World Islands is a district of Dubai.
The World Islands is a man-made archipelago off the coast of Dubai, conceived as a cluster of private islands arranged to resemble a map of the world. Initiated in the early 2000s, the complex sits several kilometres offshore and has evolved into a patchwork of privately owned plots, hospitality concepts and selective development projects.
The World Islands were announced in May 2003 and delivered by master developer Nakheel. The scheme comprises roughly 300 reclaimed islands laid out to form a world map and encircled by a purpose-built breakwater. About 320 million cubic metres of sand were dredged and around 34 million tonnes of rock were used to form the 27-kilometre breakwater that shelters the archipelago. The development area enclosed by the breakwater exceeds 5,000 hectares.
The archipelago lies off Dubai’s coast, roughly four kilometres from shore, southwest of central Dubai. Coordinates: 25.227854, 55.169003.
Public transport access is limited. The nearest Dubai Metro station is on the Red Line (station code R29), approximately 10,011 metres from the islands, making it unsuitable for walking. Individual islands are accessed by boat or private transfer, and some hospitality operators provide dedicated water transport for guests.
Approximate road and boat distances to key Dubai destinations:
The World Islands was developed to add beachfront and tourism capacity for Dubai. Following its 2003 launch, reclamation and breakwater construction continued through the mid-2000s, with the breakwater completed in January 2008. Nakheel delivered ownership access to buyers in September 2008, and by the end of 2009 reported that about 70% of the islands had been sold.
Selected current and announced projects include:
Overall, the destination combines privately owned islands, island-scale hospitality concepts and individual plots being developed at different paces by a range of operators and owners.
The World Islands is a specialist location. Typical participants include:
As access, infrastructure and construction logistics differ from mainland projects, buyers and operators typically plan for marine transport and bespoke utility arrangements. Established hospitality brands on selected islands provide integrated guest transport and services.
The World Islands archipelago includes a number of named islands and themed clusters:
How are islands accessed?
Access is by private boat or operator shuttle. Some hospitality operators provide dedicated water transport for guests, with mainland connections arranged from Dubai shore points.
Who delivered The World Islands and what infrastructure was built?
Nakheel acted as master developer. The project included large-scale reclamation and a 27-kilometre protective breakwater constructed from dredged sand and rock to shelter the archipelago.
Are there active projects on the islands now?
Yes. Announced schemes include the Buddha-Bar hotel and floating residences, the Cape Morris private-island experience operated by Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab, and phased elements of The Heart of Europe. Private-island sales and bespoke developments also continue across the archipelago.
The figures below come from registered Dubai Land Department transactions, not from listings. We show the median rather than the mean, so that one-off penthouses do not distort it.
The yearly figure compares the last 12 months with the 12 before them. Calendar years would not work here: the current one is unfinished, so the comparison would understate the change. The median across the whole district moved -10% over the same year — that gap reflects which buildings came to market, not existing homes changing in price.
| Building | Deals | Price per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Marbella Resort Hotel | 51 | 54 627 |
| COTE D'AZUR - M | 19 | 37 994 |
| COTE D'AZUR - N | 18 | 42 662 |
| COTE D'AZUR - S | 15 | 43 663 |
| COTE D'AZUR - C | 11 | 40 157 |
| AMALI ISLAND | 11 | 22 660 |
| ZAYA ZUHA ISLAND | 10 | 22 816 |
Linked names lead to our pages for those projects.
Source: Dubai Land Department transaction registry. Prices per square metre, sale transactions.
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