Perilous
Times and Climate Change
The World is sinking: Dubai islands 'being swallowed up by
the sea'
By Richard Spencer, Dubai 9:30PM GMT 20 Jan 2011
The Telegraph UK
But the World, the ambitiously-constructed archipelago of islands
shaped like the countries of the globe, is sinking back into the
sea, according to evidence cited before a property tribunal.
The islands were intended to be developed with tailor-made hotel
complexes and luxury villas, and sold to millionaires. They are
off the coast of Dubai and accessible by yacht or motor boat.
Now their sands are eroding and the navigational channels between
them are silting up, the British lawyer for a company bringing a
case against the state-run developer, Nakheel, has told judges.
"The islands are gradually falling back into the sea," Richard
Wilmot-Smith QC, for Penguin Marine, said. The evidence showed
"erosion and deterioration of The World islands", he added.
With all but one of the islands still uninhabited – Greenland –
and that one a showpiece owned by the ruler of Dubai, most of the
development plans have been brought to a crashing halt by the
financial crisis.
Nakheel, the developer, was part of Dubai World, the state-owned
conglomerate that had to be bailed out of debts put at around $25
billion at the end of 2009. The Dubai World Tribunal was set up to
hear cases arising out of the restructuring and separation of the
companies involved.
The low-lying islands represent a vague shape out to sea when
viewed from Dubai's beaches, but are visible by satellite or from
the top of the city's Burg Khalifa, the world's tallest building,
which opened to the public last year.
According to the company, 70 per cent of the World's 300 islands
have been sold. Nakheel is also behind Dubai's famous Palm-shaped
offshore developments. Villas in the only one near completion,
Palm Jumeirah, were given to or bought by footballers including
David Beckham and Michael Owen.
Though few celebrity buyers were found for The World, it was
rumoured – or joked – that Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie had
considered Ethiopia.
Many investors who did buy the islands proved unwilling or unable
to finance further work when Dubai's property prices halved in the
space of a year.
Some were hit by troubles elsewhere – the owner of the company
which bought Ireland for £24 million, John O'Dolan, committed
suicide, while the man who bought Britain for £43 million, Safi
Qurashi, is serving seven years in jail in Dubai after being
accused of bouncing cheques.
The dispute being heard by the property tribunal involves Penguin
Marine, the company which bought the rights to provide boat travel
to the islands.
With little business, it is trying to exit the contract, which
involves paying an annual fee of just under £1 million to Nakheel.
Nahkeel say they will cash an advanced payment guarantee worth
just over £1 million if that happens.
Penguin claim that work on the islands has "effectively stopped".
Mr Wilmot-Smith described the project as "dead".
Graham Lovett, for Nakheel, said the project was not dead but
admitted it was "in a coma".
"This is a ten-year project which has slowed down," he said. "This
is a project which will be completed."
He said Penguin would make money eventually. "That's the price
Penguin makes to stay in the game," he said. "They have the
potential to earn millions."
The tribunal found for Nakheel on Thursday, saying it would give
full reasoning later.
A spokesman for Nakheel insisted the islands were not sinking.
"Our periodical monitoring survey over the past three years didn't
observe any substantial erosion that requires sand nourishment," a
statement said.