The development covers 4.3 square kilometres and is close to Khobar, Dharan and Damam. The development will also feature 80,000 square metres of water features.

The first stage of the development, which covers a total of 2.5 square kilometres was recently approved by the municipality of Eastern Province, and is estimated to have a development value of SR4.6bn ($1.2bn).

It contains more than 2,000 homes in nine villages as well as 11 mosques and a shopping centre.

Emaar Middle East is a subsidiary of Dubai-based Emaar Properties, which previously launched the Jeddah Gate complex, a SR6bn mixed-use project that will form part of Jeddah’s new downtown area. Turner Arabia is the project manager (MEED 6:1:08).