Dumat Al Jandal Downtown
Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia
- Client
- SDC
- Sector
- Mixed-use tourism and lifestyle destination
- Area
- 137,800 m²
- Date
- —
- Scope
- Sustainability studies and Mostadam Communities certification
- Status
- Ongoing
- In alliance with
- InnovAcacia
- Discipline
- Sustainability, Design
Methods Design & Engineering is delivering the sustainability studies and certification for Dumat Al Jandal Downtown, a heritage-led transformation of the Al Jouf oasis into a livable, mixed-use tourism destination aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program.
For centuries the oasis of Dumat Al Jandal has been a cultural and natural hub. The project uses its heritage, lakefront setting and desert landscape to create a connected, sustainable downtown that celebrates local identity.
The site
The project runs along the shore of the Dumat Al Jandal lake, a man-made lake surrounded by a natural escarpment, with a desert plateau beyond. The lake covers about 1.1 million m² and is up to 15 m deep, with 8 km of frontage and a 40,000 m² island.
Design drivers
- Climate-responsive urbanism and thermal comfort, using passive cooling
- Heritage-led placemaking and vernacular architecture
- Protection of the lakefront ecology, alongside tourism activity on the lake
- A mixed-use, walkable downtown built on the 5-minute city principle
Land use
The 137,800 m² site is divided into nine zones.
| Zone | Area (m²) | Share | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome zone | 2,000 | 1% | Welcome centre and heritage museum |
| Mosque (existing) | 300 | 0% | Renovated mosque |
| Lake view villas | 6,000 | 4% | Modern villa accommodation and landscaping |
| Bungalows | 10,000 | 7% | Traditional bungalow accommodation and landscaping |
| Beach zone | 4,000 | 3% | Beach activities |
| Multi-purpose hall | 1,200 | 1% | Events hall and amphitheatre |
| Retail and F&B | 17,300 | 13% | Souq and farmers market, food and beverage village, and restaurants |
| Desert zone | 60,000 | 44% | Luxury pods, camping, camel and horse rides, picnic areas and playgrounds |
| Activities and other | 37,000 | 27% | Parking, picnic areas, lookout, utilities and services, docks and trails |
| Total | 137,800 | 100% |
Project components
- A welcome centre and heritage museum, and the renovated mosque
- Lake view villas and traditional bungalows
- A multi-purpose hall and an amphitheatre for events
- A traditional souq, a farmers market, a food and beverage village and lake view restaurants
- A luxury camping zone in the desert, with camel and horse rides
- A water activities zone, a beach, and a playground and picnic park
Sustainability
- Mostadam compliance. Alignment with the Mostadam Communities and Commercial frameworks for energy, water efficiency and ecological enhancement.
- Ecological and heritage protection. Integrated biodiversity and heritage protection plans, with protection of the lakefront ecology.
- Policy alignment. Compliance with SDC environmental and social policy, ESG requirements and the Saudi Green Initiative.