Dubai Holding to begin new Jumeirah mega-development in June 2017

Dubai Holding will begin construction on a $1.7-billion family tourism mega-development next month. The new resort and entertainment destination will cover two islands near the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

The project will be called the Marsa Al Arab and is scheduled for completion in late 2020. The Jumeirah Group will manage the new family-oriented tourist destination.

Meanwhile, the group will expand its portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts and residential complexes.

According to Dubai Holding, the 4-million-square-foot complex is intended to elevate the family tourism proposition in Dubai and to provide locations to host Expo 2020 Dubai.

The project will add about 1.4 miles of beach frontage to the Dubai coast across two islands. One will have family entertainment while the other will have an exclusive luxury resort.

The mega-development will debut new leisure concepts around its existing ones, which include Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach HotelJumeirah Al NaseemJumeirah Mina A'Salam, Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf. One development includes a new family-oriented beach hotel while the Wild Wadi Waterpark will be relocated closer to the beach.

The major highlight of the project will be the exclusive private island to the left of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Dubai Holding will construct 140 luxury villas and a 2,400-room boutique hotel on the island. The group will also open 400 new F&B outlets throughout the island."We are proud of the vital role that Dubai Holding plays in this sector through supporting innovation and contributing to the economic diversification of Dubai," Al Habbai said.

According to Al Habbai, Marsa Al Arab will strengthen local capabilities while supporting Emiratization in the tourism sector.