The World is an artificial archipelago of various small islands constructed in the rough shape of a world map, located 4 km off the coast of Dubai.
The World islands are composed mainly of sand dredged from Dubai's shallow coastal waters, and are one of several artificial island developments in Dubai.
As of 2010, only a single island has any building on it, which is a show home - all the other projects having been cancelled or delayed due to the financial crisis.