Aakar Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaima is going green - according to a recent announcement by Aakar’s CEO and President Yadvinder Singh. The latest international green design and construction guidelines will be implemented in a $162 million luxury hotel and residential project.

“The initiative involves the implementation of the appropriate latest international design & construction guidelines such as Leed NC, Ashrae 90.1 and Ashrae 55,” Singh said, adding that measures would be taken to conserve energy and water resources during the designing of the project.

According to recent studies, compliance with “Green building codes” can increase the performance of structures by more than 30 per cent,, prompting some developers to recognize the role of the physical environment on occupant productivity and life-cycle cost of buildings. In line with this, Aakar said it would be implementing a sustainable design approach.

The developer is taking steps to transform the conventional methods being used at present by the real estate industry into a more sustainable form. The luxury development will offer a five-star hotel and a large assortment of freehold apartments. More on Luxury development in Ras Al Khaima goes green

Richard Branson, high-profile British entrepreneur, is once again attempting to jump on the “Green,” bandwagon with a “eco-resort,” in the Caribbean

According to Yahoo news, Mr. Branson said that his two private Caribbean Islands have a higher purpose than serving as ultra-luxury retreats for entertainment and business A-listers, and he plans to power the proposed resort with a mixture of solar and wind power. He apparently said this while standing next to his collection of pink flamingos, a species not native to the Caribbean, but decorative enough to warrant importing and to hell with the environmental consequences.

It is actually inexcusable for the Caribbean to need to use dirty fuels anymore when it has all these natural resources on its doorstep

The Island itself, Mosquito Island, is currently an uninhabited dot of land off the Island Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. The proposal includes plans for wind cooling, and solar heating, both of which are available just by standing on the beach I would imagine. The full story is here.

Mr. Branson has been selling himself as a “green,” advocate for some time now, and we all know how well his plans to run his airplanes on coconut oil are progressing. Last time I checked, the air was still full of Virgin banners using Avgas.

So, how eco-friendly can a resort this remote be? Is it merely coincidence that any one visiting this resort from Europe must fly half way around the world first, and Mr. Branson just happens to own an airline?

He has already defended himself from the allegation that he is a hypocrite for running a transatlantic airline and claiming to be an environmentalist with the argument that if he didn’t do it, somebody else would.

Now, I am no expert on carbon footprints, but lets take a family of four in Sussex, for example: a car drive to Heathrow, a transatlantic flight to Miami, a local flight to San Juan, a taxi ride to the port, and a boat trip out to the eco-resort on Mosquito Island. Does it matter if the air-conditioner is wind-powered? Slightly more environmentally friendly than trying to sell rich Russians a few minute trip into space? Virgin Galactic. Probably.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with a luxury resort on a private Island in the Caribbean. Just don’t tell me you are doing the planet a favor.

Comments welcome

Two of the Major Private Islands in The World Development were sold yesterday - Spain and France

One of Dubai’s leading blue-chip real estate majors announced yesterday that it has acquired two Islands in Nakheel’s ”The World,” development - Spain and France – Select already has eight other projects in Dubai, including The Torch and Bay Central in Dubai Marina. Select Group have purchased the islands in a joint venture with Select Property, a UK based company.

The plans are to develop France and Spain into Aquitainia - a world class development which when complete will be the most exclusive address in The World. The height of expressive and contemporary design, influenced equally by the romance of France and the passion of Spain, residents will come ashore by boat where first class service will await them.

Rahail Aslam, Chairman, Select Group said: “The company has successfully purchased the two most central islands in The World collection - France and Spain. We are excited to be invited to develop on The World, which is one of the most unique projects ever launched. We are now in the design stages of the proposed project and have already assembled a team of world-class architects, designers and marine consultants for the project.”

He said that with the acquisition of the islands on The World, the Group’s current investments in Dubai’s freehold real estate space is nearing $3 billion, with sizeable investments across the UAE, including Dubai Marina and Ras Al Khaimah, where Select Group and Select Property have partnered successfully for a joint venture project – “Pacific,” on the Al Marjan Island. The group is also in the planning stages for a project on the Palm Jebel Ali.

He said the project on The World is scheduled to be launched approximately in the second half of the year. “Our acquisition of the islands reflects our confidence in Dubai’s real estate market as well as our belief in the success of water front projects. We are in fact the largest private developer in Dubai Marina and we believe Dubai will continue to be a solid real estate investment destination.”

Select property is a relative newcomer, but has sold more than 4,000 properties since their inception in 2004.

Select Property

With over 150 acres of sparkling white sugar-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters and a beautiful, tropical environment, Musha Cay, in the Bahamas, has to be one of, if not the most luxurious private island resort in the world.

Located in the Exuma Chain in the southern Bahamas, 85 miles southeast of Nassau, the island offers accommodation for up to 24 guests in your choice of a 10,000 square foot manor house, a five bedroomed beach-side villa, several smaller guest villas, or a beach house with thatched roof.

Prices start at $25,000 a night going up to around $45,000 depending on the number of guests and the time of year.

The New Yorker once stated, “Vacationers with a taste for the fabulous likely would have Musha Cay on their A-list,” and I don’t think we can argue with that assessment.

If you are interested in staying at Musha Cay, the resort has a website for bookings – here. Although, I have to say, for a company charging upwards of $25,000 a night, I would have thought they could have afforded a better video than the one they have on their website. It may be a step up from the rubbish I see on YouTube, but I think I could have shot a better video in my fish pond. So, if you are reading this and you work for Musha Cay, please contact me and I will put you in touch with a decent video production company. In fact, if the price is right, and the accommodations acceptable - I will come out and shoot one myself.

A Bahrain based Islamic investment bank, Venture Capital Bank (VC Bank), has incorporated a new company – The World Development Company Limited - for the purpose of developing a luxury resort on Nakheel’s exclusive project, The World.

VC Bank will invest in and develop the island located in the “northern Asia” area of the archipelago of 300 islands after being selected as one of the exclusive group of investors invited to invest in the development.

Mr. Abdul Latif Al Janahi, CEO of VC Bank said: “It is an honor to be amongst the elite investors chosen to invest in Nakheel’s one of a kind project. We are pleased to be one of a select few financial institutions to invest in The World project; this will be a remarkable step for us.”

The Director of The World, Mr. Hamza Mustafa said, “We are proud to have VC Bank invest in The World. We invite only the very best investors to develop the islands within our project to ensure that The World will be the ultimate luxury tourism destination when complete. This marks another successful investment in our project.”

How successful remains to be seen of course. Competition for tourists will be fierce. Jean Van Geysel in particular is developing a “boutique,” hotel of his own.

VC Bank is the first Islamic investment bank in the GCC and MENA region to specialize in venture capital investment opportunities. Real estate investment is one of four areas of unique investment opportunities across a number of promising asset classes designed to drive business growth in portfolio investment, and provide risk adjusted returns on investments.

The value of the planned luxury resort is estimated at 1.5 billion dh, which sounds like an awful lot, but is actually just over $400 million. Completion is planned for the end of 2010 – only 18 months away. The 90,000 m2 island is located at the “northern” end of the “Asian” area of The World overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Over 100 villas are planned for the resort 3 or 4 bedroom “Sunset Beach villas,” 2 bedroom Canal View and Garden View villas, and “Lagoon Homes” and “Water Homes” that consist of suites and studios.

The Lagoon Homes and Sunset Beach villas are right on the beach with vistas which will presumably include either the lagoon or the sunset. “Canal View” units have their own exclusive yacht dock, and once again, I am going with a view of the canal.

And finally, the Spa units will have open sea views. The island will enjoy two beaches one facing east and the other west. The dock will be spacious enough to fit 25 yachts. The Island will also offer a luxurious spa, two exclusive restaurants and a sunset lounge. The resort will be operated by a world renowned boutique hotel operator.

Nakheel invites a select group of investors to invest in The World each year. Reclamation on the islands was completed in January this year and according to Nakheel, despite very few announcements of developments, demand for the islands remains high. More on Private Islands.

European aristocrat Baron Jean van Gysel de Meise (Jean van Gysel), owner of the luxurious five star Le Plaza in Brussels and the boutique V…Vejer in Spain, today revealed his plans to launch a luxurious boutique haven on the island of ‘Greece’ on Nakheel’s mega The World project. Valued at AED624 million (US$170 million), ‘V…Greece on The World’ brings a new concept in luxury, beauty and business to Dubai and the Middle East.

Believing that the percentage of younger customers going to traditional hotels is decreasing compared to boutique hotels, Jean van Gysel decided to move to a more dynamic, smaller product with much more attention to detail. He plans to launch a hotel under the V… brand every year for the next five years in the Middle East. More on ‘V…’ Launches Region’s First Boutique Island on The World, Dubai