Dubai - The World by Peter Petzold

About "Dubai - The World"

by Peter Petzold

About the artwork

"The World" is an impressive artificial island project off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was developed by Nakheel Properties and consists of a collection of over 300 small islands that together form a map of the world. The islands represent different countries and continents and are only accessible by boat, seaplane or helicopter.

Each island has its own individual shape and size, with a total area of around 55 square kilometres. The original plan was for each island to be used as an exclusive residential or resort area, giving private individuals and investors the opportunity to buy "countries" or "continents" and design them to their own taste. The individual islands are separated by canals and surrounded by a protective breakwater that protects the archipelago from the strong currents and tides of the Persian Gulf.

However, "The World" and similar projects in Dubai also faced challenges. After the global economic crisis of 2008 and due to the technical and environmental complexity, the project stalled and many islands remained undeveloped. Nevertheless, efforts are underway to revitalise and redevelop the archipelago as a luxury tourist destination and exclusive residential area. The project is a remarkable example of Dubai's visionary and ambitious urban development plans.

Conceived by Peter Petzold, visualized with AI.