On Dubai's $5 billion (£3.6bn) man-made archipelago of six themed islands you should expect the unexpected. From opulent Viking beach palaces to underwater suites, the first climate-controlled 'raining' street and even an outdoor snow plaza, the Heart of Europe megaresort has spared no expense to bring a continental flavour to the super-wealthy clients of the Middle East. We take you on a tour of the eye-popping project and reveal the stunning properties up for grabs...

Located 4 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, the Heart of Europe consists of Sweden Island, Germany Island, Honeymoon Island, Switzerland Island, Floating Venice Island and the main Europe Island. They form the core of the 300-strong set of constructed islands known as 'The World', costing around $13 billion (£9.4bn) to build. With incredible private homes available for those that can afford them, there are also hotels themed around Italian villages, the French Riviera and Marbella all geared to appeal to different demographics, from families and couples to partying singles.

Essentially, the idea is to replicate the atmosphere of the European destinations right down to food, festivals and even the weather, something that is likely to appeal especially to Emiratis and people from the wider Middle East region, not to mention expats who don't want to endure a seven-hour flight to get a taste of home. In fact, so far the number one customers have been from the UAE, followed by buyers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India and France.

It's also aiming to be the planet's first zero-discharge and zero-microplastics tourism project and one of the most sustainable ever conceived. Completely car-free, the islands will run on clean energy such as solar and hydro fuels and its cafés and restaurants will only serve organic food. Landscaping will be free from pesticides, plants will be irrigated using recycled waste water and the developer is building and conserving coral reefs around the islands.

Residences come in the form of beachfront 'palaces' and villas, a community of Floating Seahorse Villas and 15 ultra-luxurious hotels, totalling 4,000 units. The first phase is nearing completion and comprises 10 Viking beach 'palaces' on Sweden Island, 17 Bahaus-style villas on Germany Island and 78 Floating Seahorse Villas, along with the main island's Portofino Hotel and two hotels in the Côte d'Azur resort. 

Construction of the remaining properties, including the Marbella Hotel and the other hotels on the main Europe Island, Floating Venice Island, and the Switzerland Island chalets will be done and dusted by 2023. Even a pandemic hasn't stopped the developer from keeping to the schedule. Let's begin our tour of the megaresort on Sweden Island, the first 'country' set to open. 

Brimming with Nordic vibes, the isle is peppered with 10 seven-storey Viking beach 'palaces', one of which has already been completed, while the other eight are at an advanced stage of construction, with two being combined into a single showstopping property. In addition to the beach 'palaces', seven waterfront villas are being built on the island, which will feature restaurants serving Swedish favourites such as smorgasbord, meatballs and pickled herring, and host events themed around festivals like Midsommar and Walpurgis Eve.

The properties are selling like hot cakes. With nine already snapped up, only one of the $21.8 million (£15.4m) 'palaces' remains on the market and certainly won't stay that way for long. The most opulent mansions the Heart of Europe has to offer, the seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom 'palaces' sprawl over 20,000 square feet. Their most striking external feature is the rooftop, which resembles the hull of an upturned Viking longship and according to the developer draws inspiration from the centuries-old legend of 10 Viking vessels that were lost in the Arabian Sea.

It's as if the developer discovered the ships and used them to build the roofs. As well as the mansion itself, the buyer also gets a swish infinity pool, micro-jungle garden with over 67 species of plants, strip of private beach and even a small stretch of ocean with a section of coral reef. Five of the 10 beach 'palaces', including the one up for sale, have been kitted out by luxury carmaker Bentley to an exceptionally high spec in a minimal yet cosy Scandinavian meets high-end yacht style.

Think plenty of clean lines, plush cream calf leather, highly polished wood finishes and copious Carrara marble. The massively spacious living and dining space has wonderful floor-to-ceiling windows and panelled walls, while the luxurious chef's kitchen is slick and pared-down. There's also an additional service kitchen in each of the 'palaces'.

An elevator links three of the floors, a nice billionaire-friendly touch that adds to the allure of the property. The bedrooms are just as appealing to the ultra high-net-worth individual who appreciates the finer things in life, particularly the master, which ticks all the boxes with its fabulous Bentley-designed round bed, gorgeous Nordic-style mid-century modern furniture and freestanding Carrara marble bathtub.

The show mansion's most dazzling interior feature has got to be the party lounge inside the roof area. Looking like the nightclub of your dreams, the fabulous space has a sunken dance floor, quilted leather walls, beautiful wood finishes and a gold latticed glass dome, and can comfortably accommodate 300 guests. An invite to the first post-pandemic bash at the property will likely be the hottest ticket in town.

Down in the basement there's a state-of-the-art gym and fitness centre, massage room with an indoor Aurora Borealis, sauna – an absolute must of course in a Swedish-themed property – and the perfect place to escape to on Dubai's blisteringly hot summer days: an actual snow room. This astonishing space is decked out with a bespoke machine that delivers flurries of the white stuff on demand. Like the other amenities in the house, it is powered by solar energy.

Next up is the horseshoe-shaped Germany Island. A total of 32 villas – 17 four-bedroom lagoon villas and 15 much larger five-bedroom beachfront villas – are being constructed on the Teutonic-themed isle, each of which is inspired by the modernist Bauhaus movement that espoused simple, unadorned architecture with sleek lines, flat roofs and geometric accents.

Price-wise, you can expect to pay around $3.3 million (£2.3m) for a 4,476-square-foot lagoon villa and $8 million (£5.7m) for a beachfront property spanning 8,470 square feet. As you might have guessed, Germany Island will celebrate the cuisine and culture of its namesake country, offering the finest bratwurst and apple strudel, along with traditional Christmas markets, Schützenfest, wine festivals and Oktoberfest, no doubt with staff sporting lederhosen and dirndl.

The lagoon properties will include a lagoon-style pool and lush tropical garden, while the bigger beachfront villas are going to blow their owners away with each featuring an infinity pool, exterior pool deck and exclusive access to a private stretch of sand. Construction on the island is approaching completion says Kleindienst Group, though a show unit hasn't been created as yet.

Forget bog-standard floor-to-ceiling windows. The architects of the modernist masterpieces on Germany Island have gone all out with movable glass walls, which are expertly designed to let in just the right amount of light and unify the interior and exterior spaces, so that they merge seamlessly into one.

Bauhaus principles pervade the interiors, which will be refreshingly bling-free. Like the 'palaces' on Sweden Island, the wood, marble and other finishes are guaranteed to be as premium as they come, though the onus is on minimal, functional design rather than OTT ornamentation. In a nutshell, the concept is deluxe mid-century modern with a 21st-century edge.

This rendering shows how one of the master bedrooms might look once it's been furnished. Exuding impeccable good taste, the geometric bookcase is synonymous with the best of Bauhaus design, as are the simple mid-century modern stool and lounge chair, and that very hip combo bed and desk slash dressing table.

Be that as it may, the views through those glass walls are what will really make the villas on Germany Island extra-special. Every single one of the lagoon and beachfront properties is going to offer panoramic vistas of the ocean or Dubai skyline. And in keeping with the development's strong focus on sustainability, the properties will be powered by solar and other green energy sources.

Originally conceived as the Russian-themed St Petersburg Island, this heart-shaped stunner will now be known as Honeymoon Island, a chic and oh so romantic Maldivian-esque destination for newlyweds. Conveniently, it is situated next to the upcoming one-key Empress Elisabeth at The Gate of the megaresort, which is said to be the world's first dedicated seven-star wedding hotel. The island and hotel are due for completion by 2023.

The adorable isle is set to feature sunset and sunrise beaches, a restaurant and lounge rustling up modern European cuisine, as well as a ravishing lagoon pool and tranquil micro-jungle garden. Events will be curated with romance in mind, from festivals and ballet performances to opera soirées. Accommodation comes in the form of 141 Floating Seahorse Villas tethered on jetties around the island, which will offer their lucky owners and guests the world's first floating and underwater living experience.

The fantastic floating marvels span 4,404 square feet and are made up of four flexi living/sleeping areas arranged over three levels comprising an upper deck complete with a jacuzzi, a sea level deck with interior living space and outdoor chillout and observation deck, and most staggering of all, a mesmerising submerged level with two underwater rooms that feature glass walls through which the owner or guest can gaze at the colourful marine life in the Persian Gulf.

Buyers can choose from a standard Signature Edition or more expensive Bentley Addition outfitted by the luxury carmaker. A total of 78 Floating Seahorse Villas will be handed over this year and scores have already been sold. Right now, you can snap one up from between $3.3 million (£2.3m) and $5.5 million (£3.9m). The developer raised eyebrows back in 2018 for offering the properties for sale without having secured official approval, but the authorities have since green-lit the project and the awesome houseboats are appreciating in value.

Each of the incredible vessels comes with a 100-year guarantee and the ocean plot it floats on. The villas each have a fully-fitted kitchen, but residents and guests will also be able to order room service 24/7 from the Honeymoon Island restaurant. A cool bonus in every sense of the word, the outdoor areas will be climate-controlled, making them comfortable all year-round.

Just like a luxury aquarium, the star attraction hands-down is that breathtaking submerged level, which can be configured to include a bathroom and bedroom, two bedrooms, lounge areas, and other combos. Kleindienst Group is bending over backwards to ensure the views from the underwater rooms are as heart-stopping as they can possibly be. To achieve this, the developer has established a dedicated Coral & Marine Life Institute and embarked on an extensive 'seahabilitation' programme.

The institute is planting over 100,000 local varieties of coral annually and actively breeding native marine life, including angel and clown fish, turtles, seahorses and even oysters for pearl diving. The villas will float above these vibrant underwater gardens, which are set to thrive thanks to the project's zero-discharge and zero-microplastics policies. Literally all waste water will be meticulously filtered to avoid contamination of the pristine ocean environment.

The main Europe Island will boast 13 five-star hotels, each of which is themed around an iconic European destination and aimed at a different demographic, from families to partying singles. The first due for completion here is Portofino. Designed by Italian architects to evoke the brightly hued houses that line the shore of the namesake Italian fishing village, the 489-suite hotel will have crystal chandeliers, a ceiling depicting Old Master paintings and 514 aquariums. Amenities will range from elegant cafés and restaurants, to luxury boutiques, the Queen's Club spa, a watersports centre and a European-style yacht marina.

An astounding 31,000 plants will cover the hotel's façade, while the surrounding gardens will have a Mediterranean feel, having been planted with lemon groves, vines and ancient olive trees from Spain. Children will be kept busy with a kids' club, concerts, marine conservation classes and even an outdoor snow plaza where they can have snowball fights and build snowmen. Yes, really. The developer showcased the snow-making tech on a sweltering day in July 2019, so we do know the concept is actually feasible.

The hotel will also house the Castello Theatre, which will be the setting for live stage shows, movie screenings and concerts with an Italian flavour. Suite owners and guests can choose from five pools including an Olympic-sized wonder with underground viewing windows that will be used to stage water ballet, synchronised swimming performances and other aquatic extravaganzas.

All in all, 471 Princess Suites, 17 Queen Suites and the Villa Adriana penthouse are available, with the Princess Suites starting at $726,000 (£513k), the grander Queen Suites priced from $2 million (£1.4m) and the penthouse on the market for considerably more. The downside is the properties are timeshares, and the owners will only be permitted to stay in their suite for two weeks of the year. Staff will speak Italian, run on Italian time and euros will be accepted as payment, and the hotel will host seven cultural festivals per year.

Europe Island's Côte d'Azur resort will open next. Inspired by the French Riviera, the resort encompasses four boutique hotels: Monaco, Nice, Cannes and St Tropez. The foursome will be located next to the idyllic Rainbow Beach, a mini rainforest and the climate-controlled Rainy Street, and united by an enormous sustainable, solar-powered lagoon pool measuring a record 129,000 square feet. 

Staff will speak French and like the Portofino, the hotels will run on European time, accept euros as payment and host seven cultural festivals annually. Fine-dining restaurants and cafes will tempt the taste buds with delectable Gallic classics and Michelin Star-worthy modern French cuisine, and the resort will have a replica of Monaco's marina, along with a fitness centre and spa with a snowroom.

Located next to the resort is the world-first Rainy Street, which will stretch two-thirds of a mile. Lined with swish cafés, restaurants, bars, boutiques and art galleries, the buildings in the climate-controlled thoroughfare will be kitted out with concealed pipes developed by scientists at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute that pump out cooling rain showers to maintain a constant temperature of 27°C (81°F), effectively replicating Europe's milder, damper weather during Dubai's scorching summers. An entertainment hub to boot, the street will host 51 festivals a year.

A stone's throw away from Rainy Street is the Heart of Europe Rain Forest, which is being planted with 100 types of lush tropical plants and palm trees. The Rain Forest utilises similar technology to Rainy Street, with a cutting-edge sustainable irrigation system that recycles waste water and can magic up showers on demand. The aim is to create a mild microclimate zone where flora and fauna can flourish.

Due for completion at the end of 2022, the Marbella Hotel will offer 191 apartments, suites and 'caves'. Standouts will include gardens planted with palms and centuries-old olive trees from southern Spain, the Puerto Banús beach club, a restaurant that will host flamenco shows, and the Middle East's only Moorish spa, a haven of tranquillity featuring a hammam and sauna, scented showers and a relaxation room. Suite owners and guests can learn flamenco, take Spanish language classes, discover how to make paella and partake in the seven festivals a year the hotel will host. 

Adjacent to the main Europe Island, Floating Venice Island will be the world's first underwater hotel with a gym and spa, and one of the most captivating ever dreamt up. Designed in a Venetian Gothic style reinvented for th 21st-century, the opulent seven-star palazzo hotel will emulate the ambiance of the City of Canals, as well as its distinctive architecture.

At its centre will be a pool matching the proportions of St Mark's Square, while gondolas imported from Italy will convey suite owners and guests to their 'cabins' and the hotel's indulgent sea-level amenities via a network of canals. A rich calendar of entertainment and cultural events is planned for the island, including opera and classical musical performances and versions of its namesake's famous masked balls and Biennale arts festival.

Unlike the other islands that make up the Heart of Europe, Floating Venice will actually be suspended on the sea and won't consist of any dry land as such. As a result, the 'island' will be classed as a boat. The developer is actually using similar technology deployed in the Floating Seahorse Villas to make the remarkable hotel a reality, and once it's completed, there won't be any place like it in the world.

While the parts of the hotel situated above sea level are impressive enough, it's the subaquatic deck that will really bowl over visitors. An underwater lobby, three restaurants, which we imagine will specialise in Italian seafood delicacies, bars, boutiques, a gym and spa, and 180 'cabins' will span the expansive sunken space.

In total, the hotel will feature 414 bespoke 'cabins' offering different levels of luxury, from the entry-level (though pretty lavish nonetheless) Captain Suite, through to the Commodore Suite and the sumptuous Admiral Suite, which will be fit for a king never mind the head of the navy. Naturally, the most sought-after will be the underwater 'cabins'.

These beguiling suites are set to be even more impressive than the Floating Seahorse Villas' underwater rooms. They will be significantly larger and have more extensive dual-aspect glass walls through which the owner or guest can admire the corals, aquatic plants, tropical fish, turtles, seahorses and other marine life, making for an altogether more immersive underwater experience.

The sea-level suites are almost as enticing as you can see from this render.  A full price list for the 'cabins' hasn't been released but timeshare deals are already being offered. Unsurprisingly, the seven-star accommodation doesn't come cheap with a 694-square-foot sea-level Captain Suite comprising a studio, ensuite bathroom and balcony starting at a hefty $817,000 (£578k).

The final part of the Heart of Europe to open, Switzerland Island was originally envisaged as an Alpine resort meets Maldives-style retreat with a refreshing artificial ice cave and lake at its core. At one point, the developer was going to construct a mini mountain on the island dotted with chalet-style villas, but whether this will happen now is up in the air.

The phase three development would have seen 77 units starting from two-bedroom beachfront homes to six-bedroom family chalets built on the island, but given the redesign, the number of properties and their configuration are likely to change. What is certain is that the island will be a celebration of Switzerland and like the others in the megaresort, an ultra-luxurious, eco-friendly paradise. 

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