What are the islands being built of?
Each island is being built of around 100 million cu m of rock and sand.

Where is the sand and rock coming from?
The foundation rock for the breakwater is coming from quarries around the UAE. It is being taken to the site by barges to minimise any disruption on land. The sand that is being used as fill is being dredged locally.

What are the unique challenges of a project such as this?
While the individual elements of the development have all been accomplished before, this is the first time they will be managed simultaneously on the same project.  This challenge, however, poses no difficulties to the project managers, who have previous experience in the individual components combined with outstanding levels of capability and efficiency.

How much will it cost to build?
The overall cost of the first two phases of The Palm, Jumeirah, and The Palm, Jebel Ali, is estimated at $1.5 billion and $2 billion respectively. This includes the building of the land, infrastructure, services and roads.  The third phase relates to the construction of the hotels, villas and other buildings. The cost for this will be announced in due course.

How is The Palm divided and what will each part offer?
Each island will be built in the shape of a palm tree and consist of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds and a surrounding crescent island.
On The Palm, Jumeirah, the trunk will house apartments, retail outlets, leisure facilities, hotels, dining complexes and two marinas; crown/fronds will house the villas and town homes; and the crescent will accommodate the hotels and form the breakwater on the outer side. On The Palm, Jebel Ali the trunk will house apartments, retail outlets, leisure facilities, eight hotels, dining complexes, a sea village; crown/fronds will house the villas and townhomes; the crescent will accommodate a variety of properties ranging from exclusive residential homes such as palaces, mansions and villas to boutique hotels, resorts and exclusive marinas; and water homes will form a 12-km chain between the fronds and crescent.