23 per cent water in the total area of Jumeirah Islands makes a one-of-a-kind real estate project globally

The ratio is said to be the highest in the world for a project of this scale.

Nakheel, developers of Jumeirah Islands, announced today that work for the lakes and canals was progressing as per schedule. Using cutting edge engineering technology, Nakheel has already completed the work of filling of the artificial lakes with seawater that is pumped in from the Gulf, using highly advanced pumping and water circulation techniques.

The underground pipeline, the main source of water for the path-breaking project comprising 46 clusters of islands spread across an area of 300 hectares, pumps 400 litres of water per second. Advanced technology ensures that fresh seawater is brought into the canals to control salinity. The canal water is flushed out by gravity back into the sea through a discharge chamber at the edge of the canal.

The extensive network of artificial lakes, canals and bridges is now ready, setting the stage for the full-scale development of the signature project. The landscaping in the common areas and around the villas is underway. Sixty per cent of the construction work on villas is complete and the first of the villas would be ready for occupation in May 2005.

"Being the first of its kind in the world, the Jumeirah Islands development had to be powered by technology that meets the particular needs and lifestyles of this pace-setting waterfront community," said Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman of Nakheel. "We have used the world's best expertise to ensure that this exclusive enclave offers an out-of-this-world experience to its residents, with a focus on waterfront living that replicates the ambience associated with natural seawater."

"Jumeirah Islands will stand out as one of the most distinguished waterfront real estate projects as it professes the highest water-to-land ratio in a development surrounded by dynamic water flows as compared to any other project in the world. Out of the total area of 300 hectares, 68 hectares, or nearly 23 per cent of the project is filled with water that flows constantly ensuring clean water around the clusters throughout," added Bin Sulayem

Water circulation across the extensive network of lakes and canals is maintained through two huge pump stations. One of the pump stations transfers water at the rate of 2,000 litres per second from canal level 3.5 metres to canal level 11.0 metres. The other transfers water at the rate of 600 litres per second from canal level 3.0 metres to canal level 7.0 metres. All canals are lined using 1 mm high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner.

"The pump stations maintain constant circulation in the canals and create waterfalls at designated locations. Further, a network of Gravity Transfer lines, Equaliser connections and Re-circulation pumps are incorporated into the system to ensure there are no dead pockets in the canals. This means there is no stagnant water at any of the places," added Bin Sulayem.

Nakheel has also announced the completion of the District Cooling System at Jumeirah Islands. The system uses underground pipes to deliver high-quality cooling, offering lower power consumption to the residents.

Jumeirah Islands is an exotic, self-contained community of 50 man-made islands, located off Sheikh Zayed Road between Interchange No. 5 and 6, recreating a charming world of winding canals, cascading waterfalls, lush gardens, winding promenades and picturesque marinas.

Jumeirah Islands reflects the international influence in Dubai with distinct international architectural themes, which are portrayed in the designs of the villas. The islands are separated into clusters designed along European, Islamic, Mediterranean or Oasis themes. Each cluster comprises 16 individually styled four and five-bedroom villas. To add value to the residents' lifestyles, each villa comes with its own swimming pool and a garden area. Family and recreational activities and a selection of retail outlets are also provided to complete the picture of the ultimate waterfront community.