Latest news with #LEADDevelopment
The National
04-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The National
Jubail Island is fast emerging as the place to 'grow and live naturally'
In an age of vertical cities and tight grids, Abu Dhabi's emerging Jubail Island community pledged to go the other way. Life there follows the land, not the other way around, says its developer, stating that few places offer such proximity to the UAE capital's centre while preserving uninterrupted access to nature. Jubail Island is surrounded by kilometres of protected mangroves, waterways and forested trails, all of which make it 'the place to be' for families wanting more than just a place to live. Conceptualised and developed by LEAD Development, the 4,000-hectare waterfront master-planned community is redefining what it means to live well at 'human speed'. It is surrounded by nature with space to grow for generations to come, the company says. 'Our first design decision wasn't about buildings, it was about respecting the land,' explains Mounir Haidar, co-founder and managing partner at LEAD Development. 'The masterplan was intended to protect natural contours, preserve views, and create a sense of calm private life - without sacrificing social connectivity.' This means wide setbacks, organic road networks, and walkable neighbourhoods woven together by green spaces, and a low-density footprint in contrast to many of the UAE's community developments. Branding it as six 'villages' and one integrated life, LEAD Development describes Jubail Island as not a single location, but many. Each village yields a 'unique residential personality', offering a diverse selection of neighbourhoods, from seafront mansions to apartments and custom-built villas. They are all highly pedestrianised with direct access to landscaped parks, shaded pathways and village centres. From the Redwood Nursery to the skatepark, to sunset cycles along the mangroves, every journey is designed to feel effortless, so movement is not a chore but is 'woven into the rhythm of your day'. 'People are choosing Jubail because they want to feel connected to nature, to their families, and to a community with shared values,' continues Haidar. 'That's why our emphasis is on open space and human-scale design where 'life happens, organically'. 'True lifestyle isn't styled - it's planned with purpose. With amenities that cater to all generations, the island is constructed around movement, social connection, health and wellness.' For families with children, Jubail Island features more than 100km of pedestrian pathways, and 1.2 million sqm of landscaped parks to explore. Several playgrounds, pools, an indoor play hall, and family-oriented clubhouses are on the way. Health-conscious residents can enjoy specialised sports facilities. These include tennis and basketball courts, a paddle club, a football pitch, an equestrian school, and fitness studios, alongside an expanding calendar of community-led classes and events. For nature lovers, there is the opportunity to kayak from the public docks, hike a mangrove boardwalk, or witness nesting birds along the island's preserved ecological corridors. All things lady-centric are celebrated at Ain Al Maha Women's Centre, from yoga and kayaking to cycle training, specifically programmed for the community's female residents. LEAD Development says Jubail Island stands apart from its promises on paper as it is already a functioning, growing community. Individuals who bought plots have begun constructing their homes - from the start of 2023; by the end of 2024, more than 400 units had been delivered, with hundreds more under construction. With amenities such as Spinneys supermarket, the Redwood Centre, and Gordonstoun's first school campus outside of Scotland, through to the Jubail Island Paddle Club and Mangrove Park, the community's 'key pillars of daily life' are already in place. LEAD Development says the island isn't waiting to be lived on, it is already thriving - and that 'the difference' is the degree of integration on Jubail Island. It says it is all part of a larger philosophy that places a premium on mental and physical health, from school drop-off to connections to the community, to access to nature. Jubail Island is touted as a location that is more than the sum of its homes, its architecture and amenities, but is an emerging 'actual community'. The developer says social events will add 'rhythm and connection' to the area's growing lifestyle so that owners are part of a place where life feels balanced and linked - both close to the city, yet also far from the noise. While offering tranquility, Jubail Island is within easy reach of Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, and downtown Abu Dhabi. Such accessibility means that residents don't have to decide between 'retreat and convenience', while it also makes the island a perfect home choice for professionals, business owners and families who 'want it all'. 'People always say they feel like they're on holiday - at home,' adds Haidar. 'That's what we set out to do…create a place where people can feel like they can breathe, grow, and thrive.' Looking ahead, as LEAD Development continues with phased handovers and the next stage of construction, it describes its vision as straightforward - to 'keep developing with care'. It says the masterplan will be defined by the same restraint and long-term thinking that have made the project possible in the first place. And that amid the pace of Abu Dhabi's development, Jubail Island offers a curated lifestyle that its residents have already begun to embrace.
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Embed Sustainability And Resilience Into Infrastructure, Experts Say
Urban planners and stakeholders must redouble their efforts to embed sustainability and resilience into infrastructure planning over the coming decades, as more of humankind opts to live in cities, according to industry experts participating in a global summit in Abu Dhabi. Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit being held in the Emirate on Tuesday, industry leaders noted that rapid urbanization would demand strategic alignment of international best practices on sustainable construction and energy efficiency. But all the while, such efforts would need to remain cognizant of regional priorities which would be very different from country to country. Mounir Haidar, managing partner at LEAD Development, a real estate development firm in the UAE, said: 'Infrastructure planning, designing, and building is a collective journey taken by multiple stakeholders. It's not a one size fits all scenario. "It would need collaboration in many forms, from public private partnerships to partnerships between various private sector developers, and a consortium of private entities with the public sector.' For Carlos Wakim, chief executive officer of Bloom Holding, another UAE developer such a level of collaboration is mission critical because the ultimate goal of any and every urban housing developer is not to merely stack up bricks and mortar but to 'develop communities.' 'This has to be done by consent because human beings are social creatures. We look to develop whole communities not just dwellings with resilience to climate factors and sustainability at the heart of the process. It is something every residential developer in the world needs to be aware of.' That can only be achieved with the collaboration of multiple stakeholders including energy sector developers and suppliers. For electricity is the most critical infrastructural aspect of embedding both resilience and sustainability in urban construction, said Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Chief Operating Officer, Masdar, the UAE's global flagship developer and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, community grid projects, and energy services. 'Energy is the backbone of modern human civilization. Its arguably in many ways where building resilience and sustainability must start. We view it as an immense opportunity as part of our mandate. Masdar is actively building global grid resilience by expanding its renewable energy portfolio and incorporating energy storage solutions.' These include large-scale solar projects with battery energy storage systems, which enhance grid stability and enable 24-hour power supply. "Currently, we are developing projects in over 40 countries across six continents, with an aim of achieving a 100GW renewable energy portfolio by 2030. 'We are also focused on energy efficiency in building design and wider collaboration with urban developers. Neither we nor them can take the next step in isolation which is why industry-wide collaboration is essential. Masdar has proven to the world that renewable energy can be competitive compared to conventional fuels when servicing the energy needs of the planet and we seek allies in that effort.' Alobaidli also said his sector was increasingly turning to artificial intelligence, including its use to optimize asset management and predict potential issues. In fact, the deployment of AI, predictive modelling and digital twins of project sites is spreading across the infrastructure world. 'Infrastructure development is all about conviction, and getting the right resources at the right time. It's about executing a vision at a competitive economic price - on time and on budget. Digital is firmly part of that operating ecosystem,' said Haidar, of LEAD Development. Turkiye, a country known for the global footprint of its construction firms, is keenly eyeing AI and allied digital tools to improve both project margins, infrastructural benchmarks, sustainability and better post-completion efficacy, according to Fuat Kasimcan, secretary general of Turkish Contractors Association. "Turkish construction firms are well known over the world. Since 1972, Turkish firms have been looking overseas and have built projects in 178 countries. Inevitably technology has become a huge driver of the business and the end-outcomes for some years now. 'But this goes beyond project delivery. For instance, the construction sector is one of the largest emitters of carbon monoxide and CO2. Technology is helping us both monitor as well as mitigate the industry's carbon emissions.' All four experts agreed that the road ahead for embedding sustainability and resilience into infrastructure planning would depend a lot on securing effective supply chains, establishing conformity standards and quality control, fortifying digital connectivity, and enhancing climate change mitigation measures into the building and construction process.
Trade Arabia
17-02-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
JIIC, LEAD achieve key safety milestone at Jubail Island
UAE-based Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC) and LEAD Development have achieved a major safety milestone at its landmark community in Abu Dhabi - Jubail Island - clocking 12 million man-hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI). This remarkable achievement was accomplished exclusively for infrastructure works, including bridges, in collaboration with Gulf Contractors Company (GCC). Owned by JIIC and developed and managed by LEAD Real Estate Developer, Jubail Island comprises six residential villages nestled among the breathtaking natural beauty and rich biodiversity of the mangroves. The low-density, low-impact landmark community offers residents every convenience and amenity, seamlessly blending sustainable living, luxury, and wellness in an iconic new addition to Abu Dhabi's real estate landscape, said the developer. To celebrate the feat, the Abu Dhabi City Municipality recently hosted a special ceremony where an awards was presented to Engineer Abdulla Saeed Al Shamsi, the General Manager of JIIC. At the ceremony, the municipality officials recognised both the Jubail Island and LEAD Development team for achieving an outstanding health and safety milestone. "We are grateful to Abu Dhabi City Municipality for this significant award," said Eng. Al Shamsi. "This recognition underscores the successful collaboration between our team, our partners at GCC, and all stakeholders. Prioritising the safety and well-being of our workforce is paramount," he stated.
