Dubai World Sinking

When Dubai’s ‘World’ project was launched in 2003 it was hoped that celebrities and the super-rich would snap up the three hundred artificial islands depicting a map of the globe. Nakheel Properties took just five years to create the foundations from 11billion cubic feet of sand and 47 million tonnes of rock. However, now it looks as if the project will never be completed. The islands seem to be merging together, becoming eroded into the sea.

 

 

In 2008, work on the project was put to a halt. While officially the project has just been delayed, the islands are rapidly merging together and also appear to be sinking. There is just one island with a building on it. It is questioned if the islands can not be accessed by boat due to the shallow waters.

The developers claim 60% of the islands have been sold. There were various plans for the developments, varying from luxury homes to holiday resorts or even a very luxury bar (on Monte Carlo).

 

Dubai's development has long been criticized by environmental activists, who say the construction of artificial islands hurts coral reefs and even shifts water currents. They point to growing water and power consumption.