Say ‘Dubai’ and many people will automatically picture the palm-shaped island – Palm Jumeirah. This artificial island off the coast of Dubai can be seen from space and is one of the major tourist attractions of the United Arab Emirates. The project offers an unparalleled example of dredging and land reclamation possibilities.
At the end of the 20th Century, Dubai wanted to reduce its dependency on oil, and opted for the tourism industry as a new source of income. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum declared that Dubai should become one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world.