page_title: The World (archipelago)
section_title: Timeline of construction
hierarchical_section_title: The World (archipelago) / Timeline of construction
caption_attribution_description: العربية: مدينة دُبي هي أضخم مُدن منطقة الخليج العربي، وهي تقع في إمارةٍ تحملُ اسمها بِدولة الإمارات العربيَّة المُتحدة. حصدت المدينة سُمعة مهيبة حول العالم بِفضل مشاريعها الاقتصاديَّة والعُمرانيَّة الهائلة المُميزة التي جعلها موضع استقطابٍ كبير. من أبرز تلك المشاريع العُمرانيَّة—وبالأخص تلك التي يُمكن لِروَّاد الفضاء المُتمركزين في المحطة الفضائيَّة الدُوليَّة أن يروها—هي تلك الأرخبيلات الثلاثة بشريَّة الصُنع. تظهر جزيرتا النخيل (نخلة الجُميرة ونخلة جبل علي) وكأنهما منطبقتان على أسلوبٍ مُعيَّن عند النظر إليها من أعلى. أمَّا جُزر العالم فتستحضر خارطة العالم بالنسبة للناظر إليها من عُلوّ- أو عند التقاط صورةٍ لها من الفضاء. نخلة الجُميرة وجُزر العالم تظهرا في هذه الصورة التي التقطها الرائد الفضائي. شُرع بالعمل على جزيرة نخلة الجُميرة (أسفل اليسار) في سنة 2001 وتطلَّب إنشائها أكثر من 50 مليون متر مُكعَّب من الرمال المجروفة لِرفع الجزيرة فوق مُستوى مياه الخليج العربي. اكتُمل العمل على هذه الجزيرة في سنة 2006؛ وفي الوقت الحالي يتم تطوير كِلا الجزيرتين للاستيطان البشري عبر تزويدها بما يلزم من البُنى التحتيَّة. ابتدأ العمل على إنشاء جُزر العالم البالغ عددها 300 جزيرة (أعلى اليمين) في سنة 2003 واكتملت سنة 2008، وتطلَّبت 320 متر مُكعَّب من الرمال و37 مليون طن من الصُخور لِتشييد الحاجز كاسر الأمواج المُحيط بها والبالغ طوله 27 كيلومترًا. بالكاد تُظهرُ هذه الصورة أيَّة أعمال تطوير أو إنشاء للبُنى التحتيَّة على الجُزر سالفة الذِكر. أيضًا يظهر في الطرف السُفلي للصورة معلمٌ آخر بارز—وهو بُرج خليفة(أسفل يمين الصورة بعد تدويرها بِحوالي 90 درجة). يرتفع بُرج خليفة 800 متر (2,600 قدم)، وهو حاليًّا أطول مبنى في العالم. تُظهرُ الصُورة جُزءًا بسيطًا من البُرج يكفي للتعرُّف عليه، وهو شكله المُستدق المُخطط وكذلك ظلِّه القاتم الأشبه بالإبرة والذي يتوجَّه ناحية الشمال الشرقي. English: The municipality of Dubai is the largest city of the Persian Gulf emirate of the same name, and has built a global reputation for large-scale developments and architectural works. Among the most visible of these developments—particularly from the perspective of astronauts on board the International Space Station—are three human-made archipelagos. The two Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali) appear as stylized palm trees when viewed from above. The World Islands evoke a rough map of the world from an air- or space-borne perspective. Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands are highlighted in this astronaut photograph. Palm Jumeirah (image lower left) was begun in 2001 and required more than 50 million cubic meters of dredged sand to raise the islands above the Persian Gulf sea level. Construction of the Palm Jumeirah islands was completed in 2006; the islands are now being developed for residential and commercial housing and infrastructure. Creation of the 300 World Islands (image upper right) was begun in 2003 and completed in 2008, using 320 million cubic meters of sand and 37 million tonnes of rock for the surrounding 27-kilometer-long protective breakwater. Little to no infrastructure development of The World is apparent in this astronaut photograph. Also visible at the lower edge of the astronaut photograph is another notable structure—the Burj Khalifa (image lower right and rotated 90 degrees in inset). Burj Khalifa stands 800 meters (2,600 feet) high, and it is currently the world’s tallest structure. The astronaut photograph captures enough detail to make out the tapering outline of the building as well as its dark, needle-like shadow pointing towards the northeast. ISS Crew Earth Observations: ISS022-E-24940 Identification Mission ISS022 (Expedition 22) Roll E Frame 24940 Country or Geographic Name UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Features PALM JUMEIRA, THE WORLD I., DUBAI, COAST Center Point Latitude 25.2° N Center Point Longitude 55.1° E Camera Camera Tilt 27° Camera Focal Length 400&#160;mm Camera Nikon D2Xs Film 4288 x 2848 pixel CMOS sensor, RGBG imager color filter. Quality Percentage of Cloud Cover 0-10% Nadir What is Nadir? Date 2010-01-13 Time 10:36:12 Nadir Point Latitude 23.9° N Nadir Point Longitude 54.2° E Nadir to Photo Center Direction Northeast Sun Azimuth 216° Spacecraft Altitude 183 nautical miles (339&#160;km) Sun Elevation Angle 36° Orbit Number 3909
context_page_description: The World or The World Islands, is an archipelago of small artificial islands constructed in the shape of a world map, located in the waters of the Persian Gulf, 4.0 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The World islands are composed mainly of sand dredged from Dubai's shallow coastal waters, and are one of several artificial island developments in Dubai. The World's developer is Nakheel Properties, and the project was originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The construction was done by two Dutch specialist companies, Van Oord and Boskalis. The same companies also created the Palm Jumeirah.
  Construction of the 300 islands began in 2003, before halting due to the 2008 financial crisis. Though 60 percent of the islands were sold to private contractors in 2008, development on most of the islands has failed to initiate. As of July 2012, Lebanon Island was developed and was the only island that had so far been developed commercially, being used for private corporate events and public parties. As of late 2013, only two of the islands had been developed.
context_section_description: May 2003: The World development was announced by Nakheel, total completion scheduled for 2008. It was initially to have 200 islands and an area of 5,600,000 square metres (60,000,000 sq ft).
  February 2004: It was announced that The World would comprise 260 islands, and its area would be 6 km by 9 km, with an area of 23–83,613 square metres (250–900,000 sq ft) for each island, with 50–100 m (160–330 ft) of water between each island.
  August 2004: It was announced that land reclamation would cost at AED 7.3 billion ($2 billion).
  April 2005: Sand dredging 55 percent complete, 88 islands had been completed.
  30 March 2006: Richard Branson appeared at a media conference on the Great Britain island. However, this was to announce direct London-to-Dubai flights by Virgin Atlantic, and was not related to his investing in the project.
  October 2006: Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher was presented with one of the islands by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the occasion of his final Grand Prix, in Brazil. Schumacher's manager Willi Weber, suggested, "Perhaps he'll build a kart racing track on [the island].
  December 2006: The World reclamation 90 percent complete.
  October 2007: Nakheel announced the sale of Ireland, and Shanghai in October 2007.
  15 November 2007: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were reported to have purchased the island Ethiopia. The claim has since been refuted.
  January 2008: The World breakwater is completed.
  19 February 2008: Cinnovation Group acquired a 37,000-square-metre (400,000 sq ft) island as part of a project valued at $200 million USD. Guest and residential villas and a hospitality complex are planned.
  25 February 2008: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre announced that it will establish a 6,000-square-metre (65,000 sq ft) pearling and marine entertainment center in association with Paspaley Pearling Corporation. It will be located on an island in the Antarctic region of The World.
  September 2008: Dubai's Limitless announced plans to develop a $161 million USD wellness resort on an island in "Siberia". Pearl Dubai paid US$27.2 million for a 150,000-square-metre (1,600,000 sq ft) island nearby.
  28 December 2008: Turkey Island was bought by MNG Holding in June 2008 for US$19 million.
  28 December 2008: China's Zhongzhou International announced that it will be developing a hotel resort on Shanghai island.
  28 December 2008: Nakheel said 70 percent of The World had been sold.
  October 2009: An Emirates Business report on 13 October 2009 that 2 islands were sold in July and August 2009.
  December 2009: Dubai based Kleindienst Group said they would start construction of the Heart of Europe in early 2010, according to a press report of 17 December 2009. Islands include Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Ukraine, Sweden and Switzerland.
  January 2010: On 28 January 2010 Emirates Business reported that Major Trade had started development of their projects on an island in the Greenland area, a villa and hotel resort.
  23 February 2010: Dubai-based Kleindienst Group started work on the Germany island of The World, according to a press release on 24 February 2010.
  17 July 2012: The Royal Island Beach Club opened on Lebanon Island.
  6 May 2013: Nakheel announces that an out of court settlement has been reached between itself and developer Kleindienst Group, allowing construction on "The Heart of Europe" to resume.
  10 June 2013: Construction began on the island Taiwan.
  2 July 2013: Nakheel announces that settlements "with São Paulo Development Ltd for São Paulo Island and a GCC investor for the purchase of Nord Island", totaling "AED 185 million", along with the earlier out of court settlement with Kleindienst Group (valued at AED 622 million) have "put The World back on the map".
  10 December 2013: Nakheel announced plans to connect the islands with a road.
  January 2014: Kleindienst Group's JK Properties announces that "work has commenced on The Heart of Europe".
  January 2014: Website "The Heart of Europe" publishes monthly construction updates for the project.
  February 2014: JK Properties announces that the "Heart o
caption: Artificial archipelagos, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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