A number of companies were involved in the development of the masterplan, according to Rashid Al-Awadhi, principle architect with Injaz, a member of Dubai Properties.

One of those, he said, was Eric Kuhne’s UK-based Civic Arts, which was involved in the initial concept design. Civic Arts is the designer of the 250 square-kilometre City of Silk.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens is to be located between Emirates Road and Al-Khail Road, and will measure 88 square kilometres.

Featuring 73 per cent green space and 10 per cent waterways, the low-density development is to be built over six phases.

The first two - covering infrastructure and parks - are to be implemented immediately, following approval from the ministry and contractors being signed up. This is expected to take place within the next few months.

Hashim Al-Dabal, chairman of Dubai Properties, said: “We are comfortable, if we sign contractors to build the roads and bridges, that a timescale of two to three years is satisfactory. As a whole project, I estimate the first two phases will take between five and seven years."

The project will also feature a 42-kilometre canal, to run from phase 3 of Business Bay into the Arabian Gulf.

Al-Awadhi added that Dubai Properties is looking at various forms of water transportation to connect Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens with other projects in Dubai.

Al-Dabal stressed that the project is illustrative of Dubai’s ambition to meet the growing sustainable agenda. “Seventy-three per cent of green area takes a lot to deliver, and we are having to give away a lot of land for nature, which could otherwise be developed on.”

The inevitable demands placed on water supply will be met by a combination of desert-type flora and fauna, which are acclimatised to the region, and plants which can survive through the natural moisture in the air alone.

The system of civic parks, which will be a feature of the development, will be supplied with grey water produced by the residents.

The project will consist of four sections:

• The House of Nature - the main cluster of the development, featuring gardens, environmental labs, recreational clubs and alternative medicine and herbal clinics

• The House of Wisdom - to include Dubai Central Library, international organisations and universities and science colleges

• The House of Humanity - to feature charities, humanitarian establishments and a museum

• The House of Commerce - includes banking and finance schools as well as branches of insurance companies, international companies and Islamic and international banks.

Photo gallery: Mohammed bin Rashid gardens project