Dubai unveils plans to build the world’s first underwater luxury vessel resort, reported The Arabian Business. Valued at US$ 680 million, The Floating Venice will be located in The World islands, 4 kilometers offshore from Dubai and will bring an authentic Venetian experience to the Middle East, the developer Kleindienst Group said in a statement. This floating resort has a capacity of up to 3,000 guests daily, with accommodation, restaurants and recreation split over four decks, one of which is underwater. Guests will arrive by boat, seaplane or helicopter to the main Piazza San Marco where they can check-in at the underwater lobby. Gondola's imported from Venice will transport guests to their cabins through the winding canals, or alternatively a short stroll through canal side walkways and bridges will take them to their awaiting cabins. The developer said there will be a range of 414 bespoke cabins, alongside boutique hospitality spots and traditional artisanal shops. Throughout the year The Floating Venice will be a celebration of culture and the arts, where traditional festivals such as Carnivale di Venezia, Binnale di Venezia and Festa del Rendentore will bring the resort alive with the flair and heritage of Venice. The Floating Venice also offers 24 pools, some of which will have acrylic bases giving views of the coral reefs below. Over 37000 square meters of corals will be planted around The Floating Venice as well as 12 floating beaches. A collection of 12 restaurants and bars offer a variety of entertainment, three of which are underwater while the resort will also feature the world's first floating underwater spa. Kleindienst Group said the Floating Venice is designed to have a lifespan of at least 100 years. Construction is scheduled to begin early in 2018 with completion by the fourth quarter of 2020.

For those who deem the impressive Dubai skyline or fake palm-shaped islands not quite exotic enough, there is a new Emirati holiday home experience in town. A veritable village of 372 square meters underwater villas is set to lay anchor in the man-made World Islands, promising panoramic views of the Persian Gulf under the sea. The first Floating Seahorse villas were unveiled last year, but these new are an upgrade for those who wish to bring the whole family. Larger than its predecessors, The Signature Edition of The Floating Seahorse has three levels and four sleeping areas which can be altered to the wishes and whims of prospective owners, reported Daily Mail. One level is completely submerged under water, and features the master bedroom and entertainment room with a view of a “coral reef garden”. The living areas in the underwater level alone will span 80 square meters and the coral garden will exceed 56 square meters in size. The Floating Seahorse villas will cost between US$ 2.8 million and US$ 3.2 million and are anchored at the heart-shaped St Petersburg island. By the time of completion, estimated to 2018, there will be more than 125 floating villas. The Floating Seahorse villas are a part of a grand project which has been 15 years in the making. Construction of The World, an artificial archipelago in the shape of a world map some 4 kilometers off the coast, began in 2003. The 300 “fake” islands range from 14 000 to 42 000 square meters, and were intended to boost Dubai's property market with wealthy foreign investors. However, following the global financial crisis in 2008, the project stalled and all but a handful of the islands remain undeveloped. In 2009, the Heart of Europe project was announced, an ambitious development to turn six of the islands into a luxury tourist resort inspired by European countries, including Sweden, Germany and Italy. The Heart of Europe will be home to the world’s first climate-controlled streets, with technology that will drop artificial rain or snow on streets and plazas. Connected by bridges, the car-free islands will be able to accommodate as many as 16,000 people at once.

UAE-based developer Kleindienst Group announced that contractors have been mobilized on its flagship The Heart of Europe project - a cluster of six islands forming part of The World, Dubai's iconic man-made island development. The company said in a statement that work has now started with the dispatching of 600 tons of materials and equipment from the main land to the islands. Vibro-compaction of all six islands is the first step in the construction process, preparing them for buildings to be erected. The construction process is anticipated to last until the end of 2016. The Heart of Europe project includes islands for mainland Europe, inspired by Austrian, Italian, Spanish, German and French architecture; Monaco; Sweden; Switzerland; St Petersburg, Austria and Germany. Once complete, The Heart of Europe will offer visitors and holiday makers the authentic charm of each of its European countries. Monaco will boast "all the elegance and opulence of the French Riviera" with contemporary villas and luxurious yachts, while Sweden will feature a central marketplace that encompasses the tradition of Stockholm's famous Saluhall markets. The first European island to be built will be Germany. The six stunning islands will offer leading hotels for families and wedding parties, landscaped gardens, climate controlled plazas, street performers, snow and rain-lined streets and much, much more. The World, master developed by the Nakheel Group's The World subsidiary, was first announced in 2003. The entire project spans approximately 9 kilometers in width, 7 kilometers in length, and is 4.5 kilometers from the Dubai mainland coast. The World's 300 islands and 27 kilometers breakwater were completed in 2008 cover over 870 thousand square meters and are visible from space. On May 2013 a Nakheel subsidiary has signed an out-of-court settlement agreement with Kleindienst Properties, a key investor in The World project, ending the need for it to go to the Dubai World Tribunal. The settlement, under which Kleindienst Properties will pay the balance owing of US$ 185 million to The World LLC, allows Kleindienst to continue with its planned Heart of Europe islands at The World.