The Dubai Islands, formerly known as the Deira Islands (Arabic: جزر ديرة) are four artificial islands off the coast of Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The project was initially called Palm Deira and was planned to be part of the Palm Islands. As of 2021, little development has taken place on the islands due to the financial crisis of 2007–2008.[1][2][3]
 View of Deira Islands from Deira, Dubai c.2007 | |
 The Palm Islands project plan by Nakheel which was to include the Palm Jumeirah (opened), Palm Jebel Ali (under construction, on hold) and the Palm Deira. | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 25°20′00″N 55°16′05″E / 25.3333°N 55.2681°E |
| Administration | |
United Arab Emirates | |
History
editPalm Deira
editIn 2004, Dubai developer Nakheel Properties launched the Palm Deira project as an 11 billion dirham property development off the coast of Deira in Dubai that was due to contain up to 8,000 villas. Dutch dredging contractor Van Oord was recruited to start the project in 2005.[4] By early October 2007, 20% of the initial palm island's reclamation was complete, with a total of 200 million cubic metres (7.1 billion cubic feet) of sand already used. Then in early April 2008, Nakheel announced that more than a quarter of the total area of the Palm Deira had been reclaimed. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, Nakheel had put projects like the Palm Jebel Ali, The World and Palm Deira on hold since 2008.[5]
Rebranding as Deira Islands
editIn October 2013, Nakheel re-branded and scaled down the project as Deira Islands. Deira Islands were developed to include the Deira Night Souk, Deira Mall, and Deira Island Towers and Boulevard on the islands to develop it into a shopping, retail, and housing waterfront.[4] The project added 40 km (25 mi) of coastline and 21 km (13 mi) of beach to Dubai. In December 2016 a bridge linking the mainland to the islands were opened.[6]
Restart and rebranding as Dubai Islands
editIn 2022, Nakheel rebranded itself and the project. It was renamed Dubai Islands and it is expected to house 80 hotels. The project has been restarted and no official opening date has been announced.
Hotels and resorts
editThe Dubai Islands currently have three hotels in operation, which represent the most significant development on the islands so far. The 800-key Hotel RIU Dubai opened on December 10, 2020,[7] followed by the 607-key Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai on October 14, 2021[8] and the 159-key Park Regis by Prince Dubai Islands on March 2, 2024.[9]
Planned features
editDeira Night Souk
editThe Deira Night Souk is planned to be a 1.9 km (1.2 mi) market place that stretch along the coast of the Deira Islands opposite the mainland.[10] According to the developers, Deira Night Souk will be the biggest night market in the world, but construction of the souk has yet to take place.[6]
Deira Mall
editDeira Mall is planned to be a 600,000 m2 (6,500,000 sq ft) mall with 1,100 retail spaces that is being developed on the islands. The design contract of the mall was awarded in June 2014, though it has yet to begin construction.[6]
See also
edit- The World, another artificial island project in Dubai
- Tourism in Dubai
- Developments in Dubai
References
edit- ^ Khan, Sarmad (2022-08-22). "Nakheel unveils master plan for Dubai Islands development". The National. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ Salian, Neesha (2022-08-22). "UAE News: Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ "Nakheel unveils Dubai Islands". Arabian Post. 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
- ^ a b Fahy, Michael (29 June 2015). "Deira Islands to get 25.3km coastline in Nakheel contract with Dutch dredger Van Oord". The National. UAE.
- ^ "Gulfnews: Nakheel reclaims land for Palm Deira". Archived from the original on 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- ^ a b c Nagraj, Aarti (19 February 2017). "In pics: World's biggest night market takes shape at Dubai's Deira Islands". Gulf Business.
- ^ "Hotel RIU Dubai". Hospitality Net. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "CENTARA MIRAGE RESORT OPENS IN THE MIDDLE EAST". Asian Leisure Business. October 4, 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "A new hotel has opened on Dubai Islands". Time Out Dubai. March 14, 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Nagraj, Aarti (2 November 2014). "Dubai's Nakheel To Lease 5,000 Shops At Deira Islands Night Souk". Gulf Business.