There are few cities in the world that have prime undeveloped real estate at the scale of Hudayriyat Island so close to the city core. The vision for Hudayriyat allows for careful expansion of the existing city and celebrates the island’s valuable assets. These features include 45 kilometers of pristine waterfront and its unique set of ecological and archaeological features. The project vision emphasizes the importance of adding value, maintaining commercial feasibility, optimizing infrastructure and delivering a sustainable, flexible, and high-performing master plan that stands the test of time. 

It focuses on leveraging the island’s extraordinary assets to build a unique development where living in proximity to water and history is the central focus. An unprecedented and iconic public waterfront, coupled with sensitive handling of natural resources and the creation of a resort feel, is what sets Hudayriyat apart within the region. 

As such, Hudayriyat Island is conceived as a community that embraces and celebrates the water, with its coastline accessible from anywhere on the island within a 15-minute walk. 
Hudayriyat Island represents a significant opportunity to imagine these new neighborhoods and vibrant urban districts as being tied closely to the rich natural environment and social/cultural traditions that make Abu Dhabi unique. 

There is also an opportunity to leverage the island’s simultaneous proximity to and separation from Abu Dhabi Island to create a unique identity and subculture for Hudayriyat Island with respect to the rest of the city. 

This potential subculture is reinforced by creating a highly walkable and transit-oriented plan centered on mixed-density and mixed-use clusters. In so doing, the plan imagines a place that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, thriving with energy, attractions, and civic amenities for those who live and work there, and offers a unique destination for visitors from Abu Dhabi and around the world.