World islands Dubai developer to start handover of units in December

The $5bn Heart of Europe project, on the manmade island archipelago off the coast of Dubai, will deliver 2,000 villas and palaces as part of phase one of the European-themed development. (Kleindienst Group)
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Updated 30 November 2020
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World islands Dubai developer to start handover of units in December

  • $5bn Heart of Europe project will deliver 2,000 villas, palaces in phase one
  • St. Tropez island, a recreation of the famous French Riviera town, will have 4,000 units spread across 15 hotels

DUBAI: The developer behind one of the biggest projects on The World islands development off the coast of Dubai is set to start handing over units to investors in December, it was announced on Monday.

Kleindienst Group, which is behind the $5 billion The Heart of Europe project on the manmade island archipelago, will deliver 2,000 villas and palaces as part of phase one of the European-themed development.

Construction on the St. Tropez island, which will be a recreation of the famous French Riviera town, will have 4,000 units spread across 15 hotels, with the first half of units delivered to buyers next month.

In a statement on Monday, group chairman, Josef Kleindienst, said: “At the beginning of the year, we made a commitment to deliver part of the phase one of The Heart of Europe to the owners by the end of 2020.

“Despite the challenges posed by the (coronavirus disease) COVID-19 pandemic, we were determined to go ahead with our planned development and as the lockdown was announced in March, we shifted our entire team to The Heart of Europe islands and continued to construct.

“During the lockdown, we were isolated from the mainland and confined to the island and focused on construction.”

Kleindienst added that construction had started on phase two of the project which was planned to be completed by 2022.


Dubai’s GDP hits $96.6bn in first 9 months of 2025 

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Dubai’s GDP hits $96.6bn in first 9 months of 2025 

Dubai’s economy expanded 4.7 percent in the first nine months of 2025, lifting gross domestic product to 355 billion dirhams ($96.6 billion) as growth accelerated across finance, construction and services, according to state data. 

GDP reached 113.8 billion dirhams in the third quarter alone, up 5.3 percent from a year earlier, the Emirates News Agency – WAM reported, citing official figures.  

Private-sector forecasts point to continued expansion, with a December research note from Emirates NBD projecting growth of about 4.5 percent in 2026, supported by tourism, investment and infrastructure momentum. 

In its latest analysis, WAM said the sustained growth in Dubai’s economy reflects the vitality of the local economy and the success of development policies driving the emirate’s prosperity. 

Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said: “The growth we are seeing today in Dubai’s economy is beyond what the numbers show, as it means more economic prosperity, family well-being, and growing confidence in the future of the Emirate.”   

He added: “Dubai does not rely on a single sector, but on an economic system in which all sectors are integrated, to grow together strongly and steadily, based on harmonious work teams united by the determination to achieve the highest goals of the Emirate.” 

Health and social work activities were the fastest-growing segment, expanding 15.4 percent year on year in the first nine months and contributing about 1.5 percent to GDP. Financial and insurance activities grew 8.5 percent and accounted for roughly 12 percent of output, highlighting the emirate’s role as a regional financial hub. 

In the first three quarters of 2025, the construction sector grew by 8.5 percent and contributed 6.7 percent to the emirate’s GDP. 

The real estate sector expanded by 6.7 percent during the first nine months of 2025, with its contribution to Dubai’s GDP reaching 8.2 percent. 

Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism, Helal Saeed Al Marri, said: “Dubai’s economic performance during the first nine months of 2025 reflects our ability to sustain and accelerate growth.”  

He added: “Collaboration with our partners in the public and private sectors will enable us to launch initiatives that enhance competitiveness and open new horizons of opportunity, ensuring that Dubai remains on track to achieve the ambitious goals of Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda.”