BIG Reimagines Dubai’s Jebel Ali Racecourse as an Urban Oasis

In partnership with Dubai-based developer A.R.M. Holding, architecture firm BIG has unveiled a masterplan to redevelop the 5-square-kilometre Jebel Ali site into a pedestrian-oriented urban district. The design aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Vision and focuses on mobility, environmental performance, and livability.

At the centre of the project is a large public park that runs through eight distinct neighbourhoods, creating a green corridor surrounded by shaded plazas and walkable streets. The plan integrates natural elements with infrastructure to support more accessible and climate-conscious urban living.

The site’s existing racetrack will be retained and incorporated into the development, acknowledging the location’s heritage while introducing new public facilities, cultural institutions, and civic spaces. The layout is designed as a series of urban clusters surrounded by green space, offering visual and physical links to the central park.

Transport within the district will rely on an automated system to minimise car use and promote alternative mobility options such as walking and cycling. The design incorporates passive cooling features, shaded areas, and desert-inspired landscaping to create more comfortable outdoor environments throughout the year. “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,” BIG founder Bjarke Ingels says.

Construction is set to begin in early 2026. The Jebel Ali project is intended to inform future urban developments in Dubai, particularly in areas of walkability, integration, and environmental adaptability.