• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Inside Dubai’s eerie abandoned islands that cost $12,000,000,000 and were built for the mega-rich

Home> News

Updated 14:54 16 Jul 2024 GMT+1Published 14:23 15 Jul 2024 GMT+1

Inside Dubai’s eerie abandoned islands that cost $12,000,000,000 and were built for the mega-rich

The islands were left abandoned after they ran into financial struggles.

Emily McIntyre

Emily McIntyre

Dubai has long been known for it's impressive architecture and futuristic endeavours, with some astonishing construction projects all over the city.

It's home to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (opened in 2010), as well as a range of other massive malls and developments.

But what about the World Islands?

Lots of people have heard about them, but don't know much else.

Advert

They were initially built as part of Dubai's plans to show that basically anything was possible if you spent enough money on it - completely man-made islands, around two miles off the coast of the city, laid out in a rough approximation of the seven continents.

They've been covered a lot on social media, most recently in a video by YouTubers Yes Theory, where they delved into the islands in real detail.

SI Imaging Services / Imazins / Getty
SI Imaging Services / Imazins / Getty

There's 260 islands in total, and each one is big enough to play host to a seriously lavish mansion or home.

Advert

Initially, there were many ambitious plans for the islands, including dreamed-up luxury hotels, resorts and more to make the island archipelago a haven for the rich.

However, not much has ever materialized, and the islands still remain mostly abandoned.

Despite this, they're completely empty, and there are a few attractions on the handful of islands that have been built upon.

This includes beach clubs and fine dining, but they're far from self-sufficient.

Advert

Most of the buildings there are apparently ran by diesel generators, which means fuel has to be shipped in every single day to keep things running.

Fair to say it's not the most sustainable setup.

Reports also indicate that the sand shipped in to create the islands has been eroding over time, meaning they might not be as permanent as you'd hope.

The project didn't come cheap, and apparently cost a staggering $12 billion - so you can understand if it didn't quite live up to expectations.

Advert

Despite being left untouched for quite a while, Dubai's tourist authority still maintains on its website that there's a wave of construction planned on the World Islands.

This apparently includes plans for new residences and mansions.

Plenty of sources have labelled it a massive failure, too, with Elite Traveller magazine calling it a "sandy ghost town", and Top Luxury labelling the islands one of "The Most Useless Megaprojects in the World".

Who knows what will happen next.

Featured Image Credit: NASSER YOUNES / Stringer / KARIM SAHIB / Contributor / Getty
World News
Travel

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
  • Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
    a day ago

    Elon Musk's $722,000,000,000 net-worth could make these 6 mind-blowing purchases

    Before we start considering superyachts and luxury private islands, we need to think even bigger

    News
  • Instagram / Mason Newman
    a day ago

    Man who experienced bizarre 'Mounjaro penis’ that increased his manhood by ‘3 inches’ speaks out

    As waistlines shrink, something else might be growing

    Science
  • Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
    a day ago

    World's second richest man forced to rename yacht after realizing it spells out horrific three-word phrase

    The mogul got into hot water when choosing the name for his 191-foot yacht

    News
  • Lisa Schaetzle / Getty
    a day ago

    Exactly which cancers are linked to major lunch food officially classed as carcinogen by World Health Organization

    That quick sandwich could be shaving years off your life

    News
  • Inside Dubai’s eerie abandoned islands that cost $12,000,000,000 and were built for the mega-rich
  • Tourist secretly captures eerie footage of downtown North Korea that leaves viewers mind-blown
  • Dubai’s 300 eerie manmade islands built for the super rich remain mostly empty
  • Inside 'post-apocalyptic' $100,000,000,000 ghost city that leaves people completely divided