Planned on 200 hectares of prime land between ‘Jebel Ali Free Zone' (JAFZ), ‘Dubai Waterfront' and ‘Techno Park', ‘Downtown Jebel Ali' is a mixed-use urban community of 4 prime zones. It is set in the midst of Dubai 's largest commercial and employment cluster and is an 11-kilometre stretch along Sheikh Zayed Road . When complete, ‘Downtown Jebel Ali' will house around 235,000 people, 70,000 of whom will be residents.

The master plan of the project allots enough space among buildings with special pedestrian and congestion-free areas.

‘Downtown Jebel Ali', Dubai is to be the gateway to Jebel Ali International Airport , the largest in the world. This project will eventually have 326 buildings, 237 of which will be residential. Also, it will be adjacent to Jebel Ali Seaport and industrial zones.

Downtown Jebel Ali - Zones

‘Downtown Jebel Ali' is set on four distinct strips:

• East Quarter
• East Central
• West Central
• West Quarter

Each of the 4 zones is further divided into 3 individual districts:

• The Urban Centre
• The Trellis
• The Medina

The 3 districts will be home to a multitude of business, residential, shopping, dining and entertainment facilities. With its modern high-rises and vast spaces, ‘The Urban Centre' within each zone would be its commercial and social hub; ‘The Trellis', with its special network of trellises projecting from buildings, will have shaded, pedestrian-friendly environs; and finally, ‘The Medina', comprising low-rise residential neighborhoods, small courtyards and plazas will feature a more intimate, family-friendly environment.

Transportation

A striking feature of the Downtown Jebel Ali master plan is its efficient and intelligent transport system. Four new freeway intersections provide easy access by car; centrally located in all the 4 zones are Dubai Metro stations to transport people effortlessly between various parts of Dubai .

In addition, the development will have a state-of-the-art internal people mover system providing an eco-friendly, practical and comfortable mode of conveyance.

Work on ‘Downtown Jebel Ali' has commenced and the first 4 commercial buildings at the development are to be completed by mid-2007.

With 4 freeway interchanges and 4 new Light Rail stations ‘Downtown Jebel Ali' will literally be the circulation point of the western end of Dubai .