Shamal Holding, the Dubai-headquartered diversified investment company, said it has awarded Dutco Construction the main works contract for its new residential project on the former Dubai Zoo site in Jumeirah 1. The award marks the beginning of the project’s main construction phase.
A leading Tier 1 contractor in UAE, Dutco had previously partnered with Shamal to deliver infrastructure elements of Dubai Harbour and Dubai Harbour Marinas, giving both organisations an established working relationship, a shared understanding of Shamal's standards and the confidence that comes from having delivered together before.
The project will repurpose a place deeply rooted in Dubai’s collective memory, transforming it into a low-rise residential community while preserving the site’s distinct character, identity and historical connection to Jumeirah.
Conceived as a long-term investment, the project reflects Shamal's confidence in Dubai's continued growth and in the enduring relevance of homes shaped around quality of life, open green space and connected living.
It represents a thoughtful reimagining of a beloved landmark and will comprise 90 low-rise homes that blend refined architecture, nature and connected living, said the Emirati group, adding clean geometry and natural materials will shape the architecture.
Shared courtyards, landscaped open spaces, a large park at the centre and mature trees from the former zoo, retained to preserve the natural character and history of the site, will support a slower, more spacious way of living in the heart of the city, it added.
Shamal said the community will remain under its ownership, with all homes offered for premium leasing, placing stewardship and the everyday resident experience at the centre of the investment.
"Land of this significance calls for a clear point of view about what comes next. This site carries real meaning for Dubai and for Jumeirah. Our responsibility is to honour that while building something of lasting quality, and this award is a decisive commitment to that ambition," remarked its CEO Abdulla Binhabtoor.
"It reflects how we invest: selectively, with trusted partners and a disciplined view of what an asset should contribute over time," he stated.
Shamal said the residents will benefit from a clubhouse, wellness area, dedicated children's play area, family pool, lounge and gym, alongside communal spaces designed to support everyday interaction and community life.
Designed to harmonise with the surrounding Jumeirah neighbourhood, the community will bring together privacy, greenery and a grounded urban living experience in an environment that feels both nostalgic and new. The project is designed to prioritise walkability, placing day-to-day needs and shared spaces within easy reach, it added.-TradeArabia News Service