The Palm, Jumeirah ready in November

'We are on schedule to meet our contract delivery date, contrary to some media reports. But have perhaps suffered from some over-optimistic sales talk,' he explained.

'My focus now is on delivering this major project. The land reclamation is 100% complete, and we will add the 76 kilometres of beach in about three months time. There has been some confusion about this, and the Palm will look very different with its beaches in place. But rather like the sand in the bunker on a golf course, this is the last thing you do.'

Mr. Wilson has also had some success in convincing hotel chains to get on with building their properties, rather than to wait until residents have moved in, and eight out of 32 hotel developments sold on the Palm are under construction.

Hotels in two years

'It will be another two years before the first hotels open,' he added. There will be 25 of these hotels on The Crescent, an 11.5 kilometer breakwater than surrounds The Palm, and this includes the 1,500-room Atlantis Hotel at the furthest point from the shore and the Fairmont hotel and serviced-apartments.

'We have built a cut-and-cover tunnel from The Trunk to The Crescent which will run under water, and so access will be by road, monorail or ferry.'

Nakheel's CEO also revealed a second joint venture project with Donald Trump: the 1,000-apartment Village Centre with three floors of retailing at the end of the trunk. This development will be completed in December 2008 and also have a dedicated monorail station like the already announced Trump Tower.

It is clear that Nakheel has been rattled by some adverse press criticism about The Palm, and is now concentrating on making this iconic project a major success for Dubai. Given that comments about beaches being washed away are based on a simple misunderstanding, the record does need to be put straight.

Road traffic studies

Mr. Wilson also answered questions from the audience about traffic studies and the environment. He stressed that after three traffic studies the last modifications to infrastructure plans were made 14 months ago and that he was convinced that traffic would not be a problem for The Palm.

'As far as the marine environment is concerned, The Crescent is the largest artificial coral reef in the world, and is a magnet for marine life. We are creating a haven for the marine environment. I am a diver myself and The Palm is teaming with fish of every kind.'

Whatever happens in November, the world is watching progress on The Palm, Jumeriah and its builders obviously appreciate the need to deliver and are getting on with the job.