Al Ain, the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates, is expected to double in size over the next 20 years. “Plan Al Ain 2030” calls for sustainable and responsible design solutions to guide this growth. Otak designed the master plan for the Al Jimi Forest, one of the most environmentally and culturally significant places in this burgeoning city. Al Jimi was the late Sheikh Zayed’s original forest plantation, and Otak’s design for a 52-acre (21-hectare) sustainable community needed to preserve as much of this dense forestation as possible.

The project primarily consists of multi-family housing with ground-floor retail and community service uses. Otak’s pedestrian-friendly design includes ground-floor retail that seeks to create a “high street” lifestyle and retail destination as the centerpiece of the community. The master plan provides detailed Architectural Development Regulations and Design Guidelines to ensure that the resulting development becomes a benchmark for new community development in Al Ain. Otak placed special emphasis on the Landscape Concepts and Urban Design Guidelines to preserve the integrity of Al Jimi Forest and the late Sheikh Zayed’s vision for greening the desert. The Otak design team applied the principles of Estidama, Abu Dhabi’s sustainability program, to ensure that the development and landscape conserve precious resources. The master plan balances preserving the forest and creates the right fit with the surrounding established district.