The Palm Dubai

The Palm Islands in Dubai are the three largest artificial islands in the world, being constructed by Nakheel Properties in the United Arab Emirates. Each settlement will be in the shape of a palm tree, topped with a crescent, and will have residential communities and resorts built upon them. It is possible to make these islands due to the wide continental shelf off the Dubai coast, and the relatively shallow depth of the Persian Gulf.

The islands were designed as part of the plan to develop tourism in Dubai against the eventual depletion of the emirate's oil reserves, which are expected to be depleted in the second decade of the 21st century. The goal is to become one of the biggest areas in the world for tourism as a means of diversifying the economy.

Two of the islands—The Palm, Jumeirah, and The Palm, Deira—will be built by the Dutch company Van Oord Dredging from 80,000,000 m³ of sea bottom dredged from the approach channel. The Palm, Jebel Ali is being built by Jan De Nul.

The Palm Islands are technically artificial peninsulas constructed of sand dredged from the bottom of the Persian Gulf, which is conveniently narrow and shallow. The sand is sprayed by the dredging ships, which are guided by GPS, onto the required area in a process known as rainbowing. The outer edge of each Palm's encircling crescent is a huge breakwater constructed of carefully placed rocks that were collected by blasting.

Dutch scientists, because of their experience with changes made to the land in their own nation, were called in to study the area and perfect plans to make sure the Palms would remain intact over time and through storms. However, the owners refused to wait until the investigation was complete before ordering construction. After the Palm had been constructed, the Dutch scientists discovered that the tide did not reach all the way around the crescent with sufficient force to prevent stagnation of the water; it would become a haven for algae and mosquitos. The crescent was modified with two extra channels, each about a quarter of the way from either end. These channels allow greater scope for the action of the tide, and thus the water inside the Palm's boundary is replaced about every two weeks.

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