Dubai Holding unveils Jumeirah Central masterplan

Dubai Holding today unveiled the approved masterplan of Jumeirah Central, a game-changing district development on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Jumeirah Central is an urban mixed-use city district envisaged to become the most accessible, functional and valuable real estate in Dubai. Jumeirah Central will comprise 47 million sqft of Gross Floor Area (‘GFA’). It will introduce many innovative urban planning and quality of life concepts that are a first in the region.

Ahmad Bin Byat, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Dubai Holding, said: “Dubai Holding has a strong track record of delivering iconic city districts across Dubai. The uniqueness of this district captures the ambitions of Dubai and will contribute to the Emirate’s long-term social development and growth. Jumeirah Central extends Dubai’s tourism vision past 2020 and will further reinforce Dubai’s position as the region’s leading international tourist destination.”

Stakeholder Consultation

The masterplan has been subject to consultation with thousands of residents, tourists, investors and businesses, whose views on the future of Dubai’s urban fabric and lifestyle needs have been encapsulated in the new plan. The scheme is focused on delivering a true community environment, supporting rich social interaction.

Key features

Jumeirah Central is planned as an intuitive, phaseable and highly adaptive street grid that enables future industry innovations and lifestyle needs to be organically accommodated. As Dubai’s first genuine mixed-use community, the district aims to create 24/7 vitality, year-round economic resiliency and efficient optimisation of infrastructure, such as car parking.

• 278 individual building projects
  • 11,000 residential units
  • 1 million sqft of retail space
  • 8 million sqft of office space
  • 7,200 hotel rooms
  • 40 new entertainment attractions
  • 37 plazas
  • 33 parks
• Overall the master plan is: 35% residential, 21% office space, 19% hotels and 24% retail and 1% other
• 25 points of access and eight modes of transit such as metro, tram, buses and aerial transportation system

Jumeirah Central is a transit orientated, highly accessible and permeable urban centre with 25 points of vehicular access and the opportunity for people to move about throughout the year utilising; the shade from buildings, which will be closer together, walkways through buildings allowing pedestrians to ‘borrow’ air-conditioning and climate-controlled arcades. Jumeirah Central will be designed to encourage the use of public transport with more conveniently positioned metro, tram, bus, shuttle, bicycles and aerial gondola services’ than is currently available across Dubai.

Morgan Parker, Chief Operating Officer, Jumeriah Central, said: “Dubai Holding’s experience, together with extensive stakeholder consultation and research looking at the most innovative new cities across the world, will ensure we create high-value real estate to stimulate inbound, international institutional investment in the region, adding to the growth of Dubai’s non-oil economy.”

Joint Venture Partnerships

Jumeirah Central will be developed predominantly in conjunction with domestic and international institutional joint venture partners looking to deploy capital in the region, with a number of agreements due to be announced in the coming months. Dubai Holding is keen to ensure a harmonised approach to the development of the district and community, as such is focused on long-term ownership of assets.

Innovations

Aligned with the Government’s strategy to drive innovation, Jumeirah Central comprises 50 urban planning innovations that are set to improve the quality of life for future generations and increase happiness and overall well-being. This will be Dubai’s first climate controlled, sustainable and walkable district that puts people first and it will define the future of Dubai’s urban landscape.

First Phase

Phase One will break ground in 2017, although site clearing and preparation is already underway. Occupying land on the opposite side of the Sheikh Zayed Road from Mall of the Emirates, Phase One will comprise:

• 69 projects
• 17 million sqft of GFA.
• 3000 residential apartments
  • 13 residential projects
  • 4 student accommodation projects
  • 1 live/work residential project
• 2,800 hotel keys in
  • 14 hotels
  • 1 resort
• 12 Office projects
• Retail and Entertainment
  • 1 urban mall project
  • 1 food & beverage market hall project
  • 2 performance theatres
  • 1 retail souk
  • 1 exhibition hall
  • 2 cultural buildings
• 4 Community Services facilities
• 5 Parks and Plazas
• 15,000 car spaces
• 3 Dubai Tram stops

Parker added: “Dubai Holding has been working closely with government agencies and authorities to strive for innovation in urban planning that can improve the quality of life for Dubai residents and tourists alike. Working together, these entities have played a critical role in discussing infrastructure requirements, connectivity to current transportation networks, development of tourism and bringing new ideas to the overall masterplan. I would like to thank them for their support and guidance in bringing this vision to life.”

Saif Al Aleeli, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Future Foundation, said: “Jumeirah Central is a clear example of Dubai Holding’s long-standing contribution to the Dubai Future Agenda, announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum last April. The district conceptualises the essence of what the city of the future would look like. It has the agility and ability to create a platform which harnesses future global innovations that will tackle future global challenges and leverage global future opportunities across all aspects of daily life. We are very excited about this district, and are pleased to continue our collaboration with Dubai Holding to bring to life the Dubai Future Agenda.”

Since its establishment over a decade ago, Dubai Holding has played an integral role in developing strategic projects critical to the City’s economic growth; developments that have transformed Dubai’s skyline include; Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Business Bay with a range of new projects under development including Marasi Business Bay, a waterfront destination along the Dubai Water Canal.