NARRATOR: OUT OF THE WARM WATERS OF DUBAI'S PERSIAN GULF, SEEMINGLY INHOSPITABLE MANMADE ISLANDS RISE FROM THE SEA... MAN: THIS IS US MAKING HISTORY.

WE ARE LITERALLY BUILDING IN THE SEA.

NARRATOR: ...IN A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF UNRIVALED AMBITION.

NO EXPENSE IS BEING SPARED HERE.

NARRATOR: THESE ISLANDS COULD SOON BE HOME TO 5-STAR HOTELS AND BEACHFRONT VILLAS, MAKING THIS THE MOST LUXURIOUS VACATION DESTINATION ON EARTH.

MAN 2: WHAT WE ARE BUILDING HERE IS THE RESULT OF 10 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT.

NARRATOR: DEVELOPER JOSEF KLEINDIENST HAS A VISION TO BRING EUROPEAN ELEGANCE AND MIDDLE EASTERN OPULENCE TO 6 ISLANDS THAT HE'S CALLED "MAIN EUROPE": GERMANY, MONACO, SWITZERLAND, ST. PETERSBURG, AND SWEDEN.

JOSEF: I WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING AMAZING.

NOBODY CAN PUT MORE PRESSURE ON ME THAN I AM DOING MYSELF.

NARRATOR: TO REALIZE HIS DREAM, JOSEF HAS HAND-PICKED A TEAM OF EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

MAN: BUT I WOULD DO THE GROUND... NARRATOR: ARCHITECTS...

I'M A NATURAL.

NARRATOR: ENGINEERS...

IT'S A MAMMOTH EFFORT.

NARRATOR: LANDSCAPERS.

CHALLENGE HERE IS IMMENSE.

NARRATOR: IN A CITY WHERE THERE'S NOTHING MONEY CAN'T BUY, COULD THIS PROJECT BE AN EXTRAVAGANCE TOO FAR?

MAN: WE ARE FACING VERY DRAMATIC DAYS TO COME.

JOSEF: IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, AND STILL, WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

NARRATOR: IT'S CALLED "THE HEART OF EUROPE," AND IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE BUILD.

NARRATOR: DUBAI, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

IN JUST 40 YEARS, IT'S GROWN FROM A DESERT PORT OF UNDER 200,000 INTO A DAZZLING METROPOLIS, HOME TO OVER 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE AND THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING.

WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS THE RESULT OF A CONSTRUCTION BOOM... THAT IN 2006 APPEARED TO HAVE NO LIMITS.

RICHARD DEAN: DUBAI IS ONE GIANT ECONOMIC EXPERIMENT IN SUPPLY-LED DEMAND, "BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME."

JUST LOOK AT THE SKYLINE, CRANES EVERYWHERE.

THEY ARE BANKING ON THE FACT THAT IF YOU CREATE LUXURY HOTELS, LUXURY APARTMENTS AND VILLAS, THEN PEOPLE WILL WANT TO LIVE HERE.

NARRATOR: BUT JUST TWO YEARS LATER, IN 2008, THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRASH STOPPED ALMOST ALL CONSTRUCTION IN ITS TRACKS.

OF ALL THE ABANDONED PROJECTS IN DUBAI, THE MOST AMBITIOUS WAS CALLED "THE WORLD."

LOCATED 2 1/2 MILES OFFSHORE, AND TAKING 5 YEARS AND $13 BILLION TO CREATE, IT'S A SERIES OF MANMADE SAND ISLANDS, WHICH, FROM ABOVE, ARE SHAPED LIKE THE EARTH'S CONTINENTS.

HAVING LAIN LARGELY UNTOUCHED FOR 8 YEARS... WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THIS VILLA?

NARRATOR: AUSTRIAN PROPERTY TYCOON JOSEF KLEINDIENST HAS BOUGHT THE RIGHTS TO DEVELOP 6 OF THE ISLANDS.

HE'S NOW ON A MISSION TO RESURRECT THE FAILED PROJECT.

JOSEF: PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE IT AT THE BEGINNING, AND MANY STILL DON'T BELIEVE IT, SO WE HAVE TO BUILD IT AND WE HAVE TO PROVE IT ANYWAY.

OK. WHAT ELSE CHALLENGES YOU ARE HAVING?

THIS BRINGS SOME SLEEPLESS NIGHTS ALONG...

IT'S GREAT, BUT IT STILL HAS ROOM TO IMPROVE.

BUT NOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT THEME AND WE WILL SUCCEED.

NARRATOR: JOSEF'S 6-MILLIION-SQUARE-FOOT RESORT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO.

HIS 6 ISLANDS WILL EACH BE THEMED AROUND A DIFFERENT EUROPEAN COUNTRY AND OFFER A VACATION EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER.

JOSEF: WE BRING MANY AUTHENTIC IDEAS FROM EUROPE AND ASSEMBLE THEM IN A MAGICAL WAY, NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

NARRATOR: THE RESORT WILL FEATURE 14 HOTELS, 42 PRIVATE RESIDENCES, AND WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO 16,000 PEOPLE AT ANY ONE TIME.

JOSEF: WHAT WE ARE BUILDING HERE IS THE RESULT OF 10 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT.

NARRATOR: IF THEY SUCCEED, IT WILL BE LIKE NOTHING DUBAI OR THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

WHERE YOU SEE EMPTY ISLANDS, I SEE LUXURIOUS HOTELS... EUROPEAN RESTAURANTS... AND SO THE BEST WHAT EUROPE HAS TO OFFER, WE WILL BRING HERE TO THIS PROJECT.

NARRATOR: IT MAY SOUND FANTASTICAL, BUT JOSEF IS DETERMINED THAT THIS TIME, THE WORLD PROJECT WILL SUCCEED.

TO PROVE IT, HE WANTS THE FIRST PROPERTY-- A LUXURY 6-STORY VILLA-- BUILT WITHIN A YEAR.

THIS ONE BUILDING WILL FORM THE TEMPLATE FOR THE ENTIRE 6-ISLAND DEVELOPMENT.

BUT TRANSFORMING THIS INTO THIS IN 12 MONTHS, WHEN EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SHIPPED IN BY BOAT, WILL BE A MIGHTY ACHIEVEMENT.

JOSEF: WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN THIS PROJECT, AND IT'S VITAL TO BUILD THIS PROJECT, TO SUCCEED WITH THIS PROJECT.

I CANNOT RISK $400 MILLION.

THERE'S NO WAY, SO WE HAVE TO SUCCEED.

NARRATOR: JANUARY 2016.

FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, A FLEET OF BARGES HAS BEEN MAKING THE SHORT JOURNEY FROM DUBAI TO THE SUN-SCORCHED ISLANDS.

THEIR CARGO--EVERYTHING FROM HEAVY MACHINERY, WORKERS, AND FUEL--IS ESSENTIAL IN MAKING THIS HOSTILE, MANMADE ENVIRONMENT HABITABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS IS A UNIQUE PROJECT IN ITSELF.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAND ROOT TO APPROACH WITH THE WORLD ISLAND.

WE ARE WORKING 24/7.

THERE IS NO HOLIDAY.

THERE IS NO DAY.

THERE IS NO NIGHT.

GIVING OVER BLOOD AND SWEAT AND THE OPEN SUN.

IT'S A HOSTILE SITUATION TO WORK HERE.

NARRATOR: A DESALINATION PLANT NOW SUPPLIES FRESH RUNNING WATER, AND ELECTRICITY IS PROVIDED BY GENERATORS.

WITH POWER AND WATER, THE TEAM ON THE ISLANDS HAS BATTLED TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT TO SET UP A CONSTRUCTION HEADQUARTERS AND A BASE CAMP, WHICH IS NOW HOME TO 200 WORKERS.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM NOW HAS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO START BUILDING...

BUT FIRST, THEY NEED SOMETHING TO BUILD ON.

JOSEF: IT HAS MANY CHALLENGES.

THESE ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS, IT'S LOOSE SAND, AND THERE IS STILL MOVEMENT INSIDE THESE ISLANDS.

NARRATOR: THE ISLANDS WERE MADE 10 YEARS AGO FROM DREDGED SAND, PILED UP ON THE SEABED 30 FEET BELOW.

EACH ISLAND RISES 15 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, BUT IN THEIR ORIGINAL STATE, THE SAND IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF A SINGLE VILLA, LET ALONE THE MULTI-STORY, 5-STAR HOTEL PLANNED HERE ON SWITZERLAND ISLAND.

TO STRENGTHEN THE SOFT GROUND IN PREPARATION FOR CONSTRUCTION, ALL 6 ISLANDS MUST FIRST BE COMPACTED, AND THAT REQUIRES A VERY SPECIAL BIT OF EQUIPMENT.

[LOUD WHIRRING] THE MAN IN CHARGE OF POUNDING EVERY INCH OF SAND ACROSS THE 6-MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT RESORT... HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKE, ONE POINT?

ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

NARRATOR: ...IS GEOLOGIST AND SAFETY OFFICER JOHANN ALI.

JOHANN: VIBRO COMPACTION, IT IS A SOIL IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUE, AND IT IS USED FOR THE SOIL TO INCREASE ITS BEARING CAPACITY, TO INCREASE OUR LOOSER SOIL INTO A DENSER SOIL.

NARRATOR: TO COMPACT THE GROUND, STEEL PROBES BLAST HIGH-PRESSURE JETS OF WATER INTO THE SAND.

THE PROBES, POWERED BY THEIR OWN VIBRATION, BURROW DEEP INTO THE GROUND.

AS THE SAND PARTICLES ARE SHAKEN, THEY MOVE CLOSER TOGETHER.

THIS DRASTICALLY INCREASES THE STRENGTH OF THE GROUND, MAKING IT STRONG ENOUGH FOR CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS TO BE LAID FOR THE FIRST TIME.

JOHANN: THIS AREA IS NOT VIBRO-COMPACTED.

SO, AFTER VIBRO COMPACTION, YOU CAN SEE THE RESULT LIKE THIS.

WHEN THIS AREA IS COMPACTED, IT WILL BE ACTUALLY LIKE THIS.

NARRATOR: AS JOHANN'S TEAM CONTINUE TO SHAKE AN ENTIRE ISLAND TO THE CORE, 300 FEET ACROSS THE WATER, THE PROCESS OF VIBRO COMPACTION IS ALREADY COMPLETE.

THIS IS SWEDEN ISLAND, THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF THE RESORT WHERE THE VERY FIRST CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING IS ABOUT TO COMMENCE.

IF THIS BUILDING DOESN'T SUCCEED, IT WILL BE A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE, WHICH COULD JEOPARDIZE THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

INSPIRED BY SWEDISH DESIGN AND AGE-OLD TRADITION, SWEDEN ISLAND PROMISES TO BE THE MOST EXCLUSIVE OF THE 6 ISLANDS IN THE HEART OF EUROPE RESORT.

IT WILL FEATURE JUST 10 LUXURY VILLAS, EACH ONE WITH ITS OWN PRIVATE BEACH.

JOSEF: I WANTED TO CREATE ONE ISLAND WHERE BILLIONAIRES AND ROYALS WILL PURCHASE PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE AND BECAUSE OF THEIR LUXURIOUS FIT-OUT.

WE FORCED OURSELF TO BE ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD EVERYTHING WHAT YOU CAN BUY WITH MONEY.

NARRATOR: PRICES FOR THE EXCLUSIVE VILLAS START AT $20 MILLION, AND BUYERS ARE ALREADY LINING UP TO INVEST.

VILLA ONE HAS BEEN BOUGHT ON THE STRENGTH OF THE PLANS AND THE GLOSSY MARKETING.

BUT SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY MEANS YOU CAN MAKE DEMANDS.

THE NEW OWNERS ARE ARAB ROYALTY, AND THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR IN THEIR NEW VACATION VILLA.

THAT'S IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS' TIME.

THE MAN WHO HAS THE CHALLENGE OF TRANSFORMING THIS PATCH OF BARREN SAND INTO A PALACE FIT FOR A KING IS TECHNICAL DESIGN MANAGER ALI KASHAN.

AS OF NOW, WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, WE ARE LITERALLY BUILDING IN THE SEA.

NARRATOR: ALI'S ALREADY FACING HIS FIRST MAJOR ISSUE.

THE GROUND MAY BE FIRM ENOUGH TO BUILD ON, BUT THE VIBRO COMPACTION HAS LEFT THE ISLAND LESS THAN 7 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VILLAS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH BASEMENTS FOR A GYM AND SAUNA.

IT MEANS THEIR FOUNDATIONS MUST NOW BE CONSTRUCTED BELOW SEA LEVEL.

ALI: ONE METER BELOW THE SOIL LEVEL, WE HAVE THE BOTTOM.

SOON AS WE START EXCAVATING, THE WATER WILL START COMING UP, AND IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE ISLAND, IT WILL START FALLING IN FROM ALL SIDES.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE WATER IN-GROUND, WE CANNOT START ANY ACTIVITY, SO THE FIRST STAGE OF WORK IS WE NEED TO ACHIEVE A DRY BASE.

SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST RISK AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE HERE.

NARRATOR: TO HOLD THE SEA BACK, ALI'S TEAM HAS RING-FENCED THE PLOT WITH STEEL SHEETS REACHING DOWN 40 FEET BELOW THE WATER LINE.

THESE ACT LIKE A DAM, HOLDING THE PERSIAN GULF BACK WHILE A DE-WATERING SYSTEM PUMPS EVERY LAST DROP OF MOISTURE FROM THE GROUND.

ALI: YOU'RE LOOKING AT SEDIMENTARY TANK OF THE DE-WATERING SYSTEM.

ALL THE WATER WHICH IS SUCKED OUT OF THE SOIL GOES INTO THIS TANK, WHICH ENSURES THAT NO SOIL PARTICLE IS GONE BACK TO THE SEA.

WE ARE JUST SUCKING WATER ONLY.

NARRATOR: JUST 14 DAYS AFTER DRAINING THE FIRST FOUNDATION TRENCH, THE TEAM HAS FILLED IT WITH AN INTRICATE NETWORK OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF REINFORCED STEEL.

[MEN SHOUTING] BEFORE A DROP OF CONCRETE CAN BE POURED, ALI NEEDS SIGN-OFF FROM DUBAI'S BUILDING INSPECTORS.

BUT ARRANGING A SITE VISIT TO THE ISLAND IS PROVING DIFFICULT.

ON ANY OTHER BUILDING SITE, THIS KIND OF DELAY WOULD BE ANNOYING AND COSTLY.

HERE, IT'S A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE.

ALI: WE ARE BUILDING IT IN EXTREME CONDITIONS.

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THIS REINFORCEMENT SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED.

WE WANT TO COVER IT WITH CONCRETE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NARRATOR: THE HIGHLY DESTRUCTIVE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND EXTREME LEVELS OF SALT FROM THE SEA MEANS THE CORROSION RATE HERE IS UNPRECEDENTED.

BUT UNTIL THE INSPECTORS ARRIVE, THOUSANDS OF TONS OF STEEL IS AT THE MERCY OF THE ELEMENTS.

AFTER 7 LONG DAYS, THE TEAM FINALLY RECEIVES THE GO-AHEAD.

YEAH!

NARRATOR: ONCE AGAIN, SWEDEN ISLAND IS A HIVE OF ACTIVITY.

ALI: EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN LAST FEW MONTHS, EVERY DAY, WE WERE TRYING TO REACH TO THIS POINT AND THIS MOMENT.

THIS FIRST CONCRETE THAT YOU WILL SEE IT GOING IN NOW IS THAT MOMENT THAT WE ALL ARE WAITING FOR.

NARRATOR: FOR GUARANTEED STRENGTH, THIS HIGH-DENSITY CONCRETE MIX MUST DRY AS ONE SOLID MASS AS IT SETS AROUND THE STRUCTURAL STEEL REBAR.

THAT MEANS SUPPLYING THE FOUNDATIONS WITH AN UNINTERRUPTED FLOW OF 14,000 CUBIC FEET OF CONCRETE, PRODUCED AT THE ISLAND'S VERY OWN CONCRETE PLANT.

ALI: WE WILL RECEIVE EACH LOAD OF CONCRETE FROM A MIXER WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 8 CUBIC METER ONLY.

SO FOR THIS, WE NEED AT LEAST 50 LOADS, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN FINISH THIS ACTIVITY IN...7 HOURS.

NARRATOR: AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS OF PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION OF THE VERY FIRST BUILDING ON THE HEART OF EUROPE RESORT IS UNDERWAY.

ALI: THIS IS US MAKING HISTORY.

WE'RE BUILDING A NEW WORLD IN DUBAI ITSELF.

NARRATOR: IT MAY BE A LANDMARK MOMENT FOR THE TEAM, BUT THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

APRIL 2016.

ACROSS THE HEART OF EUROPE DEVELOPMENT, HEAVY-DUTY MACHINERY CONTINUES TO RESHAPE ENTIRE ISLANDS.

IF SUCCESSFUL, IN 4 YEARS' TIME, THEY'LL EACH OFFER A UNIQUE FLAVOR OF THE CONTINENT.

THIS HEART-SHAPED ISLAND IS ST. PETERSBURG.

WHEN COMPLETE, ITS EXCLUSIVE RESTAURANT WILL OFFER A TRANQUIL RETREAT BY DAY AND CELEBRATE THE BEST OF RUSSIAN HERITAGE BY NIGHT.

BUT ONLY ONCE THE FIRST BUILDING HAS BEEN BUILT, AND INVESTOR CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN ASSURED, WILL CONSTRUCTION BE ROLLED OUT ACROSS THE RESORT.

ON SWEDEN ISLAND, THE STRUCTURE FOR THAT FIRST BUILDING IS ALMOST FINISHED.

PRE-CAST CONCRETE SLABS HAVE HELPED FAST-TRACK THE BUILD, AND THE TEAM IS CONFIDENT THE VILLA WILL BE READY FOR THE NEW-YEAR DEADLINE.

BUT THE NEW OWNERS ARE PAYING FOR MORE THAN JUST CONCRETE AND STEEL.

JOSEF: IF YOU HAVE ROYALS AS YOUR INVESTORS, THIS PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE TO US TO OVER-PERFORM.

WE WANT INVESTORS TO LOOK AT THE BROCHURE AND THEN TO SEE IN REALITY THAT WE ARE BUILDING BETTER THAN THE BROCHURES PRESENTS THE PROPERTY.

NARRATOR: THE GLOSSY MARKETING PROMISES FERTILE PLANTS AND FLORA ON THE DESERT ISLAND.

FOR THE PLANTS TO SURVIVE HERE AND BRING THE COMPUTER-GENERATED IMAGES ALIVE, THEY WILL REQUIRE A COMPLEX UNDERGROUND IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

RICHARD, HOW ARE YOU?

NARRATOR: JOSEF HAS CALLED IN A GREEN-THUMBED GURU.

BRITISH LANDSCAPE GARDENER RICHARD WESTCOTT HAS SPENT 35 YEARS WORKING FOR THE MOST DISCERNING CLIENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING 3 ROYAL FAMILIES.

BUT TRANSFORMING 6 ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS INTO A TROPICAL OASIS WILL BE HIS TOUGHEST PROJECT YET.

RICHARD: THE ISLANDS ACTUALLY ARE RELATIVELY CLOSE TOGETHER, SO LANDSCAPING IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

IT GIVES PRIVACY AND SEPARATION BETWEEN THE ISLANDS, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO INTEGRATE THE BUILDINGS INTO THE LANDSCAPE.

NARRATOR: THE FIRST CHALLENGE FOR RICHARD IS THE GROUND ITSELF.

THE RECLAIMED SAND THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF THE ISLANDS LACKS THE NUTRIENTS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINING PLANT LIFE.

RICHARD: WHITE SAND IS INERT.

WE DON'T USE IT FOR PLANTING, WE USE IT FOR FORMING THE BEACH.

THE RED SAND IS NATURALLY OCCURRING, AND IT'S RICH IN IRON.

WE BRING THAT IN BECAUSE IT'S VERY GOOD FOR THE PLANTS.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SPONGE; IT HOLDS THE WATER AND RELEASES IT TO THE PLANT WHEN IT NEEDS IT.

NARRATOR: BUT THOUSANDS OF TONS OF IMPORTED SAND ALONE WON'T BE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE VAST NUMBER OF PLANTS THE PLANS HAVE PROMISED ACROSS THE 6-ISLAND RESORT.

THEY NEED FRESH WATER, LOTS OF IT.

TO KEEP THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PLANTS ALIVE UNDER THE SCORCHING DESERT SUN, RICHARD HAS DESIGNED AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM LIKE NO OTHER.

BURIED BENEATH THE SAND ON THIS ONE ISLAND ALONE ARE 35 MILES OF PIPES.

THEY'LL SUPPLY FRESH WATER STRAIGHT FROM THE RESORT'S DESALINATION PLANT.

INFUSED WITH FERTILIZER, THE WATER WILL BE PUMPED DIRECTLY TO THE PLANTING BEDS.

AND CRUCIALLY, EVERY SINGLE DROP THAT THE PLANTS DON'T ABSORB WILL BE CONTAINED AND RECYCLED.

RICHARD: WE NEED TO CREATE A SHELL BELOW THE PLANTING, AND THAT ALLOWS THE WATER TO PERCOLATE AWAY TO PREVIOUSLY PREPARED DRAINS, WHICH ARE TAKEN TO THE RIGHT PLACE, WHERE THE WATER IS NOT ALLOWED TO GET INTO THE WRONG PLACE, WHICH IS THE SEA.

NARRATOR: EACH OF RICHARD'S PLANTING BEDS WILL BE SUNK UP TO 6 FEET INTO THE SAND...

SEALED WITH CONCRETE, LINED WITH A MEMBRANE, AND FILLED WITH LAYERS OF THE NUTRIENT-RICH SAND.

A SLOPING FLOOR WILL ALLOW THE WATER TO COLLECT AT THE LOWEST LEVEL, FROM WHERE THE EXCESS IS PUMPED THROUGH THE SYSTEM IN A CONSTANT CYCLE OF IRRIGATION AND RECOVERY.

NOT MANY DEVELOPERS WOULD NORMALLY GO TO THE LENGTH THAT THIS ONE HAS.

THE SYSTEM IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE, IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT IT WORKS.

NARRATOR: AS RICHARD'S TEAM SEALS SHEETS OF WATER-RESISTANT MEMBRANE TOGETHER...

THE FIRST FULLY GROWN TREES ARRIVE ON-SITE.

IMPORTED FROM EUROPE, THESE PALMS WILL BE HEADING FOR VILLA NUMBER ONE.

IN 9 MONTHS' TIME, THE NEW OWNER EXPECTS TO SEE A FULLY GROWN JUNGLE.

RICHARD: THIS IS THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT PROJECT IN DUBAI RIGHT NOW, AND THE CONCEPT IS AMAZING.

NO EXPENSE IS BEING SPARED HERE BY THE DEVELOPER.

HE WANTS THE VERY BEST LANDSCAPING THAT MONEY CAN BUY.

NARRATOR: ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF RICHARD'S IRRIGATION SYSTEM IS ENOUGH TO KEEP ANY OF IT ALIVE.

JULY 2016.

THE HEART OF EUROPE RESORT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS' TIME.

BUT TO PROVE THIS IS NOT A FANTASY PROJECT, THE TEAM MUST FIRST COMPLETE ONE FINISHED BUILDING.

UNTIL THEN, ALL OTHER CONSTRUCTION MUST WAIT.

WHILE SOME ISLANDS ARE READY TO GO, OTHERS NEED WORK.

THIS IS GERMANY ISLAND.

IT WILL CONTAIN OVER 30 PROPERTIES AND HOST TRADITIONAL GERMAN FESTIVALS, BUT ITS MAIN ATTRACTION-- A TRANQUIL LAGOON-- HAS YET TO BE CREATED.

MAN: CURRENTLY, THE GERMANY ISLAND HAS A ROUND SHAPE, BUT THE FINAL SHAPE AS PER THE DESIGN IS GOING TO BE THE HORSESHOE SHAPE.

WE ARE TAKING THE SANDS FROM THE SWITZERLAND ISLAND, AND WE DUMP INTO THE BEACH TO CREATE THE SHAPE AS PER THE DESIGN PROFILE OF THE ISLANDS.

NARRATOR: AS ONE TEAM CONTINUES THE GROUNDWORK IN THE LEAD-UP TO CONSTRUCTION, ON SWEDEN ISLAND, THE FLOOR SLABS AND PRE-CAST WALLS ARE IN PLACE IN THE RESORT'S FIRST VILLA, AND THE STRUCTURE FOR ITS SIGNATURE ROOF HAS BEEN INSTALLED-- A 50-FOOT-HIGH NETWORK OF CURVED, STEEL BEAMS, SHAPED LIKE AN UPTURNED BOAT.

PAULO ANDRE: IT STARTED FROM SOME KIND OF REFLECTION ON HOW COULD WE INTEGRATE IN A CONTEMPORARY VILLA SOME KIND OF A REFERENCE FROM SWEDEN.

NARRATOR: ARCHITECT PAULO ANDRE AND THE VILLA DESIGN TEAM TOOK INSPIRATION FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE.

PAULO: WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE SOME VIKING SETTLEMENTS THAT WERE ACTUALLY USING THESE ROOFS SHAPED AS AN UPTURNED BOAT AND THAT WERE ACTUALLY NORMALLY BUILT WITH WOOD AND COVERED WITH TURF.

NARRATOR: THESE VILLAS HAVE TO APPEAL TO MILLIONAIRES, NOT VIKINGS, SO, INSTEAD OF TURF, THE ROOFS WILL BE COVERED WITH GOLD-TINTED ALUMINUM.

THE ROOF IS JUST DAYS AWAY FROM COMPLETION, MAKING THE TEAM WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FOR THEIR NEW-YEAR'S DEADLINE.

BUT JOSEF IS ABOUT TO THROW A WRENCH IN THE WORKS.

JOSEF: WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THIS VIEW.

I WANT THE OWNERS TO SIT HERE AND ENJOY THIS VIEW.

EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

WILL THIS WORK, NADIRA?

YES, OF COURSE.

GOOD, GOOD.

JOSEF: THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO CLOSE THIS ROOF, THIS ALUMINUM SHEET.

BUT IF YOU ARE UP HERE, AND YOU...

ENJOY THIS VIEW, THEN IT'S CLEAR THIS ROOF CANNOT BE ENCLOSED; IT NEEDS GLASS.

FROM THE ROOF OF A VILLA, YOU CAN SEE ISLANDS, THE OCEAN, AND THE SKYLINE OF THIS AMAZING CITY, DUBAI.

NOBODY HAS SUCH A VILLA.

NARRATOR: THE EXISTING STEEL BEAMS WERE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM PANELS.

A GLASS ROOF WILL WEIGH MORE THAN 60 TONS.

JOSEF'S NEW VISION MEANS A COMPLETE REDESIGN.

AND WITH THE NEW-YEAR DEADLINE IMMOVABLE, THE TEAM HAS JUST 5 MONTHS TO MAKE IT A REALITY.

JOSEF: I NEED TO ACHIEVE THE MOST LUXURIOUS VILLA ROOF EVER.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARDS.

NARRATOR: NO EXPENSE IS BEING SPARED IN THE QUEST FOR PERFECTION, BUT JOSEF IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON AESTHETICS.

HE WANTS THE 6-ISLAND RESORT TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR EVERYONE WHO VISITS, FROM ROYAL OWNERS TO HOTEL GUESTS, HUNGRY FOR A TASTE OF EUROPE IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

THE PROBLEM IS, THE NEAREST EMERGENCY HELP IS 2 1/2 MILES AWAY, ON THE MAINLAND.

THE SOLUTION...

THE HEART OF EUROPE'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNIT, OR ERU-- AN ELITE CREW OF MULTI-DISCIPLINED FIREFIGHTERS, RECRUITED FROM THE UK AND NOW PERMANENTLY BASED ON THE ISLANDS.

FROM THEIR VERY OWN FIRE STATION, THEY'RE ALREADY ON CALL, 24/7.

WE NEED THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS ON THIS PLANET.

IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO PROTECT OUR GUEST AND TO PROTECT OUR ASSET.

NARRATOR: WHEN THE HEART OF EUROPE IS FINALLY COMPLETE, THE ERU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING EVERY BUILDING AND UP TO 16,000 GUESTS.

TO ENSURE THEY KNOW EVERY INCH OF TERRAIN AND ALL POSSIBLE HAZARDS...

THE UNIT IS SET DAILY TRAINING SIMULATIONS.

THEIR FINDINGS WILL HELP IMPROVE SAFETY IN ALL FUTURE BUILDINGS.

DEAN JONES: THIS IS VILLA ONE, AND OBVIOUSLY BY TRAINING ON IT, WE'RE IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, AND BY IDENTIFYING THEM IN THIS EARLY STAGE, AS THEY'RE BUILDING VILLAS 2 TO 10, YOU KNOW, WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THOSE VILLAS DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE BUILD.

NARRATOR: TODAY, THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNIT MUST TACKLE AN IMAGINARY FIRE IN THE VILLA BASEMENT.

[SIREN] DEAN: SMOKE IS COMING UP FROM THE BASEMENT, OK?

ONE PERSON'S REPORTED MISSING.

HE WAS LAST SEEN IN THE CELLAR AREA, OK?

PULL IT IN.

PULL A BIT OF HOSE IN.

[AIR HISSING] NARRATOR: AS THE CREW DESCEND INTO THE PITCH-BLACK BASEMENT, THEY'RE NOW COMPLETELY RELIANT ON THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS TO DETECT ANY CASUALTIES.

THEY'RE ALREADY VERY HOT AND SWEATY BECAUSE IT'S-- TEMPERATURE'S QUITE UP, TO ABOUT 35, 40 AT THE MOMENT.

PLUS THEY GOT FIRE GEAR ON, PLUS THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING PHYSICAL, MANUAL LABOR NOW.

[MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY] MAN: THERE'S A MAN.

HE'S BLEEDING.

OVER.

ROGER THAT.

MAKE YOUR WAY OUT NOW.

I'LL HAVE MEDICS ON STAND-BY FOR YOU.

OVER.

MEDICS, CASUALTY COMING!

GET READY!

OK, I'LL TRY TO GET HOLD OF HIM.

I'VE GOT HIS BACK.

YOU GET HIS LEGS.

THEY'VE BEEN IN 4 MINUTES SO FAR, SO IT'S TAKEN 4 MINUTES TO GET DOWN AND LOCATE THE CASUALTY.

OK. CASUALTY COMING.

OK, GUYS, INDEX, INDEX.

BREAK OFF YOUR KIT, COOL DOWN, AND GET SOME FLUID ON-BOARD.

WE'LL DO AN ON-SITE DEBRIEF, OK?

NARRATOR: TODAY'S EXERCISE WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE TEAM'S EFFICIENCY.

FIRST OF ALL, SOME GOOD WORK DONE THERE TODAY.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE BAGS OF AIR, FOR IT'S VERY HOT.

NARRATOR: AND CRUCIALLY, IT'S EXPOSED A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FIRST BUILDING ON THE MULTI-ISLAND RESORT.

DEAN: WHAT IS NOTICEABLE IN THERE-- THE FIRE WAS IN THE BASEMENT AREA, WE'RE GOING DOWN INTO A BUILDING, AND IT WAS STILL PHYSICALLY VERY DIFFICULT.

HAD YOU BEEN GOING UP TO THE FIFTH FLOOR, THAT MEANS WE GOT 5 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE, WHICH COULD BE HIDDEN... NARRATOR: THE SIMULATION HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR A CUSTOM FIREFIGHTING PIPE.

IF EVERY BUILDING HAS ONE, IT WOULD GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THEIR WATER SUPPLY ON EVERY LEVEL OF EVERY VILLA AND HOTEL ACROSS THE RESORT.

DEAN: NORMALLY, IN THE FIREFIGHTING WORLD, WE'RE REACTIONARY; YOU KNOW, THE BUILDINGS ARE BUILT, THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED, AND WE RESPOND TO THEM.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE HERE TO GET PART OF THE ACTUAL DESIGN AND GET OUR NEEDS AND INFLUENCES ACROSS TO THE DESIGNERS, AND THAT MAKES A SAFER BUILDING FOR EVERYBODY.

NARRATOR: OCTOBER 2016.

FROM HIGH ABOVE DUBAI'S LUXURY HEART OF EUROPE DEVELOPMENT, THE 6-ISLAND RESORT IS SLOWLY TAKING SHAPE.

GERMANY ISLAND CONTINUES TO BE SCULPTED FROM A MOUND OF SAND INTO A HORSESHOE LAGOON.

IN 4 YEARS' TIME, IT WILL BE HOME TO OVER 30 LAGOON AND BEACHFRONT VILLAS.

AND ON SWITZERLAND ISLAND, SUCCESSFUL VIBRO COMPACTION MEANS THE GROUND IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE PLANNED 5-STORY HOTEL.

ON SWEDEN ISLAND, IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE THE DECISION TO CHANGE THE VILLA ROOF FROM ALUMINUM TO GLASS.

THIS MARGIN IS...

LISTEN.

WHAT'S THAT?

NOT MORE THAN 50 CENTIMETERS.

NARRATOR: BUT THE TEAM ARE NO CLOSER TO FINDING A WORKABLE STRUCTURE.

IF YOU TELL ME THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, WHAT CAN I SAY?

WE NEED TO-- TO WORK AROUND IT.

NARRATOR: THE DELAY WILL HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT ON CONSTRUCTION STARTING ACROSS THE RESORT.

TO STAY TRUE TO JOSEF'S VISION, THE NEW ROOF MUST KEEP THE VIKING-SHIP DESIGN, BUT THE ARRANGEMENT OF STEEL MUST BE ABLE TO CARRY 5 TIMES THE WEIGHT.

THERE'S A COLLISION WITH ONE SINGLE ELEMENT HERE.

NARRATOR: AS ONE TEAM BATTLES TO MAXIMIZE WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE VILLA, LANDSCAPE GARDENER RICHARD WESTCOTT IS DELIBERATELY TRYING TO CAMOUFLAGE OTHER ASPECTS.

THESE HAVE BEEN BILLED AS PRIVATE RETREATS, BUT THERE'S ONLY 30 FEET BETWEEN EACH BUILDING.

WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING $20 MILLION FOR A HIDEAWAY, THE LAST THING YOU EXPECT TO SEE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

RICHARD: WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO BUILD A LANDSCAPE THAT IS, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, A JUNGLE, A NATURAL JUNGLE ON A BEACH THAT WAS HERE, IN FACT, BEFORE THE BUILDINGS WERE.

NARRATOR: TO CREATE HIS DESERT JUNGLE AND BLOCK OUT THE NEIGHBORS, RICHARD HAS DESIGNED A LANDSCAPE THAT WILL UTILIZE OVER 80 SPECIES OF PLANTS.

RICHARD: WE'VE GOT RANGES OF COLOR, TEXTURE, WE'VE GOT SCENT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE, WE'RE CREATING A SERIES OF PATHWAYS SO THAT CLIENTS CAN ACTUALLY WANDER THROUGH THIS TROPICAL FOREST, SO TO SPEAK, AND REALLY INTERACT WITH THE PLANTS.

NARRATOR: WITH THE VILLAS' IRRIGATION SYSTEM NOW IN PLACE BENEATH THE SOIL, IT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE CASE OF PLANTING UP.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE ISLANDS' EXTREME ENVIRONMENT IS THROWING UP A PROBLEM.

RICHARD: THEY'RE IN BAD SHAPE.

THEY'RE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

NARRATOR: RICHARD MAY HAVE CREATED THE IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS...

BUT EVEN THE BOAT JOURNEY TO THE ISLAND IS PROVING TOO MUCH FOR HIS DELICATE CARGO.

YEAH, THERE'S NO POINT PLANTING THAT.

IT'LL HAVE TO GO OFF THE ISLAND, AND I THINK-- I WOULD TAKE-- TAKE THESE TWO AWAY.

THIS ONE'S QUESTIONABLE.

THIS IS ASPARAGUS SPRENGERI, AS IS THIS.

THIS ONE IS A PERFECTLY HEALTHY PLANT, AND THIS ONE, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS NOT.

PROBABLY GOT DRIED OUT DURING THE TRANSPORTATION.

UNFORTUNATE.

NORMALLY YOU'D RECKON TO LOSE ABOUT 10% OF THE PLANTS WHEN YOU'RE PLANTING AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IN THE GULF.

THIS IS A HEADACHE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE LANDSCAPING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS, IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS, AND WE ARE USING LIVING THINGS.

I'M AFRAID THAT PLANT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

IT'S GOING TO THE GARDEN IN THE SKY.

THEY'RE ALL DEAD.

NARRATOR: RICHARD'S SHOW GARDEN ON SWEDEN ISLAND REQUIRES 10,000 PLANTS.

OVER A THOUSAND WON'T MAKE IT TO THE ISLAND ALIVE.

WEEKLY DELIVERIES OF TROPICAL PLANTS AND FULLY GROWN TREES ARE NOW RICHARD'S ONLY HOPE OF CREATING A BLOOMING JUNGLE IN TIME FOR THE NEW-YEAR'S DEADLINE.

RICHARD: HAVING TO BRING EVERYTHING TO THE ISLAND LOGISTICALLY IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF THE ENVIRONMENT-- CONSTANT, HOT, SALTY WINDS, WORSE IN SUMMER-- IT'S A GREAT CHALLENGE.

NARRATOR: 9 MONTHS AFTER CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, THE BARREN LANDSCAPE IS FINALLY BEGINNING TO RESEMBLE DEVELOPER JOSEF KLEINDIENST'S DREAM.

WORK ON THE REMAINING 5 ISLANDS IS STILL FOCUSED ON GROUND PREPARATION...

BUT BUYERS WITH TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SPARE ARE LINING UP TO INVEST.

JOSEF: THE MORE THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMING UP NOW, THE MORE PEOPLE START TO BELIEVE US.

SWEDEN IS SOLD OUT; GERMANY, THE BEACH VILLAS-- SOLD OUT.

IT SURPRISED US; THE MORE EXPENSIVE, THE FASTER IT WAS SOLD.

NARRATOR: DECEMBER 2016.

[ELECTRIC SAW WHINING] THE FIRST OF THE HEART OF EUROPE'S LUXURY VILLAS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MOVE-IN READY FOR THE NEW YEAR.

BUT WITH THE EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE, NONE OF THE 6 LUXURY FLOORS ARE ANYWHERE NEAR FINISHED.

AND, TO JOSEF'S FRUSTRATION, HIS PIECE DE RESISTANCE-- THE GLASS ROOF-- IS STILL NOT INSTALLED.

A NEW, STRONGER STRUCTURE HAS BEEN DESIGNED, BUT MANUFACTURE OF THE STEEL BEAMS HAS YET TO BEGIN.

TO KEEP THE OWNERS OF THE DELAYED VILLA ON-SIDE, JOSEF HAS OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE NEW ROOF HIMSELF.

THAT'S A HUGE MILLION DOLLARS FOR A ROOF NOBODY ASKED FOR.

JOSEF: COSTS ME, ACTUALLY, QUITE SUBSTANTIAL MONEY TO DO SO, AND THIS VILLA COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED DURING 2016.

THE OWNER HAS BEEN PLANNING TO CELEBRATE NEW-YEAR PARTY HERE, BUT WHEN WE EXPLAINED HIM THAT WE ARE--ON OUR OWN COST WILL UPGRADE HIS VILLA, HE ALSO WAS EXCITED.

NARRATOR: IN RETURN FOR A FREE GLASS ROOF, THE NEW ROYAL OWNERS HAVE AGREED TO A LATER COMPLETION DATE, BUT...IT'S NOT ALL GOOD NEWS.

THEY STILL WANT TO SEE IN THE NEW YEAR ON SWEDEN ISLAND.

THAT MEANS THE VILLA'S ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR MUST BE MOVE-IN READY.

ARCHITECTS PAULO ANDRE AND NADIRA DALIMUENTE NOW HAVE JUST 4 WEEKS TO TRANSFORM A BUILDING SITE INTO A ROYAL PARTY PAD.

THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT WHERE I ACTUALLY COULDN'T SLEEP AND COULDN'T EAT.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.

NADIRA: OK, DO YOU THINK WE CAN MAKE IT ON TIME?

WE HAVE TO.

NARRATOR: TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, DOZENS OF EXTRA WORKERS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED IN FROM THE MAINLAND.

HI.

EASY.

OK. COME, COME, COME.

NARRATOR: IT'S ANOTHER UNFORESEEN EXPENSE, BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO COMPLETE THE MASSIVE WORKLOAD IN TIME.

SO THERE'S A LOT BEING DONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME HERE IN THE VILLA.

WE HAVE TO FIND THE BALANCE BETWEEN TOO MUCH MANPOWER THAT WILL BE ACTUALLY NOT PRODUCTIVE IF THEY START COLLIDING WITH EACH OTHER, SO THE SEQUENCE OF WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

NARRATOR: THE VILLA'S GROUND FLOOR ALONE COVERS OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET.

EVERY INCH WILL BE LINED WITH THE FINEST MARBLE FROM THE CALACATTA QUARRY IN ITALY, AND EVERY PIECE HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL PLACE IN A PUZZLE WORTH OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE VILLA IS NOW A HIVE OF ACTIVITY, BUT MULTIPLE TRADES ALL FIGHTING FOR SPACE ARE CREATING A NEW SET OF PROBLEMS.

NADIRA: OH, MY GOD!

SOMEONE'S BROKEN THIS.

SOMEONE'S DAMAGED-- BEEN BROKEN.

IT WAS DELIVERED OK, BUT THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HANDLING IT.

NADIRA: AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE, 50 TO 60 PEOPLE, AND THEN THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE COMING.

IT'S ALL CRAZY.

NARRATOR: AS PAULO AND NADIRA BATTLE TO KEEP THE WORKFORCE UNDER CONTROL...

THEY DID NOT RECTIFY YET THESE MEASUREMENTS.

IT WAS NOT PROPERLY DONE.

THAT'S OK. NARRATOR: IN THE OFFICE, SENIOR PLANNING MANAGER FAREED... FAREED: OK. HAS EVEN BIGGER WORRIES.

TO COMPLETE THE VILLA ON TIME, ALL THE MATERIALS MUST BE ON-SITE.

MANY ARE STILL ON THE MAINLAND, AND WITH HIGH WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS FORECAST, THE VITAL LIFELINE CONNECTING THE HEART OF EUROPE TO DUBAI COULD SOON BE CUT OFF.

FAREED: WE INSTRUCTED THE CONTRACTORS TO BRING ALL THE MATERIALS THEY REQUIRE TO THE SITE.

WE NEED THE PEOPLE, WE NEED THE MATERIAL, AND CHECK IF WE HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER TO LAY OUT ALL THESE MATERIALS TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE PROJECT.

BETWEEN THE PLUMBING, FINISHINGS, PAINTS, ANY FINAL FIXES-- THE LIGHT FIXTURES, THE CHANDELIER, THE ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTS.

SO EVEN IF THE WEATHER GETS WORSE, WE SHOULD NOT BE IMPACTED.

NARRATOR: ON THE MAINLAND, LOGISTICS MANAGER AZEEM ADDAS IS FILLING THE LATEST BARGE WITH ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNS.

AZEEM: BARGE IS FULL, AS YOU CAN SEE.

ONLY THE MARGINAL SPACE I'M KEEPING BECAUSE OF THE WIND AND THAT'S ALL.

THERE IS NO SPACE AT ALL.

IT IS UP TO THE MOUTH.

IF YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS FULLY LOADED BARGE.

NARRATOR: WITH THE STORM FAST APPROACHING, AZEEM HAS JUST A 6-HOUR WINDOW TO GET TO THE ISLANDS BEFORE ROUGH SEAS ARE PREDICTED.

IN THE OPEN-TOP BARGE, THAT WOULD BE DISASTROUS.

AZEEM: IT IS TENSION FOR ME.

WHY?

BECAUSE THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THE MATERIALS TIMELY, BUT WHEN THESE TYPE OF SITUATIONS OCCUR, BECAUSE OF THE SEA WEATHER, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING AGAINST NATURE.

NARRATOR: AS AZEEM CONDUCTS HIS FINAL CHECKS OF HIS CARGO... WHERE IS OUR BARGE?

AZEEM.

I NEED THE BARGE HERE.

NARRATOR: ON THE ISLANDS, CONCERN IS GROWING THAT THE WEATHER WILL PREVENT THE BARGE FROM EVEN LEAVING THE MAINLAND.

FIRST COME HERE, OK?

OK. NARRATOR: WHILE THE TEAM AT THE DOCK WAIT ANXIOUSLY FOR THE BARGE... NOT HAPPY, MAN, NOT HAPPY.

I WANT TO GO IT FAST.

I WAS EXPECTING IT AT 2:00.

NOW IT'S 5:00.

NARRATOR: IN THE VILLA...

IT'S STANDARD, AND ALL THE MECHANISM IS STANDARD.

YOU CAN DO IT WITH DIFFERENT SIZES?

NARRATOR: PAULO CONTINUES TO EDUCATE HIS ENLARGED WORKFORCE ON THE PROJECT'S RIGOROUS STANDARDS.

PAULO: THESE NOT BEING CENTERED IN THIS DISTANCE.

YES, ON THE LENGTH.

ON THE LENGTH, BUT THE WIDTH, IT NEEDS-- YEAH, SO YOU NEED TO MOVE THESE... YEAH.

THIS WAY AND THIS WAY.

OH, THAT-- SOLUTION IS THERE?

SHALL I MARK IT FOR THIS?

YES, MARK IT.

OK. AZEEM: I HAVE NOT COME ACROSS ANYTHING, THIS TYPE OF SPECIFICATION.

I MUST SAY THAT THE HEART OF EUROPE HAS CERTAINLY PUSHED ABOVE OUR SPECIFICATION.

THEY ARE GOING TOP-END.

THE THING IS, THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL-- IT'S NOT GETTING--IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME HERE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY, THE NATURE OF THE FINISH, THE QUALITY OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN AS WELL-- IT'S A VERY, VERY HIGH-END, PRESTIGIOUS PROJECT-- POSSIBLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST SPECIFIED OFF-PLAN PROJECTS THAT HAS BEEN BUILT IN DUBAI.

NARRATOR: WHAT THIS HIGH-END PROJECT NEEDS NOW IS MATERIALS.

AT THE DOCKSIDE, THE WIND IS BUILDING, BUT THE BARGE HAS BEATEN THE CHOPPY WATERS.

ALI: THIS IS OUR LIFELINE.

EVERYTHING GETS STUCK IF THE BARGE IS NOT HERE.

AZEEM: SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING TIME, I AM SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE BAD WEATHER.

IT'S TOO MUCH WIND-- UH, 35 KILOMETER PER HOUR-- BARGE TRIM.

WE ARE ENDANGERING THEIR LIVES FOR THIS PROJECT.

NARRATOR: WITH LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE DEADLINE, THE ONLY LUXURY THEY'RE SHORT OF NOW IS TIME.

PAULO: SO AS YOU CAN SEE, YES, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VILLA.

SO YES, WE ARE FACING VERY DRAMATIC DAYS TO COME.

[CHUCKLES] NARRATOR: AS THE NEW-YEAR'S DEADLINE LOOMS... WORK ON DUBAI'S LATEST LUXURY RESIDENCE CONTINUES AROUND THE CLOCK, AND THE VILLA FINALLY STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE.

FAREED: YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DEADLINE?

I THINK SO.

NARRATOR: INSIDE, THE FINE ITALIAN MARBLE SLABS CONTINUE TO BE LAID...

WALLS ARE FILLED AND PAINTED... AND THE ESSENTIAL AIR CONDITIONING IS INSTALLED.

BUT THE HEAVY WORKLOAD IS TAKING ITS TOLL.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE STRAIGHT, THOUGH IT STARTS SLANTED FROM HERE.

NADIRA: I LOST 5 KILOS OVER THERE LAST 3 WEEKS.

I CAN WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY KIDS AND EVERYONE.

NARRATOR: OUTSIDE, THE PRIVATE BEACH IS SCULPTED INTO SHAPE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF ARCHITECT PAULO ANDRE.

PAULO: SO HERE, WE HAVE THE SPACE TO PASS WITH THE MACHINERY WHILE WE WERE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION.

NOW WE ARE SLOPING IT TO HAVE A NICE, GENTLE SLOPE, TO BE USED AS A BEACH.

NARRATOR: AS THE COUNTDOWN TO THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES, EVERYONE ON-SITE-- DESPITE BEING EXHAUSTED-- IS MAKING ONE LAST PUSH TO MAKE THAT ALL-IMPORTANT DEADLINE.

PAULO: SO YOU FINALLY FEEL THINGS HAPPENING.

IT'S A GOOD STRESS.

NARRATOR: BUT A CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS... QUALITY OF THE WORK, LIKE HERE, THIS, IT'S RUBBISH.

NARRATOR: THE NEW WORKFORCE MAY NOT BE USED TO DELIVERING THE ULTRA-LUXURY FINISH THAT DEFINES THIS WHOLE PROJECT.

THIS JOINT, THIS JOINT, THIS JOINT, ALL GAPS ARE DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT EVEN BEING PICKY.

THERE ARE--I MEAN-- YEAH.

ANYONE CAN SEE THIS.

NARRATOR: THE NEW OWNERS, ARAB ROYALTY, ARE USED TO THE FINEST THINGS IN LIFE, AND THEY ARE EXPECTING THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY.

ANYTHING BUT PERFECTION WON'T CUT IT.

WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR REPAIR WORK.

WE ARE PAYING FOR PROPER WORK.

NARRATOR: TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO PAULO, JOSEF WILL BE CONDUCTING A SITE VISIT IN JUST 3 DAYS' TIME.

THEY ARE NOT EVEN TAKING CARE.

THEY ARE JUST CUTTING BY HAND AND GOING IN WAVES.

NARRATOR: ONLY WHEN HE'S SATISFIED WILL HE ALLOW THE NEW ROYAL OWNERS ONTO THE ISLAND.

I THINK NOBODY CAN PUT MORE PRESSURE ON ME THAN I AM DOING MYSELF.

I WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING AMAZING.

WE ARE WORKING NOW TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER THAN WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT CAN BE.

NARRATOR: IT'S THE DAY OF JOSEF'S INSPECTION.

[SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE] ASSEMBLE, PLEASE.

OK. NADIRA: BE CAREFUL.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION] NARRATOR: THE TEAM OF 80 HAS WORKED ROUND THE CLOCK TO DECORATE THE VILLA.

NADIRA: SIDEBOARD.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE, CLOSE TO $100,000.

WE NEEDED 10 BIG GUYS TO CARRY THIS.

MAYBE THIS IS HALF A TON, THEN.

HA HA!

NARRATOR: AS THE LAST OF THE FURNITURE HAND-CRAFTED IN BRITAIN BY LUXURY CAR BRAND BENTLEY IS CARRIED INTO PLACE... NADIRA: YEAH, IN THE MIDDLE.

NARRATOR: SENIOR PLANNING MANAGER FAREED IS JUST HOURS AWAY FROM KNOWING IF THE VILLA MEETS JOSEF'S EXACTING STANDARDS.

FAREED: ALL THE WORKS WILL BE, LIKE, 95% READY WHEN JOSEF ARRIVES, BUT GENERALLY, THE VILLA IS COMPLETED AND WE ARE READY FOR HIS ARRIVAL.

NARRATOR: AS THE FINISHING TOUCHES ARE CARRIED OUT... JOSEF IS ALREADY EN ROUTE FROM THE MAINLAND.

11 MONTHS AGO, THIS ISLAND WAS A DESOLATE MOUND OF SAND.

NOW JOSEF'S AMBITION TO RESURRECT THE ABANDONED WORLD PROJECT HAS SEEN IT BECOME HOME TO A DESERT JUNGLE AND A 6-STORY VILLA, ALBEIT ONE WITHOUT A ROOF.

GOOD MORNING.

NARRATOR: THE NEW ROOF HAS PREVENTED THE VILLA'S COMPLETION, BUT ON ONE FLOOR, AT LEAST, JOSEF'S HEART OF EUROPE DREAM HAS FINALLY BECOME A REALITY.

IN LESS THAN A MONTH, HIS TEAM HAVE TAKEN IT FROM BARE PLASTER AND CREATED A LAVISH SHOWPIECE, COMPLETE WITH ITS SIGNATURE HIGH-END FURNISHINGS.

BUT IS IT ENOUGH TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF JOSEF KLEINDIENST?

JOSEF: I MEAN, YOU ENTER A ROOM, IT NEEDS TO FEEL RIGHT.

THIS ROOM FEELS RIGHT.

THIS ROOM IS FULL OF LIGHT.

THE DIMENSION IS PERFECT, AND THIS ROOM TAKES YOU IMMEDIATELY IN VACATION MOOD.

IT'S PERFECT.

YOU CANNOT GET THIS BETTER.

NARRATOR: SO FAR, SO GOOD.

THE NEXT STOP-- THE GROUND-FLOOR GUEST BEDROOM, WHERE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL OWNERS CAN RELAX, SURROUNDED BY EUROPEAN LUXURY.

JOSEF: BOOK-MATCHED MARBLE, FINEST ITALIAN MARBLE, CALACATTA.

I LOVE IT.

IT'S A PERFECT MATCH INTO THE BENTLEY HOME OF FURNITURE.

FOR A GUEST ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF SUCH A VILLA, IT'S--IT'S PERFECT.

NARRATOR: THE INTERIOR IS A HIT, BUT THIS VILLA IS ALL ABOUT THE LOCATION.

FLOOR-TO-CEILING GLASS DOORS NOW LEAD OUT ONTO AN EXPANSIVE LIMESTONE DECK... AN INFINITY SWIMMING POOL, AND DOWN TO A GENTLY SLOPING, SANDY BEACH.

JOSEF: YES, I'M IMPRESSED.

THE PLACE LOOKS BETTER THAN I EXPECTED THE PLACE TO LOOK, AND IT'S NOT EASY TO IMPRESS A BILLIONAIRE WHO CAN AFFORD EVERYTHING WHAT YOU CAN BUY WITH MONEY.

IT COST US MORE MONEY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I NEED TO IMPRESS A KING, AND FOR--WHAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO DO THIS?

NARRATOR: THE TEMPLATE FOR THE FIRST LUXURY VILLA ON THE HEART OF EUROPE RESORT HAS MET JOSEF'S HIGH STANDARDS.

NADIRA: I FEEL VERY, VERY HAPPY.

WE MADE THE DEADLINE, WE FINISHED EVERYTHING, AND JOSEF THINKS THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS EVEN BETTER THAN THE BENTLEY CATALOG.

HE IS VERY HAPPY, EVERYTHING WORKS VERY WELL.

WE DID IT.

NARRATOR: THE QUALITY OF THE TEAM'S WORK CAN NOW BE ROLLED OUT ACROSS THE 6-ISLAND RESORT.

BY THE SUMMER OF 2017, 10 LUXURY VILLAS RISE FROM SWEDEN ISLAND.

THE NEW STEEL ROOF STRUCTURE IS FINALLY IN PLACE ON VILLA NUMBER ONE, AND THE FIRST GOLD-TINTED WINDOWS ARRIVE ON-SITE.

INSIDE, A NEW LUXURY MARKETING STRATEGY IS LAUNCHED TO WOO NEW INVESTORS TO THE PROJECT.

AND ACROSS THE WATER, ON SWITZERLAND ISLAND, WORK BEGINS ON THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE RESORT'S FIRST HOTEL.

PHASE ONE IS COMPLETED.

WE DID NOT CUT CORNERS.

WE INVESTED MUCH MORE TIME, MUCH MORE MONEY THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED, BUT DURING CONSTRUCTION, I SAW ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE IMPROVED IT.

NARRATOR: THE 300-STRONG WORKFORCE HAS CONQUERED THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT AND SUCCEEDED WHERE OTHERS BEFORE THEM FAILED.

THE FIRST BUILDING IS UP, AND THE TEAM IS CONFIDENT THAT IN 4 YEARS' TIME, THE RESORT WILL BE FINISHED.

A NEW WORLD IS TAKING SHAPE OFF DUBAI.

JOSEF'S DREAM OF RE-CREATING EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS BECOMING A REALITY.

JOSEF: WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED HERE, THIS ISLAND WAS EMPTY, A SANDY ISLAND IN THE OCEAN.

YEAH, OF COURSE WE TOOK A HIGH RISK, WE TOOK A VERY HIGH RISK.

WE INVESTED A LOT OF OUR MONEY IN THIS PROJECT.

WE KNEW IT'S POSSIBLE, AND NOW IT'S A PARADISE.

NOW OUR FULL FOCUS IS TO COMPLETE THE HOTELS.

WE WANT THE ENTIRE PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR 2020.

IT'S A BIG MILESTONE.

MANY, MANY STRESSFUL DAYS ARE IN FRONT OF US.

- [Narrator] Next time on Impossible Builds, a luxury floating villa with a difference.

One floor is entirely underwater.

- From construction point of view, it's a big risk.

- [Narrator] But building something no one has achieved before and taming the sea.

- [Man] No, no, no, no!

Up, up, up!

- [Narrator] Could push the multi-million dollar concept.

- That way, correct it!

- [Narrator] Out of it's depth, and sink the entire project.

(man mumbles)