The Palm revealed the entire concept for the second of The Palm islands known as The Palm, Jebel Ali. With a considerable number of new elements added to this island, including six marinas, a ‘Sea Village’ and Water Homes built on stilts, it is set to become a major global destination.
Most outstanding of the new elements are the 1,060 Water Homes being built on stilts, which when viewed from above spells out a verse from an Arabic poem written by HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister. The verse from the poem translates to “Take wisdom from the wise people; Not everyone who rides is a jockey”.
“We have designed several new elements for this second island and hence it will be 50 percent larger than The Palm, Jumeirah,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of The Palm.
“With the addition of Water Homes, four more marinas and a ‘Sea Village’ boasting the Middle East’s first sea aquarium, it is set to become a major tourist attraction. Luxury hotels, apartments and villas with sea views will ensure it becomes a desired place to reside, whether you are a full-time resident or part-time holiday maker”, Sulayem continued.
Similar to The Palm, Jumeirah this second island will also be based around the shape of a palm tree, with a Trunk, 17 Fronds and Crescent forming the breakwater. The fundamental changes and additions to the concept design include the Water Homes, which will form a 12 kilometer chain between the Fronds and the Crescent; the extension of the Crescents size to 15.5 kilometer with a break at the top for boats to enter; the modification to the ends of the Crescent to include ‘fingers’ whereby the luxury apartment blocks will be located. Two smaller ‘pocket islands’ just off each end of the Crescent will host shopping facilities for residents daily needs.
Located approximately 22 kilometers and 17 minutes by boat from The Palm, Jumeirah, it is proposed that this second island will have a dedicated intersection leading to it from Sheikh Zayed Road, which is currently under review with Dubai Municipality. Access to the island from the mainland will be made possible via three bridges—one at the Trunk and one at either side leading to the ends of the Crescent.
With construction of the island already underway, the project, which is estimated at two billion dollars for the first two stages of reclamation and infrastructure, is expected to be completed towards the end of 2007.
The Water Homes are being positioned as elevated retreat homes and will be built in a pattern to form the verse of Sheikh Mohammed’s poem. They will be made from concrete foundation poles and a wooden structure. The depth of the water below will be approximately 8 to 10 meters and each home will cover a built up area of 3,875 square feet. Boardwalk access to a common parking area and private moorings for personal boats will be provided for each four-bedroom Water Home.
A ‘Sea Village’ theme will feature on the Trunk, which measures 2.4 kilometers in length and 450 meters in width. Within the ‘Sea Village’—the region’s only sea aquarium—will be world-class attractions like killer whales and other deep-sea wildlife. It is certain to become a tourist hotspot for young and old alike. Eight hotels up to eight storeys high and with a maximum of 400 rooms will provide unsurpassed ocean views and proximity to the leisure activities of the ‘Sea Village’.
At 15.5 kilometer in length the Crescent will once again form the breakwater for the island development. The Palm Developers will allow investors in certain areas of the Crescent, the freedom to design their purchased plot as per their individual requirements. The Crescent can accommodate a variety of properties ranging from exclusive residential homes such as palaces, villas and mansions to boutique hotels, resorts and exclusive marinas.
In total, there will be approximately 2,000 Signature Villas, Garden Homes and Town Homes, together with several luxury apartment buildings and 1060 Water Homes on The Palm, Jebel Ali, which will be 7.5 kilometers in width and seven kilometers in length. In early April this year the Signature Villas, Garden Homes and Town Homes were released for sale at a cost ranging from 1.87 to 5.115 million Emirati dirhams each. The apartments and Water Homes will be released for sale at a later stage.
The Palm involves the creation of the world’s largest two man-made islands known as The Palm, Jumeirah and The Palm, Jebel Ali. Located just off the coast of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the two palm tree shaped islands are expected to contribute to the city’s position as a premier global tourist destination. The project will increase Dubai’s shoreline by a total of 120km and create a large number of residential, leisure and entertainment opportunities, all within a unique and inspiring setting.
The creation of The Palm is an extraordinary project of grand proportions. Comprised of approximately 100 million cubic meters of rock and sand, the islands together will eventually support over 60 luxury hotels, 4000 exclusive residential beachside villas, over 5,000 shoreline apartments, marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities, health spas, dive sites and cinemas.
Construction commenced in June 2001 after many years of research and planning. Each island will take approximately two years to be completely raised from the sea. A further two to three years will be required to complete the infrastructure and the buildings. The end-result will be the creation of two virtually self-contained communities within the islands. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
