Man-made islands

The issues

In Hong Kong, more than seven million people squeeze into a land area of only 1,104 sq km. Reclamation is one of many ways to make space for the skyrocketing population. But in Dubai, an emirate almost four times larger in terms of land area, the population barely exceeds two million. This raises the question: why does Dubai need to reclaim land?

Reclamation in Dubai does not serve the same purpose as it does in Hong Kong - creating land to cope with a rising population. In Dubai, land is usually reclaimed to fulfil economic ambitions: boosting tourism and solidifying its image as a financial powerhouse.

The most well-known reclamation in Dubai is the Palm Islands project by Nakheel, a local real estate developer. It consists of three palm-shaped islands. With Palm Jumeirah already built and Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira on the way, the three artificial islands will possess an array of luxury villas, hotels and houses, accommodating wealthy tourists and Dubai's rich. British footballer David Beckham and Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt are among the celebrities who have invested on the islands.

From an urban designer's point of view, the reclamation in Dubai can hardly be justified because it does not benefit the public as a whole, but only the wealthy. Some argue the success of the project can be judged by Dubai's economic gain versus its ecological loss. Let's take a look at how the Palm Islands project came about.

The beauty of the palm tree

The palm-inspired shape of the islands is a good design, according to Stefan Al, Urban Design Programme Director at the University of Hong Kong. 'If you want to raise property values, you need as much beachfront as possible,' he says.