The World, Dubai

Ever wish the world was smaller? This group of more than 250 man-made islands was designed to resemble the entire world when seen from the air. The islands, which range from 250,000 to 900,000 square feet, can be bought by individual developers or private owners, starting at $6.85 million.

The only way to get between each island is by boat...or yacht, given the clientele. A notable engineering feat, the project incorporates two protective breakwaters to protect the islands from waves, consisting of one submerged reef (the outer breakwater) and an above-water structure (the inner breakwater).

The Hydropolis Hotel, Dubai

The Hydropolis Hotel, Dubai is the world's first underwater luxury resort, brings new meaning to the "ocean-view room."

Situated 66 feet below the surface of the Persian Gulf, Hydropolis will feature 220 guest suites.

Reinforced by concrete and steel, its Flexiglas walls and bubble-shaped dome ceilings offer sights of fish and other sea creatures. It's scheduled to open in late 2007.

The Palm Islands

The three artificial islands that make up the Palm (comprising the Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Jebel Ali, and the Palm Deira are the world's biggest man-made islands. Each was built from a staggering 1 billion cubic meters of dredged sand and stone, taken from Dubai's sea bed and configured into individual islands and surrounding breakwaters. The complex will house a variety of tourist attractions, ranging from spas and diving sites to apartments and theaters. The entire complex is designed to collectively resemble a date palm tree when seen from the sky.