Emaar Properties has announced the construction of the Dubai Marina's marine wall, which it says is the longest structure of its kind in the world. The 10 km waterfront channel forms a boundary for the massive waterfront development.

The consultant on the project was Halcrow International.

The marina wall project started in December 1998 with what became a 3.5 km long, 5.7 million cu m excavation site. To ensure dry construction conditions, more than two million gallons of water a day - 3.5 billion gallons in total - was pumped back into the sea to build the quay wall. The excavation's average depth is 3.5 m below sea level, with the deepest sections at each end of the Marina where it meets the Gulf waters.

The Marina wall comprises about 15,000 individual concrete blocks weighing up to 42 tonnes each. All blocks were prepared on site by Al Futtaim Tarmac. At the peak of work, 50 blocks a day were cast in a round-the-clock operation.

Construction of the wall was completed using a detailed numbering system for each block.

"To enable completion of complex curved sections of the Marina wall, different convex and concave blocks had to be individually designed. Every block has its own serial number and a record has been kept showing all of the details of its construction and its final position in the wall," executive projects director Issam Galadari said.

The first phase of the Dubai Marina project - Marina 1 - which comprises six towers and houses more than 1,090 residential units was nearly sold out days after it opened for sale last year.

Demand for property at the five-building Marina 4 development saw apartments in the first two towers snapped up in just a matter of weeks, Emaar said.

Dubai Marina will eventually house people in luxurious residential apartment towers and villas. The most advanced information technology systems will be available in every home as standard.

A super resort spa and fitness club, outdoor terraces with swimming pools, gymnasiums with advanced fitness equipment, saunas and spa facilities, Hollywood-style movie theatres, games room, business centres, lounge facilities and guest suites are some of the facilities offered in many of the Emaar Marina developments.