The local developer Meraas Development is pushing ahead with infrastructure work on its Pearl Jumeirah Island, which previously formed the first phase of its ambitious $95bn Jumeirah Gardens City scheme in Dubai.

“Infrastructure is going in and access problems have been solved – there is a road opened to the island,” said Morne Fourie, director of urban planning and development, Meraas, speaking at MEED’s Arabian World Construction Summit (AWCS) on 22 May.

The Pearl Jumeirah Island was formerly known as the East Bay Island, and was one of seven planned reclaimed islands of the ambitious Jumeirah Gardens City. The originally planned 820,000 square-metre Jumeirah Garden City project was cancelled as a result of the crash in the Dubai property market.