The ‘Al Marjan’ project is the very first man-made island that is being built in Ras al Khaimah.
It will be developed as an offshore destination for tourism, leisure, and luxurious living, comprising waterfront homes, floating villas, hotels, resorts, sporting facilities, a marina, a water theme park, and commercial areas.
It is the first major real estate project in the emirate to fit in a global plan for residential and commercial development in Ras al Khaimah.
Dredging International has an extensive experience in partnering with real estate developers in the Arabian Gulf.
The company is currently involved in the construction of the 4 km² artificial island ‘Pearl of the Gulf’ in Qatar, and in the creation of a 9 km waterfront estate development called ‘Al Raha Beach’ in Abu Dhabi.
Located at 27 km from the city center of Ras al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate and the seventh to join the UAE, the coral-shaped island of Al Marjan will extend up to 2 km at sea.
The reclamation will link several smaller islets, creating a Mediterranean style waterfront which compares to the French Côte d’Azur.
At 45 minutes by car from the international airport in Dubai and 15 minutes from the international airport of Ras al Khaimah, Al Marjan is expected to become a permanent home, a weekend destination or just an investment opportunity.
The current contract calls for the reclamation of 160 ha of prime waterfront area.
Dredging International has to level up to 4,5 metres CD, with sand that will be dredged from a borrow area located at 3 to 5 km from the island.
Dredging will be carried out with care for the environment.
Since the site is in very shallow water, the Belgian company will first assign a middle class trailing suction hopper dredger for creating an access channel, through which two big-size dredging vessels can come in a later phase.
Dredging International anticipates sending her TSHD ‘Pallieter’ (5.400 m³) for deepening the access channel in the first place.
Thanks to her special design and the minimal volume of process water required, the ‘green’ and very modern Pallieter is most suitable for this job.
The client is Rakeen Development, a private stock company which was established in Ras al Khaimah in April 2006 for real estate development in the emirate.
Work will begin in the second half of February, and will last until end October 2007.
Source: DEME Group, February 2007