Paradise living has been taken up a notch ever since Dubai unveiled its Palm Islands, and now another land reclamation project for luxury homes is seen in the Persian Gulf – only this time Bahrain is creating the waves.

Lavish and picturesque, the Reef Island previously nicknamed Lulu Island is no doubt Bahrain’s most luxurious development, costing an estimated US$1.2 billion to build.

The 579,000-sq m (or approximately 6.23 million sq ft) free-hold housing estate sees 1,217 lavish apartments, 39 residential buildings, 65 villas, 49 chalets and a 250-room five-star hotel & spa sharing the man-made island space.

In addition, there are spacious parks, an aquarium, shopping mall, multi-purpose exhibition center, medical center, marina and yacht club for an island paradise living, complete with modern amenities and infrastructure.

The first phase is due for completion by early 2009, with the second targeting the end of 2010.