Master-developer Nakheel has signed a Dh387-million ($105 million) contract with marine engineering contractor Van Oord to deliver 23.5 km of coastline and breakwaters at Deira Islands, its new, 15.3-sq-km waterfront city in Dubai, UAE.

The two-year contract includes beaches, quay walls, rock edges and breakwaters at Deira Islands, which is set to transform the Deira district into a world-class hub for tourism, living, retail and entertainment.

Additional coastal work to be carried out by Van Oord at the development will bring the overall cost to around Dh550 million ($150 million), said senior officials after signing the deal with Van Oord Middle East unit on Monday.

The work includes a 4-km stretch of waterfront, large enough to accommodate more than 500 yachts and boats, at the 4.5-million-sq-m south island.  Van Oord will also build 2 km of breakwaters to protect the newly-created basin and beachfront.

Nakheel has previously engaged Van Oord for dredging and coastal work on its world-famous waterfront projects in Dubai, including Palm Jumeirah and The World, which added 300 km to Dubai’s coastline.

Deira Islands will add another 40 km, including 21 km of beachfront.

One of the several Nakheel developments under way in line with the Government of Dubai’s tourism vision, Deira Islands paves the way for hundreds of new hotels, serviced apartments, mixed-use buildings and marinas.

Nakheel itself is developing a significant chunk of the south island with a host of new attractions including Deira Islands Night Souk, Deira Mall, and Deira Islands Towers and Boulevard.-TradeArabia News Service