The Problem
Jubail Island is a place of convergence; where shifting tidal landscapes, coastal desert ecologies and a growing city meet. The challenge lay in developing a waterfront residential community without compromising the island’s fragile intertidal ecosystem. Surrounded by protected mangroves & native wildlife, the site called for a light-touch, landscape-first approach. The design embedded climate resilience, minimised reliance on limited water resources & safeguarded ecological integrity, while offering residents good liveability & connection. The brief demanded a carefully curated balance between natural systems & human needs – a neighbourhood that would not overpower its sensitive context but evolve from it.
The Solution
Cracknell’s design response weaves resilience, sensitivity & spatial generosity into the outdoor space. The masterplan delivers over 1.2 million m² of public realm – a network of shaded streets, footpaths, dedicated cycle tracks & public open spaces designed to create a healthy, walkable community with a range of activities, encouraging outdoor living. The design maximises the island’s natural beauty by providing strong visual connection to the surrounding landscapes, offering residents peaceful, direct connection with nature.
The planting is designed to accentuate streets & paths through a xeriscape approach that reflects the island’s coastal desert character. Mounds shaped from site-sourced sand define movement & space, while native & drought-tolerant plant species, irrigated solely with recycled water (TSE), reduce demand & reinforce the sites’ coastal character. Stormwater is managed through a SUDS-inspired system of bioswales, gravel basins & dry detention ponds that guide runoff naturally. These systems proved their value during the April 2024 floods, when the community remained protected – a testament to climate resilient landscape design.
Materiality plays a key role in reinforcing the project’s resilience, cost effectiveness & site-sensitive aesthetics. Use of permeable surfaces like hoggin for secondary paths & sand for play areas enhances natural drainage & reduces reliance on energy-intensive imported materials such as asphalt & rubber. Paving & street furniture are locally sourced & manufactured, some incorporating recycled aggregates. These choices enhance flood performance, lower embodied carbon, & create a palette that blends into the island’s setting.
The lighting strategy follows dark sky principles, with low, downward-facing fixtures that minimise glare, light pollution & ecological disturbance, preserving the island’s natural ambiance. Restricted operating hours further protect wildlife & enhance the calm experience of the landscape after dusk.
Connectivity was central to the design, enabling both ecological engagement & daily movement. A network of trails, footpaths, & streets link homes to open spaces, supporting walking, jogging, & cycling. A dedicated cycle link connects residents to the nearby Jubail Mangrove Park, encouraging awareness of & connection with the protected landscape. Some open spaces buffer remains of late Islamic period & Iron Age lime production present in the area.
The active transport framework also fosters community. Parks & public spaces foster gathering, while on-site amenities support culture & connection. As part of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative, the landscape scheme minimises ecological impact. The Jubail Mangrove Innovation Centre helps mitigate construction impact through restoration, offering education & long-term protection of these vital habitats.
The Process
The design emerged from a deeply iterative process rooted in layered contextual thinking. A profound respect for the land’s topography, cultural narratives, & ecological systems, paired with detailed integration of localised stormwater risk guided the development of the design & informed key design decisions. Landscape material & planting palettes were selected with careful consideration of water availability & long-term ecological resilience. The overall scheme has been shaped by its performance in a changing biodiverse setting while enhancing community wellbeing with a strong sense of place through thoughtful landscape architecture & connection to nature.
A model for climate conscious urbanism
Jubail Island Housing showcases a new model for residential development in ecologically sensitive settings. It demonstrates how nature-first thinking, when embedded from the outset, can yield not only environmental resilience but also social & spatial richness. In a time of climatic volatility & ecological loss, this project shows how built environments can adapt, restore & reconnect. It demonstrates that landscape is not merely aesthetic, but instrumental in sustaining local biodiversity, managing floods, creating identity & supporting life. In a region shaped by rapid urbanisation, this project offers a quiet but powerful blueprint for climate-conscious design & living with nature.
• Other credits:
Other consultants involved in the design:
Soil investigation: Baynunah Laboratories
Estidama Requirements: Platinum SDI
Geotechnical Investigation Report: EHAF
Client: Lead Development
End-client: Jubail Island Investment Owned By Nehayan Bin Zayed Al Nehyan Sole Proprietorship LLC
