First phase of new Masterplan for The Palm Deira development unveiled

Nakheel has unveiled initial details of the first phase of the new masterplan for The Palm Deira, the third and last island of The Palm trilogy.

The Palm Deira will consist of two different projects: Deira Corniche and the Palm Deira island itself. The total area of the development is planned to be 4900 hectares (49 million square metres), with the total volume of sand required to reclaim the two projects being 1.14 billion cubic metres The first phase of the new masterplan is Deira Extension, which is part of the Deira Corniche.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai recently approved that Deira Extension, the first phase of the Deira Corniche project, will connect with the current area of Deira between the mouth of Dubai Creek and Port Hamriya, creating a major new business and residential district that will revitalize the oldest part of the city. The 591 hectare reclaimed land (5.91 million square metres), formed in a semi circle, will extend out from the current Deira Corniche.

Announcing the first phase of the new masterplan, Abdulla bin Sulayem, Operations Director, The Palm Deira said, "Deira Extension will ultimately act as the gateway to The Palm Deira but is also a major district in its own right. Its vibrant mix of commercial, residential and recreational elements, has been carefully master planned in a number of sub-districts that will be home to a wide variety of people and businesses."

Deira Extension will have a wide variety of public amenities, such as places of worships, schools, hospitals and services. The masterplan includes marina and waterfront areas, financial, entertainment and amusement sub-districts and a variety of retail options, including an attractive boulevard at the centre of the district that will lead down towards the waterfront. There will also be a number of parks, beachfront and public meeting areas creating a pedestrian friendly environment, resulting in a bustling community adjacent to the mouth of Dubai Creek.

Abdulla bin Sulayem added, "The widening of the Creek in the 1960s was the birth of modern-day Dubai, so it is fitting that the creation of a new city for Dubai, The Palm Deira, begins here too.

"Connecting the first phase of The Palm Deira with the existing Deira will stimulate and revitalize the oldest part of our city, increasing real estate value and attracting business to the area."

A conceptual master plan for The Palm Deira, which is planned to be the largest man-made island in the world and a city for more than 1 million people was launched in 2004 and since then extensive planning and studies have been carried out to refine the masterplan.

Abdulla bin Sulayem said, "In developing a project of this scale, it is vital to focus on the predicted long-term needs of Dubai. We do not base our planning on current demands and market trends as these will have radically changed by the time The Palm Deira is in the delivery phase. Instead, we base our planning on a wide variety of studies; studies that will continue throughout the development period. Therefore the masterplan of The Palm Deira has evolved considerably since 2004 and it will continue to evolve as we develop the project. By developing in phases, we can ensure that each phase caters for changes in demand". 

Reclamation on The Palm Deira development is progressing on schedule with more than 178 million cubic metres of sand in place to date. This volume is 60% more than the total amount of sand used to create The Palm Jumeirah. 

Working closely with the RTA, a comprehensive integrated transportation system has been planned for the entire development to ensure a smooth flow of traffic within and outside of the development. The solutions include road, metro and marine transportation networks with an emphasis on modern, comfortable and reliable public transport. Interconnection between The Palm Deira roads network and RTA's roads networks are key to this system. Within Deira Extension itself, a number of major roads and linkages will be introduced, providing alternative routes and therefore alleviating traffic congestion in current areas of Deira.

The new masterplan for The Palm Deira will be revealed in its entirety at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in early May.

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