Dubai announces plans for man-made Palm Jebel Ali Island

This handout photo taken by NASA on April 6, 2022 shows an aerial view of the gulf emirate of Dubai with its massive artificial island chains, including The Palm Jumeirah and The Palm Jebel Ali. PHOTO NASA AFP DUBAI - Dubai s ruler on Wednesday announced a new plan for the Palm Jebel Ali, a man-made palm-shaped island that has been dormant since 2009 following a real estate crash, and is double the size of the functioning Palm Jumeirah.

Its visitors and tourists will enjoy more than 80 hotels and resorts that provide beautiful tourist experiences, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's vice-president and prime minister.

The Palm Jumeirah is a highly sought-after area in Dubai and a favorite of Russians who have flocked to the emirate after the conflict in Ukraine, contributing to a red hot property market.

Nakheel is the developer of the islands, which was seized by the government in 2011 for part of a $16 billion 10 billion dollars rescue plan that was implemented in the wake of Dubai's real estate crash in 2009.

In November, Nakheel secured 17 billion dirhams $4.63 billion in financing as it accelerates plans for new waterfront projects including Dubai Islands, another man-made island project formerly known as Deira Islands.

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Dubai's real estate industry, Dubai's financial and tourism hub, began its recovery in early 2021 as the government sought to quickly reopen its economy and airports.