Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has approved the masterplan for the Al Quoz Creative Zone providing a comprehensive blueprint for developing the community infrastructure; public services and spaces; and artistic ambience of the Zone over the next four years. 

 

The project aims to create a supportive ecosystem that eases the journey of creatives and entrepreneurs through all stages of the creative industry value chain - from design and implementation to distribution and marketing, said a statement from Dubai Culture. 

 

On completion, the Zone will be one of the largest communities of its kind in the world - both in terms of total floor area and scale of creative activity. 

 

The master plan will ensure the provision of 2,900 affordable residential units (that can house more than 8,000 people) for creatives and extensive public spaces designed for hosting events and activities. 

 

These public spaces will be highly interactive with unique entertainment activities and attractions located in outdoor spaces and along pathways equipped with entertainment and attractions, and public spaces for rest, recreation, social events, and artistic displays and attract nearly 33,000 visitors per day, said the statement.

 

In close coordination with key stakeholders, preliminary plans have been drawn for technical infrastructure networks required for the smooth functioning of the Zone. The Al Quoz Creative Zone will facilitate easy and flexible mobility for pedestrians and a unique open-air ambience for community activities, it added.

 

According to Dubai Culture, the integrated community offers a cost-effective working and living environment for artists, professionals and entrepreneurs. 

 

The master plan was developed by Dubai Municipality after studying and benchmarking various leading local and international creative clusters and drawing from best practices and successful models that are a good fit for the Zone.

 

It was approved by the Higher Committee of Al Quoz Creative Zone at a meeting chaired by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum which was also attended by senior government officials including Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) who is also the vice chairman of the committee and Dawoud Al Hajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality.

 

"Today marks another key milestone in the development of the Al Quoz Creative Zone project, which is set to turn the area into one of the largest creative zones in the world," remarked Sheikha Latifa. 

 

"The development of the Zone will further boost the emirate’s position as a regional and global hub for creatives. Apart from providing an exceptional infrastructure, we are also committed to put in place a policy framework that will enable the creative industry to thrive," she stated. 

 

The implementation of the master plan will yet again demonstrate the spirit of partnership that has driven Dubai’s remarkable development over the past few decades, she added.

 

The Higher Committee meeting also reviewed the progress since the previous meeting, and the development of the three phases of Al Quoz Creative Zone.

 

The Phase One will see the infrastructure development works, including the first phase of flexible mobility, transportation integration, including linking Al Safa Metro Station and Al Quoz Bus Station to Al Quoz Creative Zone with pedestrian, bicycle and individual 4km transport paths, providing three transportation centres, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge above Al Manara Street, in addition to infrastructure networks.

 

The Phase Two will see the development of public spaces and site co-ordination and Phase Three will see the placement of public art installations across the Zone.-TradeArabia News Service