Islands reshaping the 'World' map of the UAE

Three of the emirates are taking their own distinctive approaches to property on man-made (and natural) islands.

Abu Dhabi's 6.2m square meter Al Reem Island is the only natural island among those projects underway in the UAE, making work easier for developers than is the case with Nakheel, developer of Dubai World Islands, and Al Hanoo, developer of Sharjah Nujoom Islands.

Covering an area of 68 million square feet, Al Reem Island will be connected to Abu Dhabi through two or three bridges, and consist of three main parts; 60 per cent developed by Tamouh, 20 per cent by Reem Developers, and 20 per cent by Sorouh. All parts will form a complete community within 15 years.

The Pearl

Tamouh's Pearl of the Emirates, set for completion by 2009, will have a Marina Square consisting of 70 per cent residential and 30 per cent commercial areas. According to the developer, this is a multi purpose phase that will offer a shopping arcade, eight Cineplex, retail outlets, restaurants, a marina, a five star hotel, private beach access and sports facilities. It will also be equipped with clinics, mosques, parks, and day-care centres.

The Addax Port, also in the Pearl, will include five of the project's 15 towers, including Office Tower, Park Tower, Marina Tower, Executive Tower, and Light Tower.

The company has recently announced that work is proceeding on schedule and will be completed by December 2009. This was crowned by signing a deal with the Movenpick Hotels in June to build the Marina Square's five star hotel with a capacity of 406 rooms.

Najmat Abu Dhabi

Located at the south-east entrance of Al Reem Island, Najmat Abu Dhabi is the flagship project of Reem Developers stretching over 1.4 million square meters. Upon its completion in 2012, this $8bn waterfront community will accommodate 50,000 people offering them in addition to houses some schools, health facilities, public parks and one marina linked by a canal connecting the whole development.

In March 2007, the first phase grading work was fully completed while the company declared that the excavation work of the three marinas was ahead of schedule. Apart from that, not many updates have been released since then.

Shams Abu Dhabi

Coming to Sorouh's Shams Abu Dhabi, this is mainly a residential development over an area of 14.2 million square feet to be finalised by 2011. In numbers, 90 per cent of the project will be for residential use, while 10 per cent will be dedicated for commercial and recreational use. One hundred skyscrapers plus 22 residential units will be built, in addition to one million square meters of parkland. It will house 100,000 people.

Earlier this month, Sorouh awarded a $127m contract to Al Geemi and partners to build the road and utilities infrastructure at the project. The company said work is on schedule, with the first phase due for completion in 2009.

Shaping the world

In Dubai, Nakheel is shaping 'The World' in 300 man-made islands over an approximate space of 300,000 square feet separated by 100 meters each.

Islands in the project are designed to cater for the needs of different uses. There is the low density islands located at the perimeter of the masterplan ensuring maximum privacy, Resort islands located near the marinas are suitable for hotel and resort developments, and mid-high density islands that will be a mix of residential and commercial communities.

Canals will allow access to all islands, and ships up to 200 feet high will be able to navigate them.

Ninety per cent of land reclamation is completed and investors are expected to start construction by 2008. According to figures released in May 2007, 45 per cent of the project has been sold. Some owner names have been kept under wraps, but for Ethiopia, Brangelina were happy to say that they will use the island to highlight environmental issues.

In October, Chinese businessman, Bin Hu, bought the Shanghai Island for $28m and said he would bid for another five that represent China (Macao, Beijing, Huainan, Nanjing, and Hong Kong). Chinese developers now own four of the World islands, including Beijing.

Reaching to 'Nujoom'

Meaning 'Stars' in English, Nujoom was launched recently by the Saudi Al Hanoo Holding, to be the first of its kind in Sharjah. The three-phase project is located on the Hamriya Coastline in Sharjah covering an area of 60 million square feet.

The company says the project has to offer residential, commercial and tourist attraction with modern facilities, such as schools, hospitals, shopping malls, cinemas, theaters, gyms, entertainment centers, tourist lounges and hotels, besides a modern land and sea transportation network that will connect these islands with rest of the country.

When asked about the cost of the project, Fheid Al Shakra, CEO of Al Hanoo Holding, said that the cost of the first phase will be $4.9bn. The other two phases are under study.

The first phase, to be completed within five years from now, forms just over one third of the project and includes 70 residential and commercial towers, 350 town houses, 320 villas, one five star hotel, a mall, and other facilities.

The islands were designed by digging water canals in the desert and then circulating water into them, a different approach that of Nakheel's World, which is being done through land reclamation. Today, 79 per cent of the digging and land settlement work has been completed and according to Al Shakra. Once completed in few months, investors will be able to buy into the project.

See also:
Video: A world of islands
Dubai's Palm and World Islands - progress update