Dubai 'islands' visible from outer space

Joining the ever-lengthening list of man-made constructions visible from space is the Palm Islands development, a new project off the coast of Dubai.

The plan will create two palm-tree shaped islands, attached to Dubai's shoreline, from sand and rock. Each fronded isle will have a diameter of 5km and will extend 5km offshore.

The design will add another 120km to Dubai's beachfront. "It is the only way to extend Dubai's coast," says Patrick Macdonald, UK director of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. "The islands will offer an alternative to the large luxury hotels."

Each island will take up to four years to complete. The first is expected to have 2000 villas, shopping complexes, a marine park and two marinas, each with berths for 150 yachts and 50 "mega-yachts."

Tourism was identified in the late 80s as the industry which would diversify Dubai's economy. The Gulf state's visitor-drive seems to be working: up from 620,000 tourists in 1989 to 3 million by 1999.