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The World A Dubai, United Arab Emirates story

Cities  / 
Coasts  / 
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  1. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  2. The World
Description

Another impressive artificial archipelago best appreciated from above is “The World.” These 300 private islands are in the rough shape of a world map. Each island ranges from 23,226 to 83,613 square meters (250,000 to 900,000 square feet), with 50 to 100 meters (164 to 328 feet) of water between each island.

The total area of these islands is about 9 kilometers (5.4 miles) long and 6 kilometers (3.6 miles) wide. An oval-shaped breakwater surrounds it, which provides shelter for the islands from sea waves. This breakwater actually completes the globe-like shape.

Individual islands are named after countries, regions, and cities. No bridges will connect the islands—the only transportation between islands will be by airplane or boat.

The islands took shape roughly between 2004 and 2008, but the financial crisis also slowed development on these islands. However, development on the islands is starting up again on a collection of six islands called the “Heart of Europe.” The plan for these islands is to accommodate 16,000 tourists for luxury vacations.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

Apr. 29, 1984, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Apr. 29, 1984, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 3, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 3, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 22, 2001, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 22, 2001, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sept. 30, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sept. 30, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 28, 2003, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 28, 2003, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 30, 2004, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 30, 2004, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 2, 2005, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 2, 2005, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 21, 2006, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 21, 2006, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 7, 2007, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 7, 2007, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 17, 2008, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 17, 2008, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 6, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 6, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 10, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 10, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 19, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 19, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 17, 2022, Landsat 9 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 17, 2022, Landsat 9 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Apr. 29, 1984, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 3, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 22, 2001, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sept. 30, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 28, 2003, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 30, 2004, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 2, 2005, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 21, 2006, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 7, 2007, Landsat 7 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 17, 2008, Landsat 5 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 6, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 10, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 19, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 17, 2022, Landsat 9 (path/row 160/42,43) — The World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Additional Imagery & Stories

Dubai
Dubai

About 5 million tourists visit Dubai every year and they have plenty to see and do. To attract tourists, Dubai developed the world’s fastest roller co...

Read More
Palm Jebel Ali
Palm Jebel Ali

Palm Jebel Ali is another island similarly shaped to the Palm Jumeirah and slightly larger. And like Palm Jumeirah, this artificial island was built q...

Read More
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah was the first of the artificial islands off the coast of Dubai to be built. Shaped like a huge palm tree, it added 56 kilometers (35 mil...

Read More
Solar Park
Solar Park

Starting in the 2015 image, dark shapes cover the desert several kilometers south of Dubai. This set of millions of photovoltaic solar panels is set t...

Read More
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