Nakheel the Worl's - was
among the most hard-hit during the Dubai real estate crash has much to
rejoice in the New Year as the island’s first commercial project, the
luxury World Island Beach Club, will open to the public this week. The
exclusive resort, which could cost members up to Dh40,000 ($10,890) a
year to join, is looking to capitalise on the Dubai development’s
potential as a tourism destination. Located around 30 minutes by water
taxi from the Dubai shoreline, the island has a total area of 39,000 sq
m, 17,000 sq m of which will be used to build the facilities and
amenities. The resort will include a restaurant for up to 100 diners, 50
beach loungers along the coast, eight cabanas and eight luxury
log-cabin style changing rooms with showers, a lounge area and
entertainment facilities.
The
luxury resort, owned by Indian entrepreneur Wakil Admed Azmi, will be
the first attraction on The World to open to the public after Dubai’s
property crash dealt a blow to the development. The island of Lebanon
and the construction work has hit Dh60m ($16.3 million). Nakheel plans
to offer tourists day and dinner cruises around The World as it moves to
reposition the project as a tourism destination. The island also has
plans to create 500 artificial reefs around Dubai in an effort to
regenerate marine life around the emirate’s coastline, and aid the local
fishing industry.