Not content with finishing construction of the “The World”, a constellation of man-made islands forming the shape of the continents, Dubai’s developer, Nakheel, is to build “The Universe”: an archipelago of reclaimed islands depicting the sun and the planets and moons of the solar system.

Only half of The World’s islands have been sold, but Sultan bin Sulayem, Nakheel’s chairman, says Dubai is pressing ahead with another offshore project.