A $1 billion logistics harbour and park will link mainland Dubai with The World, a cluster of 300 man-made islands developed by Nakheel.
There will be a 1.3 kilometre quay wall to handle an estimated daily 60 ferry trips and a large number of work boats.
"The logistics park will be located next to Port Rashid. It is under construction and the first phase will be ready in 18 months from now," The World's director Hamza Mustafa told Gulf News.
He said the project's cost is estimated to be $1 billion. The logistic park is being developed on an area of 103 hectares.
Initially there will be space for parking 4,000 cars, but capacity will be increased later.
"There is a lot in the process. The logistics park will be developed in phases. As demand increases, the capacity will increase," Mustafa said.
Warehouses will be built in the logistics park and owners of islands will be able to buy them for their use.
A huge number of supply and waste collection boats will operate in the area apart from a ferry service, which will be linked to Dubai's public transport system.
These ferry service will be operated by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, which last year launched a water bus service for people who cross the creek.
Hotels will be operating their own shuttle boat services for their guests. Hotels on The World are going to have logistics and operations similar to the Maldives, where boats are used to ferry guests and bring provisions.
"This is the Maldives of Dubai, but you are only 20 minutes away from the city. When you go to the Maldives you are far away from the city," Mustafa said.
Around 5,000 hotel rooms will be available within the tourism projects planned on the islands.
Nakheel has so far sold about half of the islands, mostly to commercial developers who are building boutique hotels and residential real estate.
Of the islands sold so far, only three per cent have been bought by people for private residences, while the rest have been acquired by commercial developers.