The construction of a 40-km road from Jeddah will literally pave the way for the construction for a mega residential and tourism complex, which will stretch 7 km along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.

The proposed multi-million-dollar Al Bundoquiya Island project, which will spread over a massive 20.89 million sq m of land, is all set to enter construction phase once the road leading from Jeddah to the site is completed.
 “We are certain that once the project is completed, it will be considered as one of the world’s most exciting development projects. This landmark project spreads along an ancient trading route between Europe and Arabia and hence has been masterplanned to showcase the best of two worlds – the West and the East,” says Hassan Yousef Al Otaibi, executive president of Neovision, a Dubai-based development and management consultancy, which is adviser to the Saudi-based developer Saleh Al Dorebe for Development and Real Estate Investment.
The entire development will be characterised by a harmonious mix of a network of bridges and road-links connecting one district with the other, offering top-quality residential, commercial and leisure facilities including exclusive private islands, luxury apartments, villas, huge shopping malls and number of hotels, villas resorts and spas, and marina complexes, supported by state-of-the-art services and amenities.
The new city will be carefully designed and engineered out of the landmass of the Red Sea coastline, surrounding desert and marshlands into the shape of a miniature replica of the geographical configuration of Arabian Peninsula.  Besides the 7 km stretch along its Red Sea frontage, the project spans 2.4 km at its northern boundary, 6 km along the east side and 4 km on the south boundary.
Giving the historic significance of the name, Al Bundoquiya, Al Otaibi says: “The word means Venice. For generations people of the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt had traded with Europeans in Cyprus, Rome and Venice, using the Mediterranean and Red Sea. This project highlights the historic role of waterways which have contributed in bring the Arab world close to other nations in the West,” he continues.
The Bundoquiya will have its regional significance as well – it will be one of the largest developments to take shape in Saudi Arabia. 
Within the project’s ‘Arabian Peninsula’ configuration – as in the real world – are the districts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Gulf states of Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE. Hence, the ‘Peninsula’ will have the Red Sea to the left, the Arabian Gulf to the right and the Arabian Sea below the peninsula. Geographically, the project’s Arabian Peninsula is along the east-west axis unlike the north-south axis in reality.
The contours of the development have been carefully carved to resemble the actual land masses and islands, even to the extent of creating smaller creeks and waterways that flow throughout the site. The network of lakes and waterways provides picturesque vistas and opportunities for high-value waterfront developments and uses.
The whole project is divided into 16 different districts, representing ancient Arabia and modern west, Al Otaibi says.

District 1
Named as Corniche North, this area is at the northern half of the Al Bundoquiya Islands’ coastal zone along the Red Sea at the western boundary of the property.  The district is bisected by a 50-m-wide internal waterway that leads to the development’s interior.  Corniche North is essentially a waterfront development designed as “gathering places” where the public can congregate as a community, and families and friends can admire the panoramic views and enjoy water-oriented activities.

District 2
This district known as Corniche South, like District 1, is being masterplanned to take full advantage of the coastal amenities – including views of the Red Sea and the beachfront– while ensuring its protection and maintaining the district’s public character.  As such, most of the key places in District 1 are repeated in District 2, but instead of the primary gathering places such as the main mosque and the large-scale sports and leisure facilities, Corniche South offers entertainment, dining facilities and casual retail, and marine-oriented fun and education.

District 3
Named as Lost Island, this third district is located at the eastern side of the Coastal Road.  The district is very much oriented towards the waterfront as most of the district’s land is strung along the main waterway, surrounding the “peninsula”, and along internal waterways or narrow lakes that meander well into the district. Extensive waterfronts afford the district a unique setting, as well as special amenities for which guests and residents would be willing to pay a premium, Al Otaibi points out.

District 4
Home to the Lost Palace, this district is located at the southwest tip of the ‘peninsula’.  The “Lost Palace” offers two major developments: a five-star Grand Hotel and Resort Villas on the northern end, and the Aqua Park and Commercial Marina on the southern three-quarters of the district.  The Aqua Park features a variety of thrilling water slides, a wave pool, and a host of fun water activities for the kids. 
“Whether you prefer a wild ride at the water slides, or a restful day at the water villas and beach, all these are available at the Lost Palace,” he adds.
Logo Island, located in the middle of the project is actually two exclusive private islands – a large main island and a second smaller one placed alongside each other such that its interior waterway is shaped in the form of the Al Dorebe Group’s new logo.
“The island is developed as a family vacation haven that offers breathtaking panoramic views, pristine white sand beachfronts, and a host of water recreational activities,” Al Otaibi continues.

District 5
Located at the centre of the Al Bundoquiya Islands, this is the heart of the Arabian peninsula and occupies half of it.  The district, bounded by the “Arabian Peninsula” Loop Road, serves as the Al Bundoquiya Island’s town centre, a nucleus for the overall development. 
It is composed of four clusters of office, commercial, mixed-uses and institutional developments, and a grouping of civic, cultural and community health facilities at the eastern end.  Four 30 to 50-m wide water channels emanate from the main waterway and converge to form a lake at the district’s core, defining the four clusters.

District 6
The predominant land use at District 6 or the Arabian Village is residential and mixed-use commercial land, providing the town centre with places to live (gated clusters of single detached residential villas and  luxury floating villas); shopping and leisure areas (clusters of four-storey mixed-use structures that offer a mix of convenience and service-oriented retail, boutique shops, restaurants, entertainment and leisure.
The residential and mixed-use clusters at the Arabian Village and at the neighboring “UAE, Qatar and Kuwait” (District 11), the civic centre, office-commercial and mixed use commercial of the “Heart of the Arabian Peninsula” (District 5), together afford all the components required for the functioning of a vibrant town centre at the “Arabian Peninsula.”

District 7
At the southern gateway of the project is District 7, named as Global City – an international trading village that is master planned to be a ‘city within a city’.  It is a vibrant mix of world-class convention facilities, prestigious offices, a prominent business hotel, and mixed-use buildings with gourmet restaurants and specialty boutiques, designed to create a spectacular synergy within the district. 
“The district’s tall buildings of steel and glass, would represent global contemporary architectural style, showcase the best designs – all themed towards a timeless new modern style of architecture,” he says.

District 8
Located to the right side of the Global City is District 8 or Water World.  The district is about 580,000 sq m in area, with water bodies and waterways spreading across the development.  It offers a variety of water-related attractions, such as a family-oriented water-park, an Arabian wave pool, marine park, and an amphitheatre.  For those who value privacy and exclusivity, several residential private islands are available.  Also on offer are residential villas, a hotel, and a mixed-use suq in the Islamic contemporary style of architecture and mixed-use retail shops and restaurants.

District 9
The district – known as Residential Golf Estate – is a million sq m pentagon of golf fairways, greens, waterways and residential fairway lots, with a sports centre at the easternmost end of the district.
“The golf course is an added amenity to the residential community with a large adjoining open space, adding substantial value to houses fronting the course.  Lakes that run alongside the golf fairways, provides lot owners a truly unique scenery, making this golf estate even more special,” Al Otaibi points out.

District 10
Named as Eve’s Islands and Yemen Resort, this district is located at the western tip of the ‘peninsula’, bounded by the main waterway and the Peninsula Bridgeway Road to the east.  District 10 consists of a mixed-use resort located at the north end of the district, as well as a women’s exclusive island resort with full-fledged amenities at the southern end of the district.  The mixed-use Yemen Resort has all the amenities found in a world-class resort, including a long stretch of white sand beach, a full-service clubhouse, sports and leisure facilities, and themed retail shops and restaurants.

District 11
Located on the south-eastern portion of the project, this district is known as UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait – a waterfront residential and mixed-use development in the character of a cosmopolitan Arabian village, characteristic of the Gulf states. The district comprised a cluster of medium-rise mixed-use structures providing a splendid mix of retail, restaurants, services and entertainment with a cultural focus with its waterfront museum, a gated residential community of villa clusters along a simple roadway network, parks and a community mosque, and a private island.

District 12
Situated in the western portion of the project’s Red Sea Cluster, District 12 or the Icon Tower Gateway is at the junction of two major roadways, the Coastal Road and the Peninsula Bridgeway Road.  The high-rise Icon Gateway Tower is strategically placed to be highly visible and will ultimately become the landmark for the entire development.
“This building will be visible from great distances, and would indicate to people that they have arrived at a exciting and vibrant city that represents the best of the New Arabia,” Al-Otaibi says.

District 13
Named as Mediterranean Residential Egypt, the District 13 is at the southern boundary and can be divided into two halves using the linear promenade in the centre of the district as the demarcation line. At the eastern half of the district are vibrant mixed-use suqs, a university campus and land for other institutional uses, residential garden apartment cluster, a Pyramid-shaped shopping, entertainment and leisure mall complex, and a mixed-use structure with retail shops and restaurants.
At the western half of the district are a school, community mosques, a commercial marina, and a large complex of residential mixed-use buildings and attached lakefront villas.

District 14
Across the ‘Arabian Peninsula’ towards the south end, surrounded by a ‘Suq Chain’ on the right, and the ‘The Gulf’ waterway on the left is District 14, named as Laguna Gulf.  This district offering gracious and relaxed resort living is primarily an up-market residential community nestled along extensive waterfronts. It is composed of residential clusters on land groupings shaped like fingers projecting out to sea, offering lakefronts and extensive views to each residence. Three distinctively themed mixed-use suqs are also part of the district, as well as some institutional facilities that service the residential community.

District 15
Within the project’s Red Sea cluster, at the northeasternmost end of the development is District 15 or the Financial/Business City.  Essentially an office district, envisioned as a driving force for the entire development, this high-profile development offers the occupants a prominent address within a lake-studded green environment, as well as intelligent buildings with a towering presence designed in the modern contemporary architectural style. Business hotels and themed suqs will also form an important aspect of this district. 
“All this, along with mixed-use commercial establishments at the ground levels of buildings, lakefront plazas and public courtyards within building clusters, help create a functional, thriving and vibrant office district,” he mentions.

District 16
Located at the southeasternmost section of the development is District 16 referred to as the mixed-use residential district. The mid-rise residential buildings are clustered in groups of six or more and offer a higher density residential development, coupled with complementary mixed-use establishments. 
“The clustering of buildings affords common open spaces, designed as auto parks, central green courtyards, neighbourhood parks and playground, or a combination of these,” says Al Otaibi.
The mixed-use establishments within the district, together with the multipurpose suqs, offer the full array of services and amenities, shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure places.
“Looked at in a larger perspective, this project would be one of the biggest and most exciting venue for the visitors not only from the Gulf region but from all over the world,” he concludes.