Kleindienst Group, the UAE-based property developer, has said that work is in full swing to complete Phase One of the $5 billion Heart of Europe project – a master planned leisure tourism island destination – as the island remains free from the coronavirus due to its isolated location, four kilometres offshore.
In a statement, the developer said that more than 1,200 construction workers, technicians, engineers and environmental experts are working full-time in a healthy and safe environment. An on-site medical team is running health-checks and monitors the health and well-being of all staff and workers on the island, it added.
Kleindienst said that it had shifted its operations to the islands just before the outbreak of the coronavirus and has been continuing its construction activities on all seven islands that are free from the COVID-19 threat, which has brought a halt to business activities onshore.
It added that The Heart of Europe management recently moved its operations to the islands, where construction workers have been working for a number of years.
Group chairman Josef Kleindienst said the islands are free from the pandemic that affects life onshore.
“I and my team have shifted to the Heart of Europe last month and we are enjoying uninterrupted work as we are preparing to deliver Phase One of the Heart of Europe in the fourth quarter of 2020,” the top official stated.
Several construction workers, technicians, engineers and environmental experts are currently working on site to deliver the island destination that will rival the islands in the Maldives, he added.
Kleindienst said it was supplying fresh food to them while a residential chef ensures freshly processed and cooked food are served to all living and working on the island.
“A medical team is on site to monitor the health, safety and well-being of the workers and so far, found no symptoms of the coronavirus among them,” he added.
For the last one month, the medical team is spraying disinfectants regularly while regular health checks are being conducted as part of the overall precautionary measures, said Kleindienst.
The workers have full access to temporary community facilities, including prayer halls, recreational facilities in air-conditioned environment, while they can also enjoy cool weather on the island in the evenings, he added.
Phase One of The Heart of Europe comprises three islands – Sweden, Germany and Honeymoon Island, around 78 floating Seahorses (Three-level floating homes with underwater views) as well as the Portafino Hotel will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Once complete, The Heart of Europe will deliver 15 hotels with 4,000 holiday homes, including the iconic Floating Seahorse Villas, and over 3,500 hotel keys that will create 4,000 jobs and help boost the UAE’s sustainable tourism sector, said the developer.
Heart of Europe is a cluster of seven man-made islands reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf, part The World – a cluster of 300 islands that make up a miniature version of the world just four kilometres offshore Dubai’s coastline off the Jumeirah 1 beach.