Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a free-zone for trade and enterprise and the master developer of Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), has announced that work has begun on its new district, Uptown Dubai, which was formerly known as the Burj 2020 District.
Once completed, the district aims to become a world-class, smart district for residents and visitors to Dubai. It will include more than 10 million square feet of Grade A commercial and residential space, more than 200 retail and F&B outlets, alongside 3,000 residences, a central entertainment plaza, and a number of luxury hotels.
Uptown Dubai will be anchored by two supertall towers designed by Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill from Chicago, the DMCC statement added.
The first phase of the project, with more than two million square feet of LEED Gold certified development will get underway by the end of the year. Once completed, it will offer Dubai residents a ‘24/7 live-work-thrive experience,’ said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman of DMCC.
“Uptown Dubai is a world-class smart district unlike anything on the market, innovatively designed to deliver a new beat for business, and a truly urban destination for people to live, work and thrive,” he stated.
“Two super-tall towers and a vibrant central plaza will anchor the 10 million sq/ft development, creating an ultra-connected, energising district designed to meet Dubai’s next wave of growth. This landmark development will create over 10,000 new jobs in Dubai,” Bin Sulayem added.
The district’s main podium will be 28-metres off the ground and will feature a two-level central plaza that will be larger than New York’s Time Square, the statement revealed. This will be circled by retail outlets and connected to a shopping mall below, all with direct access to the towers.
Although Uptown Dubai is set to become a destination of choice for the global business community, its masterplan by WATG, one of the world’s leading destination creation consultancies, equally sets out to create a vibrant destination for millennials and families seeking dynamic shopping and dining experiences, as well as entertainment and cultural events, Bin Sulayem added.
The project is located close to DMCC’s JLT district, as well as major commercial projects in Dubai’s Southern belt, such as Expo 2020 and Al Maktoum International Airport. Bin Sulayem added that Uptown Dubai’s residential properties will be available for off-plan sales by the first quarter of 2018.
Over the next decade, the project is expected to create 10,000 new jobs in Dubai.
