Inside 300 eerie Dubai islands which are mostly empty and built for the super rich

A set of impressive man-made islands, which cost millions to create, lie abandoned off the coast of Dubai.

The islands were created using sand from the Persian Gulf, held in place by tons of rocks, and were designed to look like a map of the world from above.

Dubbed the World Islands the project is five-miles long and is made up of around 300 different islands ranging from 250,000 to 900,000 square foot each.

It was hoped the islands on the development would be snapped up by the super-rich and some of the richest people in the world - including Richard Branson and the late Karl Lagerfeld - were given trips to visit the islands.

While, F1 driver Michael Schumacher was even given one in tribute to his incredible career.

However, the expensive project didn’t quite pan out the way its developers hoped - and when the United Arab Emirates was hit by financial difficulties in 2008 billions of pounds’ worth of real estate projects were scaled back or scrapped altogether.

MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP via Getty Images

This meant that in 2008, just one of the islands was completed and open for tourists to visit.

Then, in 2021, Anantara World Islands Resort opened its doors on the South American section of the islands.

The next phase of the development - 'The Heart of Europe project' - is underway, where each island will have luxury hotels, private mansions and floating villas.

Its also home to Raining Street - a climate controlled street, which creates artificial rain once the temperature hits 27C.

The Heart of Europe website says: “The Heart of Europe celebrates the very best of European lifestyle and luxury design. Located just off the coast of Dubai, The Heart of Europe is a complex of six fully developed islands offering unrivalled resort and leisure experiences.

MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP via Getty Images

“Pioneering German technology will enable the world’s first temperature controlled streets. With 16 hotels, 4,000 residential units and over 50 other attractions nestled around a lagoon with 100,000 natural corals, the Heart of Europe is set to be a vacation getaway beyond the wildest dreams.”

The work was originally set to be opened in 2020, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It's now said to be completed in 2026 and will be valued at $5 billion.

According to the website, only 30 percent of the remaining islands are still for sale - so if you’re mega rich and fancy nabbing yourself one, don’t hang around.

Topics: World News, Money

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]