The Story Behind The World Islands, Dubai

Floating just off Dubai's Jumeirah coastline, The World Islands have long embodied the emirate’s appetite for architectural spectacle. Conceived as a man-made archipelago shaped like a global map, the project – developed by Nakheel and completed in reclaimed land by 2008 – was once heralded as one of the most ambitious real-estate visions in modern history.

From rumored celebrity purchases to outlandish (and often abandoned) hotel projects, the controversial archipelago’s life has been a storied one, with hopes for completi...