PlayInfoBox

Home /Education /The World's Artificial Islands, from Palm Jumeirah to Saemangeum

The World's Artificial Islands, from Palm Jumeirah to Saemangeum

See how cities and airports have risen on land reclaimed from the sea.

Palm Jumeirah (UAE, Dubai)

An artificial island shaped like a palm tree, construction of which began in 2001, and which has since become one of Dubai's defining landmarks. Luxury hotels and homes sit on the reclaimed trunk and frond-shaped land, protected by a surrounding breakwater that shields the island from waves. Dubai is well known for pursuing several similar land-reclamation island projects.

The World Islands (UAE, Dubai)

A project that created nearly 300 small artificial islands shaped to resemble a map of the world, ranking alongside Palm Jumeirah as one of Dubai's flagship land-reclamation developments. Development proceeded by selling individual islands to buyers or companies, though a large number are known to have remained undeveloped for a long time. Development pace and current status can change over time, so the latest news should be checked separately.

Kansai International Airport (Japan)

An airport built on an artificial island created by reclaiming part of Osaka Bay, which opened in 1994. It was built offshore so that a land-scarce Japan could operate an airport around the clock without noise complaints. Because it sits on reclaimed land, ongoing subsidence has required continual reinforcement work over the years, and it is frequently cited as a landmark example of offshore airport construction.

Flevoland (Netherlands)

One of the largest artificial landmasses in the world, created by reclaiming part of the former Zuiderzee, and now forming an entire province of the Netherlands β€” Flevoland. The Netherlands is famously known for expanding its territory over centuries using dike-building and land-draining reclamation techniques, and Flevoland stands as the showcase result of that effort. The region is home to planned cities such as Lelystad and Almere.

Chek Lap Kok (Hong Kong International Airport)

Hong Kong International Airport sits on an artificial island created by leveling two small existing islands and using that material to fill the surrounding sea. With Hong Kong's mountainous terrain leaving little room to expand its old airport (Kai Tak), the decision was made to build an entirely new site out on the water instead. Since opening in 1998, it has operated as one of the world's premier major airports.

Odaiba (Japan, Tokyo Bay)

Originally a set of gun-battery islands built to defend against foreign warships, Odaiba later expanded through large-scale land reclamation into a commercial, residential, and tourist district. It is now one of Tokyo's signature tourist destinations, home to shopping malls, broadcast stations, and exhibition halls, connected to central Tokyo by bridges and rail.

Saemangeum (South Korea)

The Saemangeum seawall in North Jeolla Province was introduced at the time of its completion as one of the longest artificial sea walls in the world, making it one of South Korea's largest land reclamation projects. By damming off seawater with the seawall, the tidal flats and sea behind it were converted into land and a freshwater lake, with long-running plans to develop the resulting site into industrial complexes, farmland, and renewable energy facilities. As a large-scale reclamation project, it has also been the subject of ongoing debate over its ecological impact.

Ocean Flower Island (China, Hainan)

A massive artificial island resort complex built by reclaiming land along the coast of Hainan, China, and counted among the largest new land-reclamation megaprojects of the 21st century. Developed as a mixed-use resort with hotels, theme parks, and residential complexes, it is often compared to Dubai's artificial island developments.

Why do countries build artificial islands?

Countries short on flat land often build artificial islands to secure sites for airports or new urban development, or to create a striking tourism landmark. Reclamation and land-filling are expensive, and they also bring challenges like land subsidence and changes to marine ecosystems, which is why these large-scale public or private projects are typically weighed carefully for both their benefits and their drawbacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are an artificial island and reclaimed land the same thing?

They are broadly similar concepts, but "artificial island" more often refers to piling up land in open water to form an entirely new island shape, while "reclaimed land" more often refers to walling off seawater with a dike and then converting the enclosed area into land. In practice, the two methods are frequently combined, so the distinction isn't always clear-cut.

Are artificial islands safe from natural disasters?

Various safety measures, such as breakwaters and ground reinforcement, are factored into the design from the start, but because reclaimed land is inherently less stable than natural ground, there is ongoing concern that it may be more vulnerable to hazards like earthquakes and sea-level rise. As a result, more recent projects increasingly factor in climate-driven sea-level rise from the design stage onward.