Developer launches a project on The World, Dubai

The World is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands constructed in the rough shape of a map of the landmasses of the Earth, located 4 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 70% of the completed phase 1 have been sold and 33 islands have been handed over. 

Kleindienst Group, an Austrian property developer established in 2003 in Dubai, has decided that it is the right time to officially launch its Dh3.1 billion project on The World, the group of 300 artificial islands four kilometres off Dubai's shoreline. The company has bought six islands comprising Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, St Petersburg and Sweden and will market them as The Heart of Europe, the company's CEO Josef Kleindienst said at a press conference at The World on Monday.

A part of the Netherlands Island has been planned as a leisure area with its own beach und will be called Amsterdam. A luxury shopping arcade as well as two 5 star hotels will entice you to St. Petersburg. Main attractions of Austria Island: The Sissi-Hotel, dedicated to Austria’s former empress, decorated in a style true to Sissi-Design. Sports fans and animal lovers also get their money's worth: The dolphin pool is due to become an integral part of the “Heart of Europe“. In cooperation with the Kleindienst Group, the Fraunhofer Institute is currently developing, an optimal energy and water budget, environmentally friendly transportation, energy efficient cooling systems and an intelligent irrigation system. A large proportion of the islands plots have been designated for use as green areas, such as parks and gardens.

The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2015. However, some issues with infrastructure are yet to be solved. "Power is the biggest challenge for us," Kleindienst admits.