Local developer Nakheel has awarded a AED165m ($45m) contract to the local APCC Piling & Contracting for the construction of six marinas at Deira Islands.

Once complete, the marina will accommodate a total of 614 boats and yachts up to 60 metres long. Construction is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of this year and will be delivered in phases over the next two years.

Nakheel says it has now invested more than AED7.5bn in infrastructure and construction at Deira Islands. In August, Nakheel confirmed new contracts worth AED430m for Deira Islands, and in April signed a AED4.2bn contract with the local Unec to build Deira Mall.

Deira Islands, which will have a population of 250,000 and create 80,000 jobs, will add 40km, including 21km of beach, to Dubai’s coastline.