The Gulf emirate of Dubai plans to build a palm tree-shaped resort island at a cost of $270 million, the Middle East Economic Digest, MEED, reported.
The "Palm Island" project will be built of 80 million cubic metee (2.8 billion cubic feet) dredged from the approach channel to the emirate's Jebel Ali port, an operation that will deepen the channel to 17 meters (56 feet), it said.
The industry weekly said several contracting consortia had been pre-qualified for the contract, which includes the building of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of rock protection around the man-made island and creating beaches.
An award for the development south of Dubai city is expected in March. Exclusive hotels and leisure facilities are to be built on the island, in a project being funded by the Dubai government and managed by the US company Parsons International, MEED said. — (AFP, Dubai)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
