Projects

Business Bay

Conceived to be a world-leading commercial and business center, Business Bay is Dubai’s answer to Wall Street and Tokyo

The Dubai city skyline at night time

When Dubai Properties decided to create a globally recognized center of commerce in an underused area of Dubai – one that could stand out against the region’s rocketing skyline of mega developments – they partnered with Jacobs for help. Together, we created exciting, innovative and practical solutions to complex planning challenges and development opportunities, securing Business Bay’s standing as a visionary city center and leading financial capital of the world.

By linking Dubai Creek back to the sea – interspersing landscaped gardens with an intelligent network of roads, pathways and canals – we created high-value waterfront property and a sustainable urban landscape, successfully drawing residents, businesses and tourism back the city’s historic core.

As Dubai Properties’ partner from concept development to full-scale operations, Jacobs brought in experts from across the organization, in virtually every disciple, to support this ambitious transformation. Together, we are creating the best economic and livability conditions for attracting global talent and investment while advancing knowledge development and innovation – empowering Business Bay to successfully compete on the world’s stage.

  • 135000

    new residents

  • 135000

    new jobs

  • 200 +

    new buildings we delivered transport and utilities for

  • 20 M

    new visitors anticipated annually

“In the 1980s Dubai was a desert with a port and a few warehouses. Our multi-disciplinary approach allowed us to gain a deep understanding of Dubai Property's challenges, turn them into major opportunities and make their ideas become reality.”

Asad Shaheed

Project Director

Map showing the whole Business Bay precinct

To create a global commercial and business center to rival Manhattan and Ginza, Dubai Properties and Jacobs planned, designed and constructed a 277-hectare (684-acre) business and residential development that will be home to 135,000 residents, creating 135,000 high-value jobs for local communities. As the lead consultant, Jacobs provided comprehensive master planning, urban designs and multi-disciplined engineering solutions to help transform Dubai Properties’ ideas into detailed strategies for achieving their overall vision. Working in close collaboration with a multitude of stakeholders, contractors and the Dubai government, we initially prepared the master plan study to extend Dubai Creek and open up the inland eastern area. Our involvement continued through the detailed design of the infrastructure to the ongoing delivery and supervision of onsite construction.

The team delivered:

  • Provided comprehensive master planning and urban design for entire development, maximizing the efficient use of resources to reduce impacts, enhance livability and promote economic prosperity.
  • Conducted environmental studies, marine hydraulic flushing modeling and logistics planning to expand Dubai Creek.
  • Managed planning and engineering works for highways, bridges and infrastructure services, including marine works.

Community impact

Using best practice placemaking, sustainability, functionality, connectivity and quality of life solutions, Business Bay features a lively combination of residential, commercial, entertainment and mixed use areas to compete in the global market. The entire development is based around a man-made waterfront that passes along the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary and extends to the coast of the Arabian Gulf, linking the iconic creek back to the sea. The brainchild of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the development’s secure and socially inclusive transit and mobility improvements, along with its high-value waterfront property, are rapidly attracting new residents and investors worldwide – gaining global recognition as an example of a well-designed, well-managed, visionary city center.

Picture of a man standing on a walkway overlooking a body of water