Dubai Festival City unveils AED 6 billion up-market Marsa Al Khor neighbourhood

Transforming the banks of the historic Dubai Creek, the upscale "Marsa Al Khor" office and residential development, between Al Garhoud Bridge and the new 12-lane Ras Al Khor crossing, which will deliver motorists into the heart of Dubai Festival City, is due for phased completion from 2007.

"We are delivering yet another world-class project to enhance the new Dubai lifestyle offering. This project will raise the bar for mixed-use commercial and residential developments in the UAE and compliments the long term vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum," said Omar Al Futtaim, CEO, Al Futtaim Group.

Creating an integrated Corniche community for up to 14,000 people, "Marsa Al Khor" will have breathtaking hi-rise towers, stylish Creekside offices, a Central Park, exclusive waterfront homes, a 300 room boutique hotel fronting the centrepiece Quay, state-of-the-art offices and an array of chic cafes and restaurants.

"Marsa Al Khor" will deliver a new day and night urban environment for Dubai. It has a strong relationship to the water, a distinctive landscape and is not totally reliant on motor transport with pedestrian access throughout," said Brett Schafer, Development Director, Dubai Festival City.

The iconic "Marsa Al Khor" development will leverage its unique location and deliver an active waterfront environment. In concept, "Marsa Al Khor" will be a first for Dubai and will bring the soul of the city back to the Creek.

Designed to be one of the most sought-after addresses in down-town Dubai, "Marsa Al Khor" is set in expansive landscaped surroundings and fronted by a 900 metre long public Corniche and beach - the first to be privately developed in the region.

A unique facet of the development is its interaction with the Corniche and public beach, which will be enlivened by extensive water features throughout.

"Marsa Al Khor" skirts the 32 metre wide Corniche, which will be part of a larger walkway running the entire 4kms of Dubai Festival City's waterfront, and will boast a shaded, continuous retail and restaurant frontage similar to Singapore's Boat Quay and Darling Harbour in Sydney.

In keeping with the entire Dubai Festival City ethos of creating a place to live, work, meet and play, "Marsa Al Khor" will offer an unrivalled blend of experiences for residents and visitors, allowing them to interact with a natural waterfront and world class facilities.

A Quay, which is at "Marsa Al Khor's" centre, will be the development's hub. It will have 50 serviced apartments, numerous fashionable restaurants and cafés and a highly contemporary boutique hotel. Talks are at an advanced stage with a leading international hotel operator to manage the property. A management contract will be formally announced later this year.

All will combine to create a stylish waterfront focal point for the surrounding residential and commercial components. Completely accessible by foot or water taxi, the Quay will be an intimate place for people and a magnet for the entire project.

With over 2.5 million square feet of Gross Leaseable Area (GLA), the three "Marsa Al Khor" commercial districts will attract some of the world's leading multi-nationals, NGOs and Corporations. Designed in a tiered format to deliver as many waterfront views as possible, the districts have at their heart the Central Park, where striking high-rise towers are set amongst landscaped gardens and cooling water features. Serviced by ground level cafes and shops, the towers will have ample underground parking.

These iconic towers will face the Creek and Garhoud Bridge. They will be designed by a world class architect and become signature buildings for Dubai Festival City and new Dubai landmarks.
The towers will have expansive views up and down the creek and west to the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline. Their visibility from the Garhoud and Ras Al Khor bridges will provide unique opportunities for corporate branding and signage.

To the rear of Central Park will be the Office Campus - an integrated cluster of linked low-rise buildings and associated 15 storey mid rise towers. Shared lobbies serve both the high rise and low rise offices and will feature shops and restaurants providing a leisure meeting place.

"Landscaped courts and roof gardens will be an important part of this new working environment, creating a contemporary blend of style and nature," said Phil McArthur, Director Leasing & marketing, Dubai Festival City.

Fronting Central Park are the Waterfront Offices which will cater to Dubai's growing demand for niche, loft-style working environments. These multi storey offices will sit comfortably on the edge of the Corniche offering prime Creek views. They will have generous balconies and overhanging roofs while the end terraces have curved facades recalling the sails of the traditional Arabian sailing dhow.

"Marsa Al Khor" will also offer a stunning choice of homes - from stylish waterfront condominiums and penthouses to up-scale luxury apartments and all with ample underground and above ground car parking.

With over 2.3 million square feet of residential GLA available, "Marsa Al Khor" will be home to a discerning community which will benefit from a range of neighbourhood amenities and eateries, all with awe-inspiring vistas.

The centrepiece of the residential precinct is the Harbour Plaza apartment complex - a new landmark on Dubai's skyline, which will also contain serviced apartments that will be managed by the world-renowned InterContinental Group that is also managing a flagship hotel at Dubai Festival City, the remainder will be available for lease.

Adjacent to Harbour Plaza will be clusters of four-storey apartments flanked by multi storey residential towers. Designed to compliment the style and grace of Harbour Plaza, the towers will comprise in excess of a thousand one to four bedroom apartments and penthouses.

The third major "Marsa Al Khor" residential component will be stunning waterfront residential complex - a series of six low rise buildings boasting one and two storey opulent condos and penthouses with garden balconies.

These are designed to maximise waterfront views and leverage their close proximity to the corniche. They will deliver an interactive waterfront experience similar to that in Cape Town and Australia's Gold Coast - a lifestyle experience unlike any other in Dubai. The waterfront location and access to the beach via the corniche will create an unparalleled living environment.

"Marsa Al Khor" is the latest component to be launched at Dubai Festival City, which is set to begin a hectic opening schedule in November with the launch of the UAE's largest IKEA store and the world's largest Toyota showroom - the first of five showrooms at the designated Automotive Park.

"Marsa Al Khor" will eventually integrate into Dubai Festival City's centrepiece Festival Centre - a 2.6 million square foot waterfront retail, entertainment and leisure focal point. Giving life to a new downtown café culture, the Festival Centre will host 400 shops and 90 restaurants and cafes, many facing the waterfront in a Riviera-style setting. Renowned and new-to-market food and beverage outlets will be found in three themed pavilions strategically located between a Canal Walk and the Festival Marina ensuring waterfront views for all.