Developer Kleindienst says it has awarded construction contracts worth $1.3 billion for the development of ‘The Heart of Europe’, a giant project featuring a cluster of six islands on The World located 4km off the coast of Dubai.

Engineering firms JK Bauen Building Contracting, Wuchang Ship Building Industry Group Company and Sino Great Wall International Engineering have been signed up for the project.

“The combination of JK Bauen’s vision and Wuchang’s experience will work hand-in-hand to bring the Heart of Europe to life,” stated Josef Kleindienst, the chairman of Kleindienst and also ‘The Heart of Europe’, after signing the letter of award (LOA) with the officials of the Chinese firms.

In line with the deal, JK Bauen will focus on building the Heart of Europe in an environmentally sustainable fashion. The design will boast a specialised insulation around the windows and doors, which will conserve up to 70 per cent of electricity output, largely exceeding current standards for sustainable building.

The project also features a coral nursery which will be home to 100,000 natural corals feeding in
a protected coral garden which, once completed, will cover a surface area of 5 million sq ft.