How Nakheel tames the power of the sea

Q&A:The developer of Dubai's The World answers key questions

The World development is a high-profile project for Nakheel. As it plans for the future, the Dubai developer answers some key questions.

q What is the main protective measure for the islands?

A 26km breakwater with six entry points was structured to stop waves from hitting the islands. The distance between the breakwater and the islands is at least 400 metres, as another precaution. The breakwater itself appears thin on the surface, but it is actually much larger below the sea to dissipate any waves. We ran extensive computer models to test our protective measures.

What impact will the tide have on the islands?

There will be a minimum impact, but there will be some small erosion of the edges of the islands. It is up to each developer to maintain the shape of their islands, especially if they want to have sandy beaches. There are a range of ways to secure the shape, from rock edges to sheet piling.

One island was fully completed at The World almost six years ago. How has the island fared so far?

We have no evidence of any serious erosion but the sandy beaches around it have to be replenished once every few years. This entails adding some new sand and reshaping the beaches with equipment.

What else do developers need to do to get their islands ready for buildings?

Every island should be vibro-compacted, which involves equipment that vibrates the sand so that it settles. This is important to protect against the remote possibility of an earthquake in the Gulf. When the sand is settled by these machines, it reduces the risk of buildings sinking or other consequences.