The Dubai real-estate firm Nakheel has awarded a $150 million contract to marine engineering contractor Van Oord to construct 23.5km of coastline and breakwaters at its Deira Islands project.

The two-year contract for the 15.3 square kilometre waterfront district includes the construction of beaches, quays, rock edges and breakwaters.

Stage one will involve 8.5 kms of beaches, 3.5 kms of quay walls and 9.5 kms of rock revetments at two of the four Deira Islands. The 4.5 million square metre south island will accommodate 500 yachts and boats on a 4km stretch of waterfront; Van Oord will also build 2kms of breakwaters to protect the newly created basin and beachfront.

Deira Islands will add about 40km to the Dubai coastline, and is set to include hotels, serviced apartments, mixed-use developments and marinas.

Nakheel and Van Oord have in the past worked on projects that have added around 300km to Dubai’s coastline. Projects included dredging and coastal work on the Palm Jumeirah and The World.