Dubai's US$1.6 billion tourism island plan to be redesigned

The masterplan for the US$1.6 billion Bluewaters Island project off the coast of Dubai's Jumeirah Beach Residences is to undergo a redesign.

The island, which is being developed by Dubai Government-owned developer Meraas, is currently split into three zones.

One contains the Dubai Eye - set to be the world's tallest Ferris Wheel at 210 metres hight - and is surrounded by other retail and leisure units. A second zone, facing out onto the Arabian Gulf, is currenty earmarked for hotels, and a third, mixed-use zone predominantly contains residential units.

However, according to Matthew Darling, senior development manager at project management firm Mirage Leisure & Development, this could soon change.

Darling told a seminar held as part of the recent Australia Unlimited trade fair in Duba, “we have rehashed the masterplan. (it has been) repositioned things to make it more inviting for the guest."

Mirage Leisure & Development is a South African company started by Dene Murphy in 1995, who had previously worked as a development director for companies owned by luxury hotels specialist Sol Kerzner.

The company specialises in developing masterplans for mixed-use and hospitality schemes in the Middle East, North and South Africa and the Indian Ocean.

It has completed 42 masterplans to date, and is currently working on the fourth phase of expansion of Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah complex, as well as the Dubai Opera House complex.

For Bluewaters, Mirage Leisure & Development is responsible for development management, program management, cost management and project management.

Darling added "we manage the development on behalf of the client.

"We manage the budgets, the feasibilities, we run the business models and analysis – putting it into an experience at the end of the day. This is for Dubai and for the guests.

"We look at what the guests – us, and our families and friends – will visit and what we will take away from that. There’s a lot of passion put into it."

26th January 2014 - DUBAI READY TO BUILD WORLD’S LARGEST FERRIS WHEEL