Man-Made Islands of DubaiThe Palm IslandsThe Palm Islands in Dubai are some of the most amazing man–made wonders of the world. The three palm islands consist of the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira, which are being built on the coast of the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai. They were formed in the shape of a date palm because of its ideal shape for creating maximum beachfront. This immense project, constructed by Nakheel Properties, began in June of 2001. The artificial islands will be built with roads, electricity, sewage, phone lines, water, as well as other major commercial and residential infrastructures.Why They Were BuiltThe sheik of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wanted to eliminate Dubai's reliance on their dwindling oil supplies. His reason for creating the islands was to develop a way to make money for the small desert state. The sheik commissioned the islands in order to increase Dubai's tourism. Many people thought the sheik had bit off more than he could chew, but the sheik was set to prove them wrong.ConstructionThe Palm Jumeirah was the first and smallest of the three islands consisting of a trunk, a crown with seventeen fronds, and an island in the shape of a crescent to form the breakwater. In order to build this island out of deep ocean waters, they used ninety–four million cubic meters of sand and seven million tons of rock. Around 40,000 South–Asian workers were employed in order to build this enormous island. The completion of the island was finished on time, but the construction on the island is still under way.Shortly after the first island started to be built, the Palm Jebel Ali began construction in 2002. The island will be fifty percent bigger than Jumeirah. Set apart from the first island, Jebel Ali is said to be more of an entertainment island. This enormous island will have a water theme park, six marinas, boardwalks that circle the fronds of the palm, as well as other types of divertissement. The future plans of this island also include four theme parks that will be built on the island's crescent and will form into the shape of a whale.The third and most massive island, the Palm Deira, began construction in October of 2007. This island will be eight times larger than Jumeirah and will not be completed until 2015. It has been said that it will be larger than the entire city of Paris.Looking AheadToday most of the islands are still vacant; however, the sheik hopes that they will soon be filled with tourists and residents. Nakheel, the builder, believes that the three islands will house over one million residents. The creation of the Palm Islands is an unparalleled achievement in engineering and when completed will be the most amazing project known to man

. These man-made islands have already become iconic symbols of Dubai's ambition and innovation.

The Palm Islands were built to boost Dubai's tourism industry and create new sources of revenue for the city. The sheik of Dubai wanted to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil by attracting tourists from around the world. The islands were designed to provide luxurious beachfront properties, hotels, resorts, and other entertainment options that would appeal to international visitors.

The construction of the Palm Jumeirah, the first and smallest of the three islands, involved massive amounts of sand and rock. South-Asian workers were brought in to assist with the construction, which was completed on time. The Palm Jebel Ali, the second island, is even bigger than the Palm Jumeirah and features a water theme park and multiple marinas. The Palm Deira, the largest island, is still under construction and is expected to be completed in 2015. It is projected to be eight times larger than the Palm Jumeirah and will be a city in its own right.

While the islands are currently mostly vacant, there are plans to attract residents and tourists in the future. The developer, Nakheel, expects the three islands to accommodate over one million residents once fully developed. It is a testament to human engineering and will stand as a true marvel of modern construction.

The Palm Islands have cemented Dubai's reputation as a city of grandeur and innovation. These man-made wonders have become iconic symbols of the city and have put Dubai on the map as a global tourist destination.