UAE: First look: Sharjah's Dh25 billion Waterfront City on track for 2019 completion!

• 'Sun Island' consists of 231 villas ranging between three, four, five, and six-bedrooms.

Phase 1 of the Dh25 billion Sharjah Waterfront Project is on track for its completion by the end of 2019.

'Sun Island' consists of 231 villas ranging between three, four, five, and six-bedrooms. Investor interest in the project has already seen the sale of 30 per cent of the residential villas, officials say.

The project consists of eight natural islands connected to each other, and is a mixed use development that includes villas, commercial units, shopping malls, a water park, hotels, and marina. Phase 2 of the project will include the construction of several commercial units, as well as two hotels. Kempinski and Dusit have already signed on to the projects as operators.

The whole project is estimated to be completed over a period of 8-10 years. Built upon natural land in the Hamriyah zone, the projected is expected to aid Sharjah in reaching its tourism figures for 2021.

Entertainment and leisure offerings are also expected to bring in visitors from the neighbouring emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Developers are already in talks with the Dubai RTA to provide water taxis that will ferry visitors between the two emirates.