Dubai builds world’s largest man-made lagoon

Dubai is building the biggest man-made lagoon in the world.

Crystal Lagoons to construct the world’s largest man-made lagoon covering 40 hectares in District One, part of the US$7 billion Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid City in Dubai. Courtesy Crystal Lagoons

DUBAI // The emirate is building what is set to become the world’s largest man-made lagoon.

The 40-hectare lagoon, part of the US$7 billion (Dh25.7bn) Mohammed bin Rashid City project, will dwarf a 12-hectare lagoon in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh, which now holds the title, according to Guinness World Records.

The developer Crystal Lagoons has already started work and hopes to finish it in 2020 – the deadline for the whole project.

The lagoon has been designed to include wide beaches with a Caribbean feel, and offer swimming and other water sports in clear, filtered water.

Its filters will reportedly use only 1 per cent of the chemicals that more traditional systems do, and 2 per cent of the energy.

“Caribbean landscapes are no longer exclusive to tropical destinations,” said Kevin Morgan, chief executive of Crystal Lagoons.

“Our pioneering concept and state-of-the-art technology, which allows for sustainable, swimmable, turquoise lagoons of unlimited sizes to be built and maintained at low cost anywhere in the world, is proving extremely popular with our growing list of partners across the Middle East.”

The lagoon will be at the heart of the District One residential community in Mohammed bin Rashid City.

District One, less than 3 kilometres from the Burj Khalifa, will cover more than 445 hectares and comprise freehold land, luxury homes, parklands, waterways and high-end shopping and dining.

It is being planned as a low-density development and will feature a public green space larger than London's Hyde Park.

Work is being carried out on a show village that will display nine villas and a portion of the lagoon to interested investors.

About 80 per cent of the show village has been completed and the rest should be finished by next month.

“Mohammed bin Rashid City District One is poised to become a monumental destination in Dubai, offering a residential development in the heart of the city that is currently unique to the region,” said Saeed Al Tayer, chairman and chief executive of Meydan Group.

“The development includes various attractions ranging from parks, man-made beaches and the largest crystal lagoon in the world, to sports fields with cycling tracks, an equestrian club and a shopping and dining promenade.

“With master planning, aesthetic design and build of the highest quality, the show villas’ completion provides customers with the ability to physically experience their future lifestyle in a true and meaningful manner.”

The Mohammed bin Rashid City project is a joint venture between Meydan and Sobha Developers.