Dubai Festival City Unveils ‘City-Within-A-City’ Masterplan

Dubai Festival City today unveiled the final masterplan for the unique waterfront ‘city-within-a-city.’ The development charts 15 varying districts that will be developed in line with market demand.

Together, the 15 communities make up a mixed-use destination offering a world-class and unmatched mix of entertainment, dining, shopping, a marina, hotels, residential, office and hotel components as well as a golf course, sports and leisure facilities.

"The scope and mix of this project cannot be found anywhere else in the world," said Omar Al-Futtaim, CEO of the Al-Futtaim Group, developers of the project. "We believe it lives up to the vision of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, in delivering a city core development which is respectful of the past, yet designed for the future.

Spanning approximately 1,200 acres, the project is set to transform the shopping, living, leisure and working lifestyles in Dubai. "It is an all-inclusive destination which, when complete, will see upwards of 75,000 people living and working within it," explained Mr Al-Futtaim.

The masterplan includes: a signature corporate office development; an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II designed recreational golf course, 21,000 homes spanning a range of styles, settings and budgets; a dynamic entertainment zone; diverse retail facilities, a full range of community facilities and five hotels, one of which will be a resort set on a man-made island in the Creek. 

In addition, included in the masterplan is the ‘Promontory Tower,’ a 50-storey tower combining office and residential accommodation as well as a waterfront hotel. 

"The tower will provide another landmark for Dubai and one which, because of its iconic design, will be recognised worldwide," said Lee Tabler, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festival City Development.

"The entire development is based on two dominant natural features that are a vital part of its context – the desert and the sea. Both are interwoven throughout the plan to create a memorable sense of place and deliver powerful human experiences."

The masterplan, for which the waterfront theme is dominant throughout resulting in lakes, fountains, waterways, a marina and a canal, has evolved after 18 months of in-depth market research compiled by some of the world’s leading consultants across a comprehensive range of disciplines.

"A focussed effort was taken on planning the Dubai Festival City project. We are creating a world-class environment which will deliver a host of experiences for a wide segment of the local population and the emirate's tourism base," said Tabler. 

Construction is already well underway for the development's first phase This is the 18-hole recreational golf course designed by world renowned golf course designer Robert Trent Jones II LLC and approximately 300 adjacent residential units that will be completed by the end of 2003.

Also introduced was the new Corporate Identity logo for the Dubai Festival City project. The new identity was designed to reflect the project's values, ideals, objectives and professionalism.

"This logo is a graphic representation of the Dubai Festival City brand, a powerful expression of who we are and what we stand for," explained Tabler. "The logo reflects the dynamism of Dubai Festival City and will assist in establishing its image with its local, regional and international audiences."

The Dubai Festival City logo contains various elements that speak to the core essentials of the project – an oasis, the flow of water, sand and dunes, the celebration of life and the ability of people to interconnect. The circular concept of the logo reflects The Crescent, a key component of the Dubai Festival City project.