The Heart of Europe in The World Islands, Dubai.

Nakheel stands as one of the world's foremost real estate developers, propelled by a fervent ambition to contribute significantly to Dubai's landscape by crafting exceptional destinations for residential living, commerce, and tourism. Nakheel has curated a renowned collection of groundbreaking projects that have left an indelible mark, including iconic developments like The Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Heights, The Gardens, Dragon City, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, International City, Jebel Ali Gardens, and The World, among others. This commitment endures as they continue to enrich their illustrious portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, retail, and leisure sectors. To date, Nakheel has provided homes for more than 270,000 individuals, with over 21,000 residential units currently under construction or in the planning stages. Furthermore, their retail project portfolio, encompassing numerous neighborhood community centers, encompasses nearly 17 million square feet of leasable space.

"The World" is an archipelago of artificial islands located about 4 kilometers off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Initiated by Nakheel Properties, this ambitious project aimed to create a collection of islands shaped like a world map. The construction began in the early 2000s and involved dredging sand from the sea to form the islands.

The islands are categorized for various purposes, including residential, commercial, and leisure. Private residences, resorts, hotels, and entertainment facilities were planned to make "The World" a luxurious residential and tourist destination.

Despite its grand vision, the project faced several challenges. Environmental concerns, financial difficulties, and the global economic crisis contributed to a slowdown in development. As of my last update in January 2022, not all islands had been fully developed, and progress was slower than initially anticipated.

Ownership and development were distributed among different investors and companies. Private individuals and corporations had the opportunity to purchase individual islands for their own development projects.