Five questions about... Jumeirah Gardens

Dubai-based Meraas is new to the developer scene, but on Monday launched Jumeirah Gardens at Cityscape Dubai 2008, 24 hours after Nakheel unveiled plans for a kilometre-high tower.


What is it? The $95.3 billion (Dh349bn) Jumeirah Gardens project includes apartments, shopping malls and offices in one of Dubai's older areas, Jumeirah, Satwa and Bur Dubai. The first phase of the development will straddle 820 sq km in Satwa, and will include seven offshore islands.

What is Meraas Development? It's part of state-owned Meraas Holding, which spent $2.8bn on the GM Building in Manhattan early this year. It's essentially another developer like Nakheel or Emaar.

Why is this launch important? Cityscape this year was dogged by fears about the extent of the global financial crisis. It has become clear that the UAE is not immune to the slowdown in the rest of the world and that global markets are more interrelated than ever. Projects like Jumeirah Gardens, and Nahkeel's kilometre tower, will reassure investors this region can sustain strong growth.

When is Jumeirah Garden going to be finished? Construction of the first phase has already started, with the first buildings due for completion at the end of 2011. The whole project will take 12 years and aims to house a population of 50,000 to 60,000 residents.

Who designed it? Meraas Development hired Japanese architects Nikken Sekkei to help design the project. The consultancy presented some of its other 'green' designs at Cityscape Dubai, like the Dubai Maritime City Landmark Tower.

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