Gruzen Samton to design Dubai's new waterfront.

Gruzen Samton LLP has been selected as the planners to design the Dubai Waterfront Master Plan.

Dubai Waterfront is Dubai's latest "mega project," a city the size of Manhattan situated on the Arabian Gulf. One of Dubai's premier property developers, Nakheel, the creator of landmark projects such as The Palm and The World, is the developer for the project. Gruzen Samton has completed the master plan and the detailed first phase design regulations and guidelines for international buyers.

Dubai Waterfront is expected to house approximately 500,000 people with its focal point being Madinat Al Arab--a vibrant downtown center marked geographically by an inner and outer harbor, new marinas, central plazas and one of the world's tallest skyscrapers. Created on the western edge of the formerly unpopulated desert, the new city and planned airport will balance the Emirates' population distribution for long-term growth. The multi-billion dollar project will offer all the lifestyle, business and leisure amenities of the 21st century.

"Madinat Al Arab and Dubai Waterfront are set to become benchmarks for integrated development," Khaled Al Huraimel, general manager of Madinat Al Arab, said. "We are creating a new city for Dubai and one that has already proven exceptionally popular with investors--the first phase of Madinat Al Arab sold out for $3.5 billion within five days of being released to local and international investors."

Gruzen Samton's large-scale international planning experience has ranged from new cities and towns to residential communities and governmental complexes in Moscow, Tehran, Isfahan, Nairobi, Shanghai, Seoul and New York.

Under the direction of partner Jordan Gruzen, Gruzen Samton has assembled an outstanding team within its firm and among the several engineers that have been asked to join the effort. Project manager Peter Murray and designers Scott Oliver, Joseph Navarro and Ivan IIyashov round out Gruzen Samton's senior team.

The consultant firms include EDSA, landscape design; Lehr Consultants International, mechanical engineers; WL|Delft Hydraulics, waterfront engineers; Cansult, road systems; and MVA, transportation engineering.