Known as Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens, the 88-square-kilometre project will be built by local developer Dubai Properties, between Al-Khail road and Emirates road from its existing Business Bay project and the Arabian Ranches roundabout area on Emirates road.

“It will be located between Al-Khail road and Emirates road. The easiest way to think about it is as an extension to Business Bay,” Dubai Properties chairman Hashim al-Dabal told MEED on 13 April.

The project is still in the masterplan stages, and Dubai Properties has already begun coordinating with the authorities ahead of construction work starting on site.

“We expect to finalise the masterplan in three to six months,” Al-Dabal said.

The project is expected to be made up of four main clusters themed around wisdom, humanity, nature and commerce.

Some 73 per cent of the total area - roughly 60 square kilometres - will be covered in greenery.

The city may also have a canal running through it from the proposed Arabian Canal planned by Dubai-based developer Limitless and the Business Bay Creek extension that is being built by Dubai Properties and the Roads & Transport Authority.

Plans for this canal, formerly known as the Union canal project, have been mooted for several years.