Dubai
CNN
—
Off the coast of Dubai, a property developer is planning to create up to 500,000 square meters of coral reef.
Kleindienst Group, the developer behind the Heart of Europe megaresort, which forms part of a network of man-made islands called “The World,” has set up The Coral Institute there, to nurse and regenerate corals.
It is using a technique known as “fragmentation,” where pieces of coral are cut with a small electric saw, allowing each coral to potentially regenerate hundreds of times.
The pieces of coral will be then stored in water tanks, monitored and nursed by a team of marine biologists until they grow enough to recreate a reef.
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A world away: Despite the pandemic, construction has been continuing apace on the Heart of Europe, an ambitious project to recreate the spirit of popular European destinations off the coast of Dubai. This image from July 2020 shows work still underway.
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Sweden island: The first phase of the project is due to be completed in late 2020. On Sweden island, "palaces" are being built beneath roofs that resemble upturned Viking longboats.
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Long game: The $5 billion megaresort has been nearly two decades in the making and will be the first part of the more extensive The World collection of islands to be completed.
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Desert snow: The Sweden Beach Palace even has a snow room. Elsewhere on Europe island, climate-controlled streets will douse visitors in European-style summer rain and even flurries of snow.
Courtesy David Dunn
Scandi swank: Sweden island is home to a vast $21.8 million show mansion which has its own private beach. Exclusive furnishings by high-end car maker Bentley include plush seating for lavish dinner parties.
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Celebration space: The Sweden island mansion includes a domed party lounge that can accommodate 300 guests -- ideal for those post-pandemic celebrations.
Courtesy David Dunn
Italy reimagined: The Portofino resort is designed with colorful facades intended to resemble Italian waterfront architecture.
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Families-only: The Italian-style Portofino resort is aimed at families.
Courtesy David Dunn
Polyglot parrots: African grey parrots are currently receiving daily language lessons, in preparation for addressing guests when their hotel home, Portofino, opens next June. For now the avian ambassadors are learning English, but European and Arabic greetings are on the schedule.
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50/50: The islands' developers say that they expect interest in the destination to be evenly balanced between locals and overseas arrivals.
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Isolated islands: Being separated from the mainland, the Heart of Europe -- seen here in July 2020 -- has been able to remain Covid-free, with construction workers isolating on the islands to continue work.
Courtesy David Dunn
Germany island: Deutschland design features on Germany island, with buildings supposedly inspired by Bauhaus architecture.
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Cote d'Azur: The Côte d'Azur area of Main Europe island has hotels named after French Riviera playgrounds Monaco, Nice, Cannes and St. Tropez. These will be staffed by French speakers.
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Honeymoon island: On the heart-shaped Honeymoon island, newlyweds can enjoy their own sunrise and sunset beaches.
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Floating Seahorse: Among the Heart of Europe's signature properties are the Floating Seahorse villas, with rooms offering views above and below the waterline.
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Life aquatic: Underwater windows offer vistas of fish nibbling at coral. The Heart of Europe also includes a project to preserve and nurture living coral.
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All at sea: When completed, there are expected to be 147 Floating Seahorse dwellings in the Heart of Europe.
“The Coral Institute will hold and protect the genetic stock of corals … around the Arabian Gulf,” Josef Kleindienst, the chairman of Kleindienst Group, tells CNN.
A 2018 study found that 73% of corals in the UAE have been wiped out by bleaching, largely due to climate change and human activity.
Kleindienst says that Heart of Europe’s goal is to show that development and marine life can co-exist in a sustainable environment. The corals will contribute to making the site eco-friendly and they also will become a landscaping feature of the luxury hotels, 4,000 residential properties and over 50 tourist attractions at the Heart of Europe, including the iconic Floating Seahorse Villas.
Watch the video above to find out more