"The World" Is In Trouble As Dubai Seeks Debt Hold on Mega-Islands Construction Project

the-world-islands-dubai-photo-aerialDubai’s been building without limits and now seeks debt hold on “The World” artificial islands project.

When the idea was conceived, money seemed limitless, their goals too: Real Estate developers Nakheel of the artificial island “World” project in Dubai now say they will ask creditors to accept a moratorium on debt worth billions of dollars, according to Al Jazeera.

The World is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands constructed in the rough shape of a map of the landmasses of the Earth, located 4 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its islands are composed mainly of sand dredged from Dubai’s shallow coastal waters, and is one of several artificial island developments in Dubai. The project was originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The project has since been suspended due to a cash-flow problem.

“Dubai World intends to ask all providers of financing to Dubai World and Nakheel to a ‘standstill’ and extend maturities until at least 30 May 2010,” a statement issued by the Dubai Financial Support Fund reported, meanwhile, Nakheel was due to pay off nearly $3.5 billion in Islamic bonds in December.

Attempting to create a man-made wonder, the World islands have a lot of environmentalists in ire. Since the construction boom in the Arab state, Dubai World has found itself with $59 billion worth of liabilities.

Will a cash flow problem make or break The World? The marine life around the mega-project might hope so.

Read more on Middle East construction projects:
On Abi Dhabi’s Reem Island
Burj Dubai and the Tower of Babel
Dubai’s Wind Powered Skyscraper Is Building In Motion
Skyscraper Farming The Wave Of The Future In The Middle East?
Dubai Vertical Farmers Use Seawater In Skyscrapers To Water Crops
Urban Islands Mega-Projects Dubious Building Projects In Middle East
A Dubai Disneyland Coming to Lebanon (Fake Islands Project)?

::Al Jazeera

Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloostermanhttp://www.greenprophet.com
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]

Read More

6 COMMENTS

TRENDING

Etihad offers free travel insurance to any visitor to the UAE

Talk about a way to woo your visitors. Etihad, the UAE's national carrier has decided to offer free travel insurance to visitors heading to the UAE.

OPEC and energy stocks in the UAE – insight from eToro

Energy equities are responding unevenly to the evolving landscape. Companies with direct exposure to UAE production growth and infrastructure are benefiting from increased activity expectations, while global oil majors face a more mixed outlook.

Saving Gourmet Wild Plants For The Future

Think of truffles, a gourmet wild food. The European...

Dubai sets up smart feeding stations for abandoned cats

Dubai Municipality has set up 12 AI-powered "Ehsan Stations" to safely and officially feed strays. The city also officially supports Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. 

Middle-Eastern spices and natural medicine (A through C)

In the Middle East, aromatic traditional foods are regarded...

Yerukim Forms a New Green Economy Where the Money is Really Green

The Yerukim members who pick up the recyclables get to keep the monetary reward, the public earns "green" bills that can be used in shops, and business owners get to be associated with environmentalism.

Choosing Riyadh over Dubai? What Investors Should Know

Saudi Arabia is deploying capital at unmatched scale to catalyze tourism and advanced industry while rewiring its power-and-water backbone. The investable frontier is widening—especially in renewables, grid storage, water efficiency/desal retrofits, and hospitality operating platforms. Prudent investors will insist on phased delivery, enforceable KPIs (energy, water, biodiversity), and RHQ/zone compliance—while pricing political-economy and reputational risks alongside growth upside.

Sell your cooking oil for biodiesel money

Want to make money on old french fry oil? Sell it.

Qatar Alternative Energy Summit Pairs Investors And Innovators

Alternative energy investors and innovators can meet n' greet in Doha, Qatar March 16 and 17.

Here’s How To Implement The Four Pillars Of Employee Engagement

If you throw a party for your work team and they are vegans, don't make it a barbecue. Know the sustainability values of your team to boost moral and retain good people.

Locals From Rishon Fight IKEA

Big Box stores are a pretty new concept in Israel, and thank God that not every Israeli city wants them in their backyard. A word from someone who has see the beautiful farmland around her hometown Newmarket, Ontario stripped and converted into vulgar strip malls of big box shops: they have no place in a healthy and sustainable town or city.

The Jewish National Fund Meets An Inconvenient Truth

According to the JNF, it has transformed thousands of acres of barren land into green forests in Israel. They state that each person emits about 23 tons of carbon per year, estimating that each tree planted can absorb one ton of carbon in its lifetime. That's a whole lot of trees you'd need to be planting. Could so many fit in Israel?

How to quiet noise from construction in your office

Streets need to be resurfaced in New York but the humming and grinding noise is unsettling. Noise is environmental pollution. 

Popular Categories