World Islands

The World Islands is an artificial archipelago of around 300 islands arranged in the shape of a world map, located roughly 4 kilometres off the Dubai coastline near Jumeirah. Development has been gradual, with a small number of islands now operational as residential or hospitality projects.

Location & connectivity

The islands are accessible only by private boat or water taxi from marinas along the Dubai coast, primarily from Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. There is no road or bridge connection. Travel time by boat to the mainland is typically 15–20 minutes depending on the departure point.

Property mix

Development is sparse and highly bespoke. Most island plots are either undeveloped land or large private estate projects.

• •Private island estates / villas: Scattered individual islands purchased as single plots
• •Hospitality & resort: The Heart of Europe development (German, Sweden, Switzerland, and other themed islands) is the most advanced operational cluster
• •Land: A significant number of plots remain undeveloped and are available for purchase

Schools

There are no schools on the World Islands. Mainland schools require a boat transfer plus road journey:

• •GEMS Jumeirah Primary School — approx. 25–35 min (boat + drive)
• •Dubai English Speaking School (Jumeirah) — approx. 25–35 min
• •Kings' School Dubai (Umm Suqeim) — approx. 30–40 min

Healthcare

No medical facilities exist on the islands. All healthcare requires mainland access:

• •Mediclinic City Hospital (Healthcare City) — approx. 35–45 min (boat + drive)
• •Emirates Hospital (Jumeirah Beach Road) — approx. 25–35 min
• •American Hospital Dubai (Oud Metha) — approx. 40–50 min

Shopping & dining

There are no supermarkets or retail outlets on the World Islands themselves. Dining and shopping depend entirely on the mainland or on-island resort facilities at The Heart of Europe. Residents typically rely on delivery services or mainland trips for daily needs.

Parks & leisure

The islands' primary leisure draw is the water itself — private beaches, snorkelling, and boating are the default lifestyle here. The Heart of Europe development includes resort-style amenities such as floating villas, beach clubs, and restaurants. There are no parks, gyms, or cinemas on-island.

Nearby areas

• •Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
• •Dubai Marina
• •Palm Jumeirah
• •Jumeirah
• •Business Bay (via mainland)

Things to consider

The boat-only access is a significant daily commitment — commuting to a mainland office or school is not practical for most families. Infrastructure and amenity density remain very limited outside the Heart of Europe cluster, and buyers should conduct thorough due diligence on development timelines for undeveloped plots.