Dubai to get luxury floating villas at World Islands project

Work on an archipelago of 20 private man-made islands built in the shape of the continent of Australasia could finally start, property developer Oqyana Real Estate said.

Oqyana signed a deal with floating island expert Dutch Docklands to create a series of private island villas at its long-delayed scheme, Oqyana World First development. Courtesy Oqyana Real Estate

The Australasia section of Dubai’s ambitious World Islands project could finally get underway with a set of super luxury floating private island villas.

Work on an archipelago of 20 private man-made islands built in the shape of the continent of Australiasia could finally start, property developer Oqyana Real Estate said on Sunday.

Oqyana, which is owned by listed Kuwaiti company The Investment Dar, signed a deal with floating island expert Dutch Docklands to create a series of private island villas at its long-delayed scheme, Oqyana World First development.

Under the terms of the deal, Dutch Docklands will help design personalised private islands, each of which will house just one luxury villa and each with its own private beach.

“Having your own private island close by a world class city will be a unique opportunity for a very selective group of people that only want the best. This new development will diversify the already impressive Dubai real estate market to a new level of luxury,” said Paul Van de Camp, chief executive of Dutch Docklands.

“Our ‘Amillarah Private Islands’ are completely self-supporting, scarless and all contain the latest state-of-the-art technology. Each one will be a piece of art that you can live in,” he added.

Oqyana first launched the ambitious project back in 2005 when it released a number of apartments dubbed Bay View Residences and Sea View Residences for sale at the Arabian Travel Market through Better Homes.

Then it was envisaged that in total 10,000 to 12,000 people would take up residency on Oqyana when it was expected to be completed in 2012.

At the time the developer said that the project would be Dubai’s first car-free destination, with travel around the islands being only via inter-island ferries or inter-linked walkways.

However, along with most of the other developments planned for the World Islands, the project was hit hard by the global financial crisis.

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