As with most things, the trend was set by Dubai. The Palm concept (commissioned by Sheikh Mohammed and developed by Nakheel Properties) in 2001, was soon copied by Durrat al Bahrain (owned by the Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company, a JV between the Bahrain government and Kuwait Finance House, developed by Tameer). When economical prospects meet national pride, no effort is spared.

Size does matter Simple figures can make you dizzy: the three Palm islands (Palms Jumeirah, Jebel Ali and Deira) form the largest land reclamation project in the world. The Palm-Deira alone should eventually cover an area 46.35 million sqm, larger than Manhattan, and house over a million people. Each of the three islands is in the iconic shape of a palm tree and will add 360km of beach front to the Dubai coastline.

The Palms will be home to over 100 luxury hotels, four theme parks and all the other expected facilities. The project should be completed by 2015, but the Palm-Jumeirah first phase was on the market in January 2003 and the whole project sold out in only 72 hours; residents began moving in at the end of 2006.