The Palm Islands consist of three artificial islands, Palm Jumeirah, Deira Island, and Palm Jebel Ali, on the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Palm Islands were constructed around the same time as The World. Nakheel Properties is the real estate developer of the Palm Islands. The creation of the islands began in 2001 and ended around 2006/2007. These islands have significantly impacted ocean sediments and wildlife in the surrounding area. Islands Palm Jumeirah () is the site of numerous private residences and hotels. From the air, the archipelago resembles a stylized palm tree within a circle. Construction began in 2001 and was financed mainly from Dubai's income from petroleum. By 2009, 28 hotels had opened on the site. The Atlantis is the largest hotel currently constructed on Palm Jumeirah. The island has a population of over 18,000 thousand as of 2015. Palm Jebel Ali () is an artificial archipelago that features a palm tree that is 50% larger than the original Palm Jumeirah. The island has a larger crescent shape. Space has been created between the crescent and the tree to build boardwalks that encircle the "fronds" of the "palm" and spell out an Arabic poem written by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Construction on the island began in 2001, but as of 2018, progression has been halted due to the financial crisis of 2007-2008. The Deira Islands () are four undeveloped artificial islands off the coast of Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As of 2021, little development has taken place on the islands due to the financial crisis of 2007–2008. At first, the project—which was supposed to be a part of the Palm Islands—was known as Palm Deira. It was intended to be the biggest palm of the three, roughly eight times as big as the Palm Jumeirah. Purpose Dubai built the Palm Tree Islands to increase the coastline for tourists. Dubai is known for its sunny weather and beaches, but more than 72 Km coastline was needed accommodate the goal of tripling the number of tourists to 15 million annually. The solution was to construct a massive island shaped like a Palm Tree, which upon completion in 2006, would add 56 Km to the coastline. The island is designed to be a city within itself, featuring shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, and residential properties. Environmental concerns The construction of the Palm Islands has had a significant