News Desk
DUBAI: Kleindienst Group, developer of The Heart of Europe – the US$5 billion (Dh18.3 billion) master-planned leisure tourism island destination – has shifted its operations to the islands just before the outbreak of the Coronavirus and has been continuing its construction activities in all the seven islands that are free from the Coronavirus threat that has brought business activities to a halt onshore.
Due to its location more than 4 kilometres offshore from Dubai’s famous Jumeirah coastline, the Heart of Europe remains completely free from Coronavirus threat. The Heart of Europe management has recently moved operations to the islands where construction workers have been working for a number of years.
More than 1,200 construction workers, technicians, engineers and environmental experts are currently working on site to deliver the innovative dream island destination that is set to rival the islands in the Maldives.
Kleindienst Group is supplying fresh food to them while a residential chef ensure freshly-processed and cooked food are served to all living and working on the island. A medical team is on site to monitor the health, safety and well-being of the workers and so far found no symptoms of Coronavirus among them.
For the last one month, the medical team is spraying disinfectants regularly while regular health checks are being conducted as part of the overall precautionary measures. The workers have full access to temporary community facilities, including prayer halls, recreational facilities in air-conditioned environment, while they can also enjoy cool weather on the island in the evenings.
Josef Kleindienst, Chairman of Kleindienst Group, said: “Islands are free from any pandemic that affects life onshore and that’s the beauty of life on the islands. While the rest of the world is reeling from the deadly Coronavirus crisis, the Heart of Europe islands remain completely free from the virus.
“I and my team have shifted to the Heart of Europe last month and we are enjoying uninterrupted work as we are preparing to deliver the Phase 1 of the Heart of Europe in the fourth quarter of 2020.”
“The Heart of Europe is a self-funded project and we have a philosophy that is – we only build what we know we can sell. We do not over-build and thus we do not over-burden us with large inventory. That way, the project remains economically sustainable and the manageable size of its portfolio sustains its value.” Josef Kleindienst says.
“As we get ready for delivery of the Phase I of the project, our investors will see the price appreciation of their assets once local, regional and international tourists start booking the facilities.”
The Phase 1 of The Heart of Europe that consists of three islands – Sweden, Germany and Honeymoon Island, around 78 floating Seahorses (Three-level floating homes with underwater views) as well as the Portofino Hotel will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2020 and will add greater cultural and entertainment attractions to the emirate’s offering.
Once complete, The Heart of Europe which combines sustainability with innovation, will deliver 15 hotels with 4,000 holiday homes including the iconic Floating Seahorse Villas and over 3,500 hotel keys that will create 4,000 jobs and help boost the UAE’s sustainable tourism sector.
The Heart of Europe is a cluster of seven man-made islands reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf, part The World – a of a cluster of 300 islands that make up a miniature version of the world just 4 kilometres offshore Dubai’s coastline off the Jumeirah 1 beach.
The World is part of the vision of Dubai Government to create a number of island resorts that will reinforce Dubai’s global reputation as a major tourism destination as it seeks to attract 20 million tourists per annum by 2020.
The first 9 Floating Seahorse Villas (FSV) have already been ‘floated’ into position in the sea. The villas are being hoisted into place by construction cranes and anchored into position on the seabed. The final ballast will be set up, once the fit out has been completed. Cleaning and maintenance below the waterline will be carried out by a specialist diving team in the next few weeks. Currently the FSV are being placed in their actual location at the masterplan. The FSV are sold out. Investors who missed the opportunity can explore other projects with underwater facilities such as The Floating Lido, a series of Italian hotels with underwater galleries and retails.
Strategically anchored next to Germany, the heart-shaped, Maldivian-inspired Honeymoon Island and Portofino hotel, a total of 78 FSV villas are being built ready for handover in the fourth quarter of 2020 when the Phase I of the overall project is completed.
Phase I also includes ten prestigious beachfront palaces on Sweden Island; 15 contemporary style beachfront villas and 17 lagoon, on Germany Island, and the 489 Princess Suites at the Portofino Hotel on the main Europe Island.
Kleindienst is also gearing up to deliver the Monaco and Nice boutique hotels at Côte D’Azur beach at the Main Europe island by the fourth quarter of 2020 and feature picturesque courtyards, lagoon shaped swimming pools, and hotel suites with ensuite viewing decks and sea views.
With white sandy beaches and over 500,000 square metres of coral reefs, the pioneering project will also feature Spanish olive trees that are between 100 and 1,500 years that were sourced from Andalusia, a region in Spain’s southern coast, and the world’s first climate controlled rainy street and snow plaza.
The Heart of Europe was designed with a zero-discharge policy and zero micro-plastics policy to ensure the protection of the Arabian Gulf and species of marine life that reside around the seven islands.
Sustainability and the protection of marine life have been pivotal in the development of the Heart of Europe. The project is home to the Coral Institute which spearheads a pioneering coral reef programme that aims at developing marine life in the surrounding waters.
