Work has been launched on the construction of the villas that form the first phase of Umm Al Quwain Marina, a $3.3 billion joint venture between the government of Umm Al Quwain and Emaar Middle East.

The first phase – known as Mistral Community – comprises single-family detached villas in Spanish and Portuguese architectural styles. The three- and four-bedroom villas, ranging in size from 3,458 sq ft to 4,311 sq ft, will be set among amenities including schools, supermarkets, retail outlets, mosques, community centres, landscaped gardens and pedestrian pathways leading to an open beach and town centre.
Work is in progress on the first and second phases of the Mistral Community. Earthworks for the first phase were completed last July. Arabtec Construction is now executing a Dh371 million ($101 million) design-and-build contract for 277 villas, which will be completed over the next two years.
The Umm Al Quwain Marina, which will have 23 km of waterfront, is located on the shores of Khor Al Beidah, a wildlife conservation area overlooking Al Yufra Creek.
The 2,000-acre marina development will include 450 acres of navigable water including canals; 2,000 townhouses and 6,000 villas – some with mooring facilities; retail outlets; and recreational facilities.  A central marina basin of 450 m diameter will provide berths for more than 600 boats.
A town centre will have retail and leisure facilities while other amenities will include indoor gymnasiums, tennis courts and swimming pools. A 1,200 resort- and hotel-rooms are also planned.
The project will feature six distinct zones: Town Center Marina Zone; West Mainland Villa Zone; Mainland Townhouse Zone; East Mainland Villa Zone; Three Islands Villa Zone; and Exclusive Island Villa Zone. All clusters will be held together by open spaces dotted with lakes.
HOK has completed the masterplan for the project. Emaar Middle East is a joint venture of Dubai-based Emaar Properties and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Oula, along with another Saudi firm Watd Properties.