Consultants for 'The World' project revealed that land reclamation on the iconic development would be completed by the middle of the coming year 2007.
The completion would pave the way for international developers to move in and begin construction on the islands, which is set to have an overall population of 150,000 off-season, and 250,000 during peak seasons according to Gulf News.
The first group of properties will be completed and occupied by 2009, said Luis Ajamil, The World's head consultant and architect from Miami-based Bermello Ajamil and Partners. The entire project is set to be completed in 2020.
"Most developments on The World will be low rise - three to four storeys - but if there is anything higher, it'll be iconic," said Ajamil.
"We've set forth a design that takes into consideration global warming and we've provided for that for the next 100 years," he added.
The islands sit four metres above sea level, enough to withstand what scientists predict may be a marked increase in sea levels over the coming decades.
