Frond seat

The Jumeirah Palm Islands, a man-made peninsula of sand jutting into the Persian Gulf, consists of a 2km trunk, 17 fronds and a surrounding crescent, being built by main contractor Nakheel.

In addition to an above-ground and below-ground highway in a tunnel, residents of the 4,000 villas and guests to the planned 30 hotels can travel from one end to another on a 6km-long monorail railway.

The first of 420 support beams for the monorail, Dubai's first railway, was recently lifted into place on cast concrete footings. The steel-reinforced girders are 30m long and weigh 80t. Two 150t capacity crawlers and two 200t capacity mobile cranes lift each girder. When the monorail passes over water, barges will lift the girders into place.

Workers prepare to lift the beam off the trailer

The trailer disappears as the load is raised above its final position

The beam rises

Workers slide the beam end into position

The beam is lowered into place

Workers check final positioning