by Jonathan Brown, Chief Portfolio Officer, Miral
The concept of mixed-use developments is not new. It has been guiding urban planning for centuries, tried and tested from ancient Rome to medieval China. But with their growing popularity in recent years, we need to recognise mixed-use districts as much more than just development projects. We need a renewed focus on maximising their growth potential as drivers of sustainable, cohesive, and thriving communities, as well as their integral role in providing an enhanced live-work-play experience for residents and visitors alike.
Developers willing to embrace the complexities of mixed-use spaces will stand to leverage compelling benefits – be it attracting diverse demographics, increasing foot traffic, creating repeat visitation, or amplifying revenue streams from both local and international guests.
For leading developers of tourism destinations and experiences in the UAE – such as Miral – the key to success can be found in creating the perfect synergy between leisure, entertainment, and hospitality. In my 20+ years of global development experience, I have found that this ambition is best guided through a two-fold approach: adopting a holistic approach to destination development; and prioritising the guest experience at every turn.
Holistic approach to destination development
The building block to any successful project is bringing together all the various components into a cohesive, complementary unit. At Miral, we bring this ambition to life by seamlessly blending conception, development, management, and promotion; and ensuring no stone is left unturned in creating a truly unforgettable destination. Developers should not only focus on the design of the building, but equally examine the lifestyles, health, and expectations of the residents and visitors. The end-goal should be to create a mixed-use destination that seamlessly blends into its surroundings and respects the heritage of the site and the neighborhood, while considering different aspects in the planning strategy, such as cost, location, building materials whilst creating tangible value. In addition, developers must also ensure an overall well-balanced mix of uses that complement each other, serving diverse guest needs and operating across a wide range of functions to create a dynamic and inclusive space that people want to be part of.
“Convenience is king”; the guest perspective
Mixed-use developments, at their core, must be experience driven. They must provide unparalleled convenience to residents and visitors as a one-stop shop, highly curated, experiential space that eliminates the need for extensive travel. For example, retail, dining, leisure, business, and residential areas – all located close to one another to create a vibrant, interconnected environment that enhances access to daily amenities.
This is the guiding vision for us at Miral as we strive to not just create a world-class destination on Yas Island, but also offer the “Yas lifestyle” for our guests. Creating a hub where people can both live, work and play means developing places that people are emotionally drawn to and want to return to, and where they can create memorable experiences that last a lifetime.
Yas Island: A prime example of a modern and thriving mixed-use development
Yas Island is not just another destination; it is a response to the ever-evolving nature of lifestyle choices, providing the perfect blend of modern infrastructure, world-class amenities, and thrilling leisure experiences. It exemplifies the art of creating unforgettable memories and delivering moments of joy to visitors from around the world.
Creating this thriving, vibrant lifestyle hub involved a multifaceted approach. Just 12 years ago, the island was a blank canvas upon which the vision and dream of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed would be imprinted. His idea was to transform Yas Island into a dynamic destination for shopping, sports, theme parks, events, music and world-class residential living and businesses. Inspired by his vision, the Yas Island of today is a place that entertains, thrills, excites and unites families with its diverse attractions. It is a sought-after location that is deeply connected to the community and cultures it serves – bringing people together and creating a genuine sense of belonging. It is a one-stop, global hub for leisure, entertainment, and hospitality.
From the world’s fastest rollercoaster at Ferrari Abu Dhabi to the largest-ever indoor theme park at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, we are incredibly proud that we have brought some of the world’s most recognisable leisure and entertainment brands to the region – all ideally located within just minutes of each other. Catering to all tastes and ages, evoking feelings from thrill to joy and everything in between, these one-of-a-kind, seamless experiences invigorate all senses and create memories that last a lifetime.
Yas Bay Waterfront, an iconic new lifestyle hub within Yas Island, is another example of how we seamlessly bring together renowned restaurants, world-class hotels, premier sporting and leisure facilities, and a state-of-the-art entertainment venue into a thriving mixed-use development.
Another exciting and unique concept we’re thrilled about is the introduction of themed hospitality at Yas Island, enabling seamless guest connectivity, convenience, and immersion with our award-winning theme parks. Through our collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery and Hilton, we have combined hospitality and entertainment to provide a truly unforgettable offering at the WB Abu Dhabi. The world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel is located only steps away from Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, enabling an interconnected journey of discovery and rich storytelling through Warner Bros.’ timeless productions. Expanding on our alternative and diverse hospitality offerings in close proximity to our theme parks is the Doubletree by Hilton Yas Island Residences, providing spacious, serviced accommodation for larger families and groups.
With emphasis on longevity and sustainability, Yas Island is living proof that bringing together world-class attractions, theme parks, and hospitality offerings to deliver an integrated destination is where the future lies. The success of integrating such mixed-use developments into Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric is primed to yield dividends for years to come.