Megaproject created 56 km of new coastline in just five years, with trunk, 17 “leaves” and a crescent breakwater to hold back the waves
Inspired by the idea of transforming the sea into habitable land, a colossal island was built in the shape of a palm tree and became one of the greatest engineering works of the century.
Built in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, the structure took 85 million m³ of dredged sand, cost US$12 billion and added 56 kilometers of new coastline to the coast, forever changing the city’s map.
A project to create land where there was only sea
Planned to expand the supply of high-end residential and tourist areas, the island was conceived with a bold logic: converting the ocean into a city.
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The dredging and landfill operation lasted around five years, creating a perfectly symmetrical design — with a central trunk, 17 fronds (the palm tree’s “leaves”) and a crescent-shaped protective ring around it.
This belt, built with rocks and compacted sand, functions as a natural breakwater, reducing the impact of waves and ensuring that the structure remains stable even in the face of the strongest currents.
Engineering that defied the impossible
The execution of the project required cutting-edge geotechnical technology and GPS positioning, which guided the sand deposit to the millimeter to maintain the exact shape of the palm tree.
At each stage, barges, dredgers and giant cranes worked in sync, monitored by satellite to control volume, height and stability.
When completed, the island could already be seen from space — a symbolic milestone for a project that defied the impossible and became a world reference in coastal engineering.
Luxury, tourism and urbanism in the same place
The route was designed to combine private residences, hotels, marinas and leisure centers into a compact and functional urban network.
The residential areas are located in the fronds, offering private beaches and panoramic views, while the outer belt is home to luxury resorts and tourist developments with direct access to the sea.
The concept mixes privacy, exclusivity and urban planning, creating a new way of living by the sea — a balance between city, resort and paradise.
A symbol of ambition and innovation
The megaproject has also become a symbol of power and technology, the result of a vision that combines urban expansion and large-scale environmental engineering.
Despite criticism for environmental impacts, the island has established itself as a model for premium expansion, inspiring other similar ventures in different parts of the world.
More than an architectural feat, the artificial palm tree is a manifesto of the human capacity to shape the environment.
It represents the boundary between the natural and the created — a landscape where sand, water and concrete come together to tell the story of a civilization that refuses to accept the impossible.
