Nakheel, the leading property developers in the UAE confirmed that The Palm, Jumeirah and other coastline projects had withstood the 30 knot North by North Westerly winds “ Al Shamal Winds” that had hurtled over the beaches of Dubai and the UAE seashore.
Today, Nakheel measured 2.5 metre high, near shore waves around The Palm’s breakwater. Due to high tide, which coincided with on shore Al Shamal winds surge this in turn created high water levels to measure a wave of one point five metres. The development of the breakwater, which due to weight and positioning of the rocks will absorb waves reaching five metres - which have never been recorded near shore in the gulf - and remain stable. In addition to the breakwater, Nakheel’s engineers have employed the latest techniques and technology for wave energy dispersal.
Sultan Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of Nakheel stated,” According to our extensive research these tides are normal this time of year and due to the seasonal Al Shamal winds coinciding with the high tide a few areas of the Dubai coastline – near tide level – felt the effect of the high water level waves.”
General infrastructure and construction on the island has continued as normal, due to the highly effective breakwater, which has ensured that the sea level inside the crescent has remained calm and at a constant level.
A combination of high waves and strong winds built up waves that reached between three to four feet offshore, which are expected at this time of year due to the astronomical tide and wind surge. During the design process for the coastline developments, Nakheel carried out in-depth studies of the Arabian Gulf and each of its waterfront projects, focusing closely on wave movements during the last 40 years to determine the near shore height that waves could reach and concluded that 2.6 metres was the maximum tide height. Considering this, Nakheel developed The Palm’s breakwater to measure 4 meteres with a slight slope to prevent any high tide effects.
“The Meteorological Office has reported Dubai is not the worst hit area in this storm and we hope that all the families in the coastal villages around the UAE are safe. We are also aware that some of the beaches here in Dubai have been eroded by the high tide and winds, but it is important to remember that our projects are designed and built to withstand four metre waves, with the breakwaters being created from six to ten tonne rocks statically positioned, which can not be swept away,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman for Nakheel.
“Mother Nature is unpredictable and we can never fully guard against her, however, we can study the landscape, the tides, meteorology and natural phenomenon that are specific to the Gulf and we can build contingencies to protect. The effectiveness demonstrated today by the breakwater, guaranteed the safety of the properties that have been and are being built, as well as those construction workers, working on the crown and the trunk”.
“Safety is paramount for us, and we have been consciences throughout the development of the three Palm projects, as well as The World. Each development’s breakwater has always been part of the first stage of the reclamation process, as it provides the initial safety to the boats working in the area and then later, as demonstrated today, for the workers and in the future for the property owners, be they private or commercial,” said Bin Sulayem.
