Dubai: Dubai Aviation City Corporation, the master developer of Dubai World Central - the 140 square kilometre purpose-built airport city – is in talks with Emaar Properties to develop its Golf District that will host hundreds of villas surrounding an 18-hole golf course.
“We are currently negotiating with a number of developers, especially Emaar Properties to develop parts of our residential communities,” Khalifa Suhail Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), told the media on Thursday. “Our talks with Emaar is currently focused on the Golf District which we want to start this year.”
The negotiations are expected to result in a deal. Officials of the Dubai World Central (DWC) said work could start at the site later this year. The project development is expected to cost more than Dh1 billion as initially estimated.
“Developers such as Emaar Properties who have proven track record in developing mega projects fits our requirement and as master developer, we will provide all necessary support towards them,” he said.
Emaar officials were unavailable for commenting on the deal, despite repeated calls made by Gulf News.
The Golf District, launched in 2008 as DWC Golf City which was later rebranded, is a 15 square kilometre sanctuary for a healthy lifestyle, that will become high-end residence for those working at the Al Maktoum International Airport, Aviation City, DWC headquarters and other senior officials working in the private sector companies based at the DWC.
“Using sustainable design principles, the Golf District will provide its residents with a healthier lifestyle which allows people to move and congregate in shaded cool environments whilst engaging in a wide range of recreational activities,” said an earlier statement.
The Golf District has a design capacity to host several golf courses (72 holes), extensive practice facilities, driving ranges, putting greens, a luxury clubhouse with restaurants and a pro-shop. Over 20,000 freehold homes were planned surround the courses. A golf resort will also feature a high-end boutique hotel.
DWC is the world’s largest greenfield airport city designed from scratch, at the centre of which lies the Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA) that is designed to handle 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo when finished. It will have five runways, six concourses and two passenger terminals, complimented by a Logistics District, an Aviation District, a Residential District, a Commercial District, an Exhibition District – site for the Expo 2020 – subject to UAE’s bid win in November this year.
