Dubai has never been known to do things by halves. Tourism is a huge earner for Dubai, the tiny state on the Arabian peninsular. They already have super de-luxe hotel complexes, reputedly the world’s first 6 star hotel, golf courses created from grass imported from the United States, watered each night from a massive desalination plant. You start to get the picture that nothing is too much. And now, the Dubai government has started work on what will be the world’s largest artificial island called The Palm.

It will be 300 metres offshore, and 5km long, in the shape of a palm tree. The marketing company in charge say that it will be visible from the moon. Press information states that the project is using 415 architects and 760 labourers, working 24 hours a day to obtain the rock and sand that the island requires.

Foreigners will be allowed to own property, on a 100 year freehold basis, and there will be an estimated 3,000 villas, townhouses and apartments, many with private access to a beach and moorings. Sound tempting? Villa prices start at £350,000 or $550,000, but buyers can chose the style of their villa, from Italianate, Caribbean or Middle Eastern. 40 boutique hotels are on the drawing board, many designed according to a set of themes: Tahitian, Moroccan, Greek are just some of the styles.

For more info, take a look at: Palm Island Info