zaha hadid architects sculpts rippling seafront towers for al marjan island in UAE

Zaha Hadid architects unveils plans for seafront towers in uae

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) reveals Oystra, a 128,000-square-meter seafront development rising on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Designed to echo the shifting patterns of waves over sand, the sculptural 20-story towers unfurl across a prime waterfront site, giving over 75% of its 950 residences unobstructed views of the Arabian Sea. Comprising one- to four-bedroom apartments, duplexes, penthouses, and waterfront villas, the mixed-use complex weaves together landscaped gardens, a beach club, shopping promenades, and a rooftop restaurant crowned by a 360° infinity pool.

‘Oystra’s sculptural design is inspired by the natural energies of the sea and the sky, responding to its environment with a sense of dynamism and openness,’ shares Christos Passas, director at Zaha Hadid Architects. The fluid design is the result of ZHA’s collaboration with developer Richmind, forming part of the emirate’s vision to transform Al Marjan into a world-class lifestyle destination.

oystra brings sustainable coastal living to a growing emirate

With Ras Al Khaimah projected to grow its population by 55% and attract 3.5 million tourists annually by 2030, the need for residential and leisure infrastructure is soaring. Zaha Hadid Architects’ team lead designers, Patrik Schumacher and Christos Passas, directly address this with high-end coastal living infused with sustainable design strategies. The development connects to the island’s 23 kilometers of coastline and 7.8 kilometers of white sand beaches via a shaded, tree-lined promenade, walkable and wind-cooled for year-round comfort.

Oystra’s rippling balconies and terraces are also high-performance environmental devices, apart from expressive formal gestures. Each one extends the living space while filtering light and heat, optimized through digital mapping and solar simulations. Seawater-based cooling systems and thermally insulated facades further reduce energy loads, tailored to Ras Al Khaimah’s arid climate.

As a key part of the island’s transformation, Marjan CEO Abdulla Al Abdouli sees it as a landmark of Ras Al Khaimah’s rising global narrative. ‘Al Marjan has become a canvas for exceptional developments, and Oystra is a strong addition to Ras Al Khaimah’s narrative, reflecting the forward-thinking developments that align perfectly with Al Marjan Island’s ambition and vision,’ he notes.

project info:

name: Oystra

architect: Zaha Hadid Architects | @zahahadidarchitects

location: Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
client: Richmind | @official.richmind

ZHA project team:

design leads: Patrik Schumacher, Christos Passas

project director: Christos Passas

project associates: Mei-Ling Lin, Joao Bravo Da Costa, Eider Fernandez

project architects: Sattor Jabbor, Branko Svarcer, Kourosh Asgar Irani

project leads: Ben Kikkawa, Ekaterina Smirnova, Gaganjit Singh, Anri Gyoloyan, Nassim Eshaghi, Maria Bystrova

architectural team: Dahyun Kim, Elizabeth Konstantinidou, Shizhao Yang, Mirella Dourambei, Abdullah Ummer Farook, Ali Rais, Avneesh Rathor, Theodoros Tamvakis, Danae Mavridi, Canon Lee

ZHA competition team:

director: Christos Passas

associates: Joao Bravo Da Costa, Mei-Ling Lin

project architects: Ben Kikkawa, Maria Bystrova

project leads: Dieter Matuschke, Akis Polykandriotis, Anri Gyoloyan, Avneesh Rathor

architectural team: Abdullah Ummer Farook, Ali Rais, Dahyun Kim, Shizhao Yang, Mirella Dourambei, Theodoros Tamvakis, Gaganjit Singh

BIM: David Fogliano, Michael O’Reilly, Muaz Masri

environment & sustainability: Carlos Bausa, Bahaa Alnassrallah, Shibani Choudhury, Aleksander Mastalski, Aditya Ambare, Disha Shetty, Abhilash Menon, Jing Xu

consultants:

executive architect: Dewan Architects and Engineers, Dubai

facade engineering: Koltay Facades

m&e engineering: Samadhin Associates

transport consultant: RMC, Dubai

fire engineer: SHE, Dubai

landscape: Cracknell Landscapes

lighting design: FPOV

interior design: HBA, London

signage & wayfinding: TDC

waste management: Climatize, Dubai