The developer of ‘The Heart of Europe’, the artificial island cluster built off the coast of Dubai, has said it plans to build a dedicated destination for honeymooning couples.

Located 6.5km off the Dubai coast, the ‘St Petersburg Island’ will be the first dedicated honeymoon resort in the UAE, developer Kleindienst said. Guests will be able to access the island via a 20-minute boat ride, or through private transfers by helicopter or seaplane.

Designed in the shape of a heart, the island will be surrounded by 90 ‘floating seahorse’ villas, the developer added, with each connected to the island through floating jetties. There will also be a Honeymoon Hotel on the main Europe Island, which is set to open by the end of 2018.

Billed as the world’s first underwater villas, The Floating Seahorse properties will be the first to feature “totally submerged bedrooms and bathrooms,” Kleindienst said.

“St Petersburg Island will be a dream destination for couples and newlyweds,” said Josef Kleindienst, chairman of The Heart of Europe. “The five-star resort will offer privacy, tranquility and first-class hospitality to ensure a memorable and once in a lifetime experience.

“The honeymoon business is a multi-billion-dollar industry and we are excited by the prospect of newly-married couples choosing to spend the most special holiday of their lives at St Petersburg Island very soon.”

The island will also hold shallow lagoons, tropical gardens and a pool bar and restaurant, the chairman said.

The Heart of Europe is a cluster of six islands on The World project. When complete, the project aims to house private luxury villas, five-star hotels and floating homes.