OQYANA finalizes concept design for the Australasian continent of The World islands project

OQYANA-WORLD FIRST, the first fully master-planned elite island community of the prestigious 'The World' islands development off the coast of Dubai, has announced June 18, 2007 that it has initiated the final design phase of the revolutionary project following a two-day kick-off meeting in Dubai attended by over 50 consultants from all over the world.

Renowned international consultants and specialists from various fields of expertise will work on the final project creation of the OQYANA-WORLD FIRST, which will cover the continent of Australasia on The World islands, stressing on best practices and measures to maintain ecological and structural sustainability, ensure privacy and security, and enhance the luxurious OQYANA lifestyle.

OQYANA has been a product of a global consortium of the best international developers and the most prominent organizations in engineering, architecture, transportation, landscaping, environment, and other areas critical to the project. The high-profile meeting was organized in line with the company's commitment to create a luxuriously vibrant, healthy and secure marine-themed environment that caters to a range of individual and family orientations. Every minor detail in the design and development of the project was discussed during the meeting to ensure the delivery of the brand promise of a haven for comfortable living, leisure and relaxation.

Among the consultants at the two-day event was the lead master planner and architectural consultant Global Design Collaborative (GDC), which represents a consortium of consultants that includes Belt Collins, Hirsch Bedner, ThinkGDC and GDP, who collectively will design the hospitality and villas. World-leading architectural firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum Inc. (HOK) will focus on residential and commercial functions. Lead infrastructure and engineering consultant is Scott Wilson, which has a strong background in environmental and natural resources projects; and Engineering Consulting Group (ECG), a well-known regional architectural and engineering firm, will be responsible for the Architect of Record and development of Construction Documents.

Another member of the technical team that attended the meeting was Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI), the consultant and specialist for water quality. A consortium involving Royal Haskoning and DutchDocklands also attended the event as it will produce the feasibility study for construction methodology for the services island, terminals, water homes and commercial and cultural platform.

The sessions focused on presenting the technical methods and tools required and included a site visit to the islands for a more detailed understanding of the project, whose reclamation status is now at 80 percent in 'Oqyana World First'. The technical team also analyzed the various elements of the project to determine their quality and practicability. Participants reported that the high-level exchange of ideas and the cooperative spirit at the workshop gave them tremendous insight into the development of the project.

OQYANA is The World's closest development to the mainland, giving residents the best views of Dubai. To enhance its chic ocean lifestyle, OQYANA offers a mixture of sea-view luxury apartments with panoramic ocean and harbour vistas, secluded homes linked to islands via water bridges, exquisite canal homes and beachfront villas and mansions.

Comprising 20 man-made islands over a total area exceeding 1.8 million square meters, OQYANA's other luxury features are upscale retail and community facilities, luxury hotel and spa resort, entertainment facilities, and high-end restaurants and cafes.