The Palm Jebel Ali has reported new developments in its construction, after an executive team visited the site recently. With 55 percent of the reclamation completed below and above sea level and 30 percent visible above water, the progress is recorded as being fully on track for the planned schedule. In addition, the reclamation of over four fronds has been completed with several to follow in rapid succession. Also reported was the completion of the trunk and the swift rising from the sea of the Crescent.

Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chairman Nakheel headed a delegation of company officials who visited The Palm Jebel Ali for a construction update, and to check on its progress. The area known as the Trunk of the island has already been completed and is fully connected to the mainland. As to the reclamation work it is now steadily progressing, and the break water is now 20 percent complete. I am pleased to report that The Palm Jebel Ali is completely on schedule, and we may even finish the project before the anticipated deadline, he stated, as he toured the site with the delegation.

Great foresight teamed with good planning and hard work is always an unbeatable combination, and the results should not be surprising to anyone at all, he said, describing the project`s firm adherence to a demanding deadline. It was important that the island is connected to the mainland - a task that has just been achieved - before plans for further construction were rolled out. And we can confirm that preparation for the connection by bridge from the mainland to the left hand side of the crescent is now underway. We are confident that this will be completed within the next 9 months, he added. Through our experience with the Palm, Jumeirah we are smoothly working towards the completion of reclamation for The Palm Jebel Ali, as we have learned and accomplished a lot with the first island, continued Bin Sulayem.

The Palm Jebel Ali is an extraordinary project comprised of approximately 100 million cubic metres of rock and sand from quarries around the UAE.

Bin Sulayem also praised the Nakheel engineering and construction team who are working on a round-the-clock, seven days a week basis to ensure the timely completion of The Palm Jebel Ali. The master plan is now underway and designers and infrastructure specialists are now working towards completing the plan by the end of the year.

My heartfelt praise goes out to every member of the 300-strong team that is engaged in this project. It is commendable that not only are they involved in creating the eighth wonder of the world, but that they are able to create it in record time, Bin Sulayem added.