Culture

Green activists jittery about Dubai's man-made isles

by ryan | July 5, 2007 at 10:06 am

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Dubai’s attempt to grab attention from the international business and luxury communities by building a man made island seems extravagant in the face of the great suffering in the region. But, as it happens, it’s the environmentalists that are speaking out against the project.

Giant islands taking shape off the coast of Dubai are sparking interest not only from celebrities but also from environmental campaigners jittery about the man-made structures so large that they can be seen from space.

Work is all but complete on the Palm Jumeirah, the first of three palm tree-shaped islands, which developers Nakheel say is more than one-and-a-half times the size of New York's Central Park and will eventually house thousands of luxury apartments, beachside villas, up-market hotels, and restaurants.

The project, which includes a cluster of isles taking the shape of a world map, are part of Dubai's rush to become a regional business and tourism powerhouse.

Included are lavish plans for homes built on stilts, marinas, shopping malls, water theme parks, sports facilities, health spas, cinemas, boardwalks, a monorail, and a number of dive sites.