Reshaping Dubai: 2050's New World
2050's Reshaped Dubai
Day and night, thousands of labourers are busy reshaping the barren desert near Jebel Ali, laying the foundations for Dubai World Central (DWC) - a 140 square kilometre, Dh121 billion airport, logistics, commercial and residential complex, that will catapult Dubai into a mega-centre of East-meets-West international trade.
When completed, it will be the world's largest passenger and cargo hub, with a capacity to handle 120-150 million passengers a year and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually.
The site lies in Jebel Ali. It is hoped it will help reduce congestion at Dubai International Airport and encourage people to live and work in the same area.
The city has six major components – Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB), Dubai Logistics City (DLC), DWC Residential City, DWC Commercial City, DWC Aviation City and DWC Golf City.
"This is a project focused on meeting 50 years and beyond," said Michael Proffitt, CEO, DWC's Dubai Logistics City.
"There are going to be many phases. Phase one will concentrate on three areas - logistics, residential and the airport."
In addition DLC has leased three million square metres of land to several multinationals.
DWC also hopes to combine DWC Residential City in close proximity to the workplace, thus eliminating tortuous commute times.
"Eventually we hope to have everyone who works in Dubai World Central have the possibility of living within the city," said Khalid Bin Harib, CEO Real Estate, DWC, who expects companies within the hub to buy most of the residential accommodation for their employees, as is the case so far.
Labour accommodation within DWC will see a vast improvement.
"The intention is to have a Labour Village with 100,000 beds and it will be the high-end of labour accommodation with green areas, sport area, cafes, shops, mosques, a post office and clinics."
Once complete, up to 250,000 people are expected to live throughout the 800 hectares of DWC Residential City.
The entire DWC will be serviced by a light-rail and bus system that will eventually see up to 900,000 people living and working within the city.
In numbers
- 121: billion dirhams is the estimated total cost of the DWC project
- 150: million passengers is the volume the airport will be able to handle per year
- 6: runways are planned for construction
- 850: towers will feature in Commercial City
- 12: million tonnes of annual air cargo capacity
- One-fifth the size of Singapore
- 11 times bigger than Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok International Airport
