Dutch marine contractor Van Oord has completed land reclamation for Shamal Holding's Naïa Island development off the Jumeirah coastline in Dubai, the developer said on Thursday, October 8.
Shamal Holding said the island's entire footprint is now above sea level.
Van Oord reclaimed more than 28 million cubic metres of sand and placed approximately 4.3 million tonnes of rock to form the island.
The contractor will next put in place marine works such as quay walls and culverts. The remaining scope will also cover the reorientation of existing beaches and the relocation of existing rock groynes.
According to Shamal, these measures are intended to optimise coastal protection and the guest experience.
Shamal reported the reclamation work as 55 per cent complete on February 13, 2026, and 75 per cent complete on March 6.
Van Oord was awarded the contract in August 2025. At that time, the scope was set to include both reclamation and marine infrastructure, with completion of the overall project scheduled for the first half of 2027.
The contractor planned to deploy trailing suction hopper dredgers, marine rock installation vessels, and other specialised equipment on the project.
Naïa Island was originally described as covering approximately 13 hectares including six kilometres of beaches.
Shamal unveiled the development in August 2025 as a private estate with coastal terrain and open green areas. Under the plan, the island will host the region's first Cheval Blanc maison, with suites and private villas, along with a limited number of branded beachfront residences and estate plots.
A private marina is also among the planned amenities.
The contract continues earlier collaboration between Shamal Holding and Van Oord on coastal development in Dubai, which includes previous work at Dubai Harbour.
