A waterfront city is being constructed in the UAE's Sharjah Emirate, with a phase one cost of $2.5bn (AED9.35bn), set to be launched at Cityscape Global next month. Sharjah Waterfront City will span 36km of coastline, across a total area of 557ha (60 million sqf), comprising 10 islands connected by natural canals. The project involves construction of bridges for interconnecting 10 islands within Sharjah Waterfront City. The Engineering Emirates has started construction work for interconnecting islands through bridges, while WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff is executing traffic impact study for the project. Construction of the first phase, which spreads across 27ha (3 million sqf), will begin in the fourth quarter of 2015, and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2018. A Local Engineering Emirates has been appointed as the main contractor. The scheme is expected to be completed by mid-2017.