New Dubai Masterplan | BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group

BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and A.R.M. Holding launch an expansive five km2 transformation of the Jebel Ali Racecourse into an urban district in Dubai, UAE. The masterplan 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.

In alignment with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group has designed the 5 km² masterplan around the historic Jebel Ali Racecourse. The plan includes eight walkable neighborhoods, a public park, equestrian venues, mixed-use developments, residential housing, and cultural institutions.  

“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 neighborhood; it’s a new chapter for Dubai - where environmental responsibility and social sustainability become the foundation, not the footnote, of urban development.” - Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director, BIG. 

A central park acts as a continuous green spine that connects all neighborhoods, 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.

Inside the neighborhoods, public life is centered around shaded, communal plazas and shared streets. Carefully placed openings in the built fabric provide glimpses into the park, while low-speed streets are designed to encourage walking and cycling, with automated shuttles providing easy access to public transportation.

The development is guided by 17 measurable KPIs focused on holistic wellbeing, sustainability, culture and identity, and innovation. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, with phased development across housing, education, hospitality, and public infrastructure.

PROJECT INFORMATION: 

Size: 5 km2 
Client: A.R.M. Holding 
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
Collaborators: Systematica, Atelier Ten, Dezigntechnic   

PROJECT TEAM: 

Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels, João Albuquerque      
Project Manager: Jose Antonio Espinosa   
Design Lead: Jose Manuel Garcia, Wei Lesley Yang  
 
Team: Alberto Gonzalez-Garcez Mediero, Álvaro Villanueva, Blanca Cominges Luque, Chiara Pepori, Davide Francesco Avesani, Dobrochna Anna Klimczak, Elena Ceribelli, Elena Navarro, Giulia Frittoli, Karolina Lepa-Stewart, Laura Font Gallart, Laurens Egbert Boeve, Lena Mariella von Buren, Maria Emilia Rezzonico, Michele Archetti, Miranda Ramos Mejia, Olivia Sarrà Gómez, Polyxeni Chatzaki, Raphaël Logan Barber, Stefani Fachini De Araujo, Uri Lewis Torres