Dubai's Atlantis takes shape on Palm Jumeirah

07/25/2006 10:36 PM | By Robert Ditcham

Dubai: Dubai's $1.5 billion answer to the legendary lost city of Atlantis is emerging from the depths of the Arabian Gulf, slowly but surely taking shape on the sands of the Palm Jumeirah.

Seven months since work began on the ocean-themed resort, the first phase of the project is showing signs of life with approximately 14 per cent of construction work complete.

Sixteen tower cranes are in place, the project's 2,000 piles and associated foundation works have been completed and the concrete superstructure of the main Royal Tower Hotel and Entertainment Village is rising from the sand. The concrete structure for the huge Ambassador Tank lagoon has also been built.

During peak construction time, nearly 6,500 labourers will be at work on the site.

"What is really coming to light now is that the structure is taking shape and visibly rising," said Jim Boocher, president of project developer Kerzner Development. "When we open, visitors will be awed by what they see."

The Dubai development is the second Atlantis project launched by Kerzner International Limited and is a 50:50 joint venture with Istithmar PJSC, a subsidiary of Dubai Government's Port, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

It follows the 2,317-room-hotel and water-park built on Paradise Island in The Bahamas.

When the first phase of the Dubai resort is completed in late 2008, it will be home to 65,000 marine animals and 1,539 hotel guests. It will also feature an underwater maze, 42 acres of water parks and a series of luxury shops and convention facilities.

Developers will then decide how to progress with phases two and three of the project, with condominiums and apartments, added hotels and an expanded water-park all possibilities.

Boocher said the main challenges are logistical. The firm is using a million cubic metres of imported fill to build up the land to a maximum of 12 metres above sea level. Most of the material is being sourced locally, while steel is being shipped from Turkey.