Massive plans for Dubai World Central

Dubai World Central, a massive, multi-phase development centred around the world’s largest international airport, today made urban planning history when the final master-plan and branding of the 140 square kilometre city, almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island, was unveiled at the Arabian Travel Market 2006, the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism exhibition.

The self-sustaining development, at Jebel Ali, some 40 kilometres south of Dubai city centre, includes Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) – which when complete will be the world’s largest with a capacity equal to that currently of Chicago’s O’Hare and London’s Heathrow – and a cluster of specialised zones. Dubai World Central will be a new city where eventually some 750,000 people will live and work – that’s more than the present population of Frankfurt and almost that of Stockholm. The master plan, now refined, originally had a working title of Jebel Ali Airport City.

A product of the combined vision of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group, Dubai World Central is one of the most strategically important infrastructure developments yet launched by the vibrant emirate. It is designed to support Dubai’s aviation, tourism, commercial and logistics requirements until 2050 and infrastructure costs alone will run to US$33 billion.

“We have to make history and approach the future with steady steps, not wait for the future to come to us,” commented His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.

At the heart of Dubai World Central is Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) – which will be the world’s largest passenger and cargo hub with a design capacity of over 12 million tons of cargo a year and in excess of 120 million passengers annually and capable of handling all new generation aircraft, including the Airbus A380.

“With Dubai World Central we are taking the future into our own hands,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed. “Dubai World Central will be a global brand known for its superb facilities and infrastructure and for the boost it will give to local and regional economies and downstream to billions of consumers.

“It is geography that makes this vision possible with huge land availability in a prime location. The long term benefits of Dubai World Central to the UAE, GCC and the wider region are phenomenal and will place this emirate firmly in ‘pole position’ for regional logistics, tourism and commerce.

“Dubai World Central will not only cater to economic growth but will be a strong catalyst for our next wave of development as a truly global commercial, trade and logistics hub.”

Dubai World Central also creates one of the world’s first truly integrated multi-modal logistics platforms with all transportation modes, logistics and value-added services, such as product manufacturing and assembly in a single-bonded free zone environment made up of Dubai Logistics City, Dubai World Central International Airport and Jebel Ali Port.

Other Dubai World Central components include: Residential City, which will offer a combination of freehold and leased quality homes, the marketing of which will begin immediately after the Arabian Travel Market; Commercial City, which will feature hundreds of office tower blocks, a golf course resort, Enterprise Park.

The entire Dubai World Central complex will be served throughout by the latest technology solutions for security, transport and customer service. An internal light rail network will link the whole of Dubai World Central which will also be served by the Dubai Light Rail Network (Dubai Metro).

“This will be a ‘smart city’ – a beacon of future living and working environments. With our smart city approach we are demonstrating our commitment to delivering a leading-edge proposition which will further push the urban aviation development boundaries,” added Sheikh Ahmed. 

Dubai World Central International Airport

This new facility will be 10 times the size of the current Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined. Its passenger capacity of over 120 million passengers a year can be judged in context alongside the world’s busiest airport Atlanta which in 2004, for which the latest figures are available, handled 83.5 million passengers.

The airport will have six parallel runways all of 4.5 kilometres in length and separated by a minimum of 800 metres and a 92 metre high control tower – the highest in the Middle East – the ’flower concept’ icon design of which will create an aviation landmark for the region. The control tower will be fully equipped with the latest in avionics and navigational aids. Control tower construction will begin in October this year.

There will be two terminals - the first dedicated to the services of airlines within the Emirates Group, the second catering to other regional and international carriers. A third, highly functional terminal is earmarked for low cost charter airlines. Dedicated facilities are earmarked for executive jet operators.

The airport will also boast hotels and shopping malls, support facilities and state-of-the-art maintenance facilities which will create a regional maintenance hub capable of A, B and C checks on all aircraft, including the A380.

JXB will be linked to the existing, Dubai International Airport (DXB) via an express rail system and ultimately will be serviced by the Dubai Light Railway Network (Dubai Metro). Some 100,000 car parking spaces will be available for airport parking and car rental services. 

Dubai Logistics City

Spanning 25 square kilometres, Dubai Logistics City is designed to ultimately handle 12 million tonnes of air cargo annually in up to 16 air cargo terminals.

Work on the project, which is due to be operational at the end of next year, is already underway. Work is progressing on the first 4.5 kilometre, CAT III, all-weather runway which allows for automatic landing.

Dubai Logistics City will also have its own aviation area, a dedicated cluster for specialised aviation industry suppliers and offering direct apron access and a dedicated labour village accommodating up to 40,000 workers in purpose-built surroundings. The labour village, in a built-up area of 350,000 square metres, will be built and managed by Dubai Logistics City. Dubai Logistics City will also have state-of-the-art office buildings, land plots for dedicated industrial business, trading companies, distributors, logistics service providers and forwarders, shared facilities, such as warehouses and modern air-side cargo handling facilities.

e-customs for all shipments will be introduced within the year.

Residential City

To be developed in three phases and covering some 7.16 million square metres, freehold land plots in Residential City are to be offered to developers on the open market who will then build in accordance with masterplan guidelines. Up to 250,000 people are expected to live in the ‘city’ where some 20,000 people will be employed. The Dubai Metro will serve Residential City which will also have a dedicated, integrated road network.

The city will include three hotels – five-star, four-star and three-star properties – and a shopping mall.

Homes will be a mix of two-storey villas and luxury apartments in blocks ranging up to 24 storeys in height. One area of the masterplan has been earmarked for labour accommodation which will be operated by Dubai World Central to safeguard standards.

Marketing of land plots will begin immediately after the Arabian Travel Market.

Residential City will have a full range of civic amenities including schools.

Development will begin at the end of this year.

Commercial City

To be developed in five phases, this ‘city’ will cover some 14.53 million square metres. Designed as Dubai World Central’s business and finance hub, Commercial City will feature more than 850 towers, ranging from 6-75 storeys in height – which will be home to a variety of businesses expected to employ around 130,000 people and offer super deluxe homes. A cluster of luxury villas are also included in the masterplan.

The taller blocks, which will be at the perimeter of the ‘city’ will have views of Nakheel’s Arabian Canal project. The ‘city’ will also boast up to 25 hotels ranging from deluxe, through to five-star, four-star and three-star. Land plots are to be sold to leading developers who will build in accordance with the approved Dubai World Central masterplan and design requirements.

Golf Resort

To be offered on the open market to a private developer, Dubai World Central will feature two 18-hole golf courses each having a distinct feel from a traditional desert links style to a more lush tropical resort course. In addition to the courses there will be extensive practice facilities, driving ranges and putting greens as well as a luxury clubhouse with restaurants and a pro-shop.

Up to 2,500 freehold homes – ranging from two storey villas to 24-storey apartment blocks – will surround the courses – and will be around six kilometres away from the airport and back on to Nakheel’s Arabian Canal project.

The golf resort will also feature a high-end boutique hotel complete with a spa resort and around 150 rooms. Development will begin at the end of 2008 and will take two years to complete.

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