UAE: Architects BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and developer A.R.M. Holding have revealed the first details of the Jebel Ali Racecourse transformation project.
The masterplan for the five-square-kilometre site is anchored by a central park, “reconnecting the city to its equestrian and ecological heritage”. The partnership for the development was officially announced during a signing ceremony, attended by His Excellency Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of A.R.M. Holding, and Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG.
The plan includes eight walkable neighbourhoods, a public park, equestrian venues, mixed-use developments, residential housing, and cultural institutions. A central park acts as a continuous green spine that connects all neighbourhoods, forming the heart of the development, with each urban district radiating outward from it. This layout preserves the existing racetrack and integrates new equestrian, civic, and cultural assets.
“Occupying the grounds of Dubai’s historic Jebel Ali Racecourse, this project is an archipelago of urban islands in a sea of green – reimagining the site not as a collection of objects in isolation, but as a living landscape of interconnected communities. Each island connects to its surrounding neighborhood, increasing in density as it converges around a lush central park – a social oasis at the heart of the city. But the park doesn’t stop at the center – it bleeds between the islands, weaving nature through the urban fabric and extending its reach to the wider community. This is not just a new neighbourhood; it’s a new chapter for Dubai – where environmental responsibility and social sustainability become the foundation, not the footnote, of urban development,” said Ingels.
The development is guided by 17 measurable KPIs focused on holistic wellbeing, sustainability, culture and identity, and innovation. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with phased development across housing, education, hospitality, and public infrastructure.
Highlights:
• Architects BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and developer A.R.M. Holding have revealed the first details of the Jebel Ali Racecourse transformation project
• Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with phased development across housing, education, hospitality, and public infrastructure
• The development is guided by 17 measurable KPIs focused on holistic wellbeing, sustainability, culture and identity, and innovation
• BIG partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann will be the keynote speaker at the 2025 Urban Living Festival in London, on September 23.
