What’s On announces news of The Heart Of Europe, part of Dubai World Islands project, installing climate-controls to help make it snow.

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Earlier this month, What’s On shared news that fresh ground had been broken on the World Islands in the form of The Heart Of Europe, a collection of six islands, each inspired by a picturesque European destination and featuring cobbled streets, bustling plazas, and grand architecture. The main island, named Europe, will feature elements of Vienna, Rome, Andalusia, and the Cote d’Azur, while separate islands will take their cues from Monaco, Switzerland and St Petersburg.

Hotels, shops and restaurants on the islands will only accept euros, we’re told.

And now the developers behind The Heart of Europe – The Kleindienst group, have unveiled the ultimate desert-defying act, confirming they will be able to make it rain and snow when the project is complete.

To prove their claim, CEO Josef Kleindienst created Frosty the Test Snowman on the World Islands earlier this week – produced using special snow machines. He told 7Days newspaper that similar snow machines will be installed along select streets and plaza in The Heart of Europe.

While he admitted that master developer Nakheel was initially skeptical at the idea of making a flurry, Kleindienst insists this is snow joke. “Scientists from Germany showed them the plan, and they were convinced. Nakheel would not approve the plan if it were not possible.”

The scientists in question from the Frauhofer Institute in Germany claim it is possible to control the air outside so that it sits at 27 degrees – the “ideal” outdoor temperature in Europe. They also plan to generate rain via a pump mechanism similar to ones used on movie sets.

While Mother Nature might weep at the idea, the team behind it believe the energy consumption is no more than that found in one of the many big malls around the region.

In his interview with 7Days, Kleindienst added that his surprise that a similar idea hadn’t already been used on the mainland. 

“I don’t know why they’re not doing it already – maybe they want to see it done first,” he said. It would make perfect sense because of course you need energy to control outside areas but you also need energy to drive cars around and air condition the mall and the buildings.”

The entire development – all 300 islands – spans approximately nine kilometres in width, seven kilometres in length, and is 4.5 kilometres from the Dubai mainland coast. It is visible from space.