maritime City, Pearl Jumeirah, and the early stages of La Mer.

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Bluewaters Island

Bluewaters Island is yet another artificial island in Dubai. Hotels, residential buildings, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and other amenities can be found on the island. Ain Dubai is the most notable feature of Bluewaters Island. It is the world’s tallest and largest Ferris wheel, standing 250 meters tall. It features 48 spacious observation pods from which visitors can enjoy views of Dubai’s skyline and coastline. Bluewaters Island is now open to the public.

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Islands of Abu Dhabi

It began as a small island settlement discovered by passing antelope and has since grown into a bustling, cosmopolitan metropolis. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is a fascinating archipelago of over 200 islands, many of which are accessible to visitors. There are numerous discoveries to be made in Abu Dhabi, ranging from wildlife to watersports, mangrove forests to historical landmarks, and more, whether you’re traveling alone or with the family.

The city of Abu Dhabi is located on an island 250 meters (820 feet) from the mainland. With so many islands to explore, it has a number of bridges connecting it to the mainland and other islands, including Saadiyat Island and Reem Island.

Sir Bani Yas Island

Sir Bani Yas Island, about 250 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, is one of eight islands that make up the desert islands of Al Dhafra, and it is home to the incredible Arabian Wildlife Park, a wildlife reserve with over 17,000 free-roaming animals.

Mountain bike through sandy wadis (valleys), riding horses, or visiting a centuries-old Christian monastery are other options. If you want to stay longer, three Anantara resorts on the island offer ultimate five-star luxury.

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Al Maryah Island

This island is a key business and leisure destination in Abu Dhabi. Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi are here, as are luxury boutiques and a waterfront pedestrian promenade with stunning sunset views. The Abu Dhabi Global Market, which is located here, is quickly becoming an important business hub in the emirate.

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Zaya Nurai Island

The remote and private Zaya Nurai Island is only a 15-minute boat ride from Abu Dhabi city, with glittering turquoise waters, powder white sand beaches, lush landscapes, and five-star luxury accommodations with never-ending views of the Arabian Gulf. The boutique Zaya Nurai Island Resort has a 32-bed all-villa hotel, a luxurious spa, and five fabulous restaurants, as well as watersports and land-based activities.

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Yas Island

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s premier entertainment and family destination, has it all. Its thrilling theme parks include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (home to the world’s fastest roller coaster), Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Golfers will enjoy a round on the championship par 72 Yas Links Abu Dhabi golf course, while Formula 1 fans will enjoy driving a high-performance car around Yas Marina Circuit.

You can enjoy the sun and thrilling watersports at the pristine Yas Beach, or you can experience the rush of record-breaking indoor skydiving and climbing at the family-friendly CLYMB. Indulge in a shopping spree at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi’s largest luxury mall, or unwind at one of the nearby five-star luxury hotels, such as the edgy W Abu Dhabi.

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Dalma Island

Dalma Island is a historical pearl-diving island that is known as one of the earliest sites of human habitation in the UAE. Take a ferry from Marsa Jebel Al Dhanna port to the island. The fortified home of a pearl merchant, Mohammed Bin Jassim Al-Meraikhi, is an interesting place to visit. It is thought to have been built in 1931 out of beach stone and coral.

Saadiyat Island

This island serves as Abu Dhabi’s cultural center. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, which houses over 500 artworks and artifacts celebrating world history and religion, and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi are both easily accessible by car. You’d be surprised to learn that prestigious institutions NYU Abu Dhabi and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi are also located on Saadiyat Island.

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The UAE Islands and Archipelagos have expanded the coastline available to tourists. Dubai is known for its sunny weather and beaches, but more than 72 kilometers (45 miles) of coastline were required to meet the goal of tripling the number of tourists to 15 million per year. The solution was to build a massive palm-shaped island, which, when completed in 2006, added 56 km (35 miles) to the coastline. The island is intended to be a city in and of itself, with shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and residential properties.