Jubail Island ... boasting a pristine 13-km waterfront.

Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of a massive residential sanctuary being developed over a sprawling 4-million-sq-m area near Yas Island at an estimated cost of Dh5 billion ($1.36 billion). The development will offer 6,000 residential plots ranging in size from 1,500 to 5,000 sq m as well as villas from 300 to 1,200 sq m in size in a stunning natural setting surrounded by mangrove forests teeming.

Strategically located between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, the Jubail Island boasts a pristine 13-km waterfront designed to appeal to wellness and nature enthusiasts, says the project developer Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC).

JIIC says the diverse and meticulously planned low-density community – designated as an Abu Dhabi investment zone – will comprise a mix of serviced plots, high-end and mid-range properties.

The mammoth project is set to feature six investment zone villages – Marafaa Al Jubail, Nad Al Dhabi, Seef Al Jubail, Ain Al Maha, Souk Al Jubail and Bed’a Al Jubail.

It is located at a 15-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and is also within easy access to key attractions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall, Al Maryah Island and Abu Dhabi Island.

Initially comprising 400 single-family and 400 multi-family homes, the project is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2022, and the varied ownership options mean that plots can be arranged for handover as early as Q1 2021.

Once completed, Jubail Island will be home to between 5,000 and 6,000 residents, states the developer.

In the heart of this sustainable community will be the Town Centre – an intimately cosmopolitan hub featuring apartments, an office park, office villas, and a hotel. The major facilities will include food and beverage (F&B) outlets, a beach club, a business centre, a sports centre, schools, supermarkets, nurseries, a community club, specialised clinics and other commercial establishments.

JIIC has roped in UAE consultant Lead Development, as the development management firm for the mega project, while a consortium of international architects and planners, including US-based Arquitectonica and Spanish group Ramón Esteve and the global practice Broadway Malyan, will be part of the ambitious project.

Among the attractions of the site is a five-hectare heritage site, where pottery and other relics of early civilisation discovered on the site will be on display.

The project, which has an Estidama Pearl rating, will also add over 10 km of canals and other new marine habitat that will be home to migratory birds, fish populations, sea turtles, and gazelles.

The development will also boast generous outdoor areas that will include parks, hiking paths, kayaking stations and cycling routes.