While coastal areas are the most sought-after locations worldwide and their availability becomes scarcer, artificial islands (AIs) solution becomes more prevalent. Since the beginning of this millennium more than 70 AIs projects were completed. The construction of an AI is highly likely to impact the opposite mainland coast (OMC), by altering waves, tides or currents, input of sediments from inland and other natural forces. Understanding the impacts on an OMC during and after AI construction, and which policies are implemented, is vital for any new project planning. This paper reviews 31 case studies addressing OMC change to determine common patterns and review related policies. The review concluded that most studies were sediment-perceptive based, including transport, shoreline and morphological changes, and erosion/deposition patterns. The majority of cases showed sediment build up on the OMC immediately in the shadow of the AI, with erosion occurring at the less protected edges. Unexpectedly, this tombolo-like pattern does not change whether the AI is located in a protected bay or exposed to open sea conditions, nor is the distance from shore (e.g. 200m versus 1km) a factor. Despite these commonalities, there is an acute lack of international cooperation as related to uniform evaluation parameters, reporting, methodological protocols, monitoring practices, or common terminologies. Lastly, this review finds that most studies exclude any consideration of climate change effects, which can lead to substantial inaccuracies.