Palm Jumeirah ready by year-end
07/29/2006 08:27 PM | By Robert Ditcham
Dubai: Residents will begin moving into their Palm Jumeirah properties by the end of 2006, five years after land reclamation began, according to project developer Nakheel.
It will signal the end of phase one of construction, which includes approximately 1,400 villas on 11 of the fronds of the island and roughly 2,500 shoreline apartments within 20 buildings on the east side of the trunk.
Nakheel will mark the arrival of the first residents by bringing one of the world's largest airships to Dubai. It has agreed a deal with Airship Management Services Inc for a 197 feet long, 250,000 cubic feet Skyship 600.
"We have some amazing plans for the Skyship's journey to Dubai (from London), which we will reveal more of soon," said Chris O'Donnell, Nakheel CEO.
Approximately 5km by 5km in size, The Palm Jumeirah will create 560 hectares of land and add 78 kilometres to the Dubai coastline an increase of more than 100 per cent.
Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, executive chairman at Nakheel, said: "After all the talk, excitement, challenges and anticipation, the eighth wonder of the world is turning from a dream into a reality."
He said it has taken 94 million cubic metres of sand and seven million tonnes of rock to create what he called the world's largest man-made island.
Manal Shaheen, general manager of VIP Sales, said Nakheel will begin an integrated handover period from November 30, beginning the process of handing over 4,000 residential dwellings. "We have spent many months planning for this handover and I am 100 per cent confident in the team we have put in place. However, throughout this process I would like to ask for our customers' patience and understanding," said Shaheen.
According to Nakheel officials, the process of adding 78 kilometres of beach is under way, while eight of the 32 hotels on The Palm Jumeirah have begun construction, including the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, which is planned for completion in late 2008 to early 2009. The first phase of Atlantis, The Palm, is scheduled to be completed by December 2008, claim developers.
The Golden Mile, which is located along the centre of the trunk overlooking the canal, is set for completion in the first quarter of 2008. The area will be an international shopping, office and residential destination covering approximately 60,000 square metres.
Construction has also begun on the Palm Monorail, which will take three years to complete and will serve as a transit system between the Gateway Station at the trunk of The Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis Station on the crescent.
