THE sound of blasting and piling daily pierces the otherwise idyllic Sentosa Island where one of the largest, state-of-the-art family entertainment, casino and convention resorts is taking shape.

It is scheduled for opening in early 2010.

Resorts World At Sentosa, about the size of 40 football fields, is the Genting Group's RM14b investment across the Causeway through its international outfit, Genting International.

"We are rushing to make the launch date in early 2010," said Robin Goh, Resorts World At Sentosa's assistant director of communications.

The resort is designed primarily by American architect Michael Graves, who even has a hotel named after him and features six themed hotels, South East Asia's Universal Studios theme park and the world's largest oceanarium with 700,000 fish including whale sharks.

Festive Walk is another attraction that will thrill visitors when the resort is ready. It has a broad waterfront non-gated avenue for entertainment, dining and shopping including roving acts, lights, lasers, fire, water and special effects.

"Universal Studios theme park will feature 24 themed rides, 18 of which are made exclusively for Singapore," says Goh, adding that it will have six zones - Hollywood, The Lost World, Superhero City, Egypt, New York and Dreamworks. The theme park will also be home to Mark Burnet Productions Asia.

The Hard Rock Hotel is for meetings and conventions, with 22 meeting rooms, a 1,600-seat plenary hall and one of Asia's largest ballrooms with seating capacity (theatre style) for 7,300 delegates.

Other attractions will include a spa, the Maritime Xperiential Museum with a 360-degree multimedia theatre and the Equarius Water Park.

Resorts World At Sentosa is 25 mins from the Changi International Airport and five minutes from the Singapore Cruise Centre.