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Zaha Hadid Architects Present Oystra Mixed-Use Development

The seafront project brings residential towers, retail, and leisure to Al Marjan Island with a design shaped by sea and sand.

Zaha Hadid Architects Present Oystra Mixed-Use Development
Render © MIR

Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled its design for Oystra, a mixed-use development located on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Covering 128,000 square metres, the project introduces 950 units ranging from one-bedroom apartments to waterfront villas, alongside retail, dining, and recreational facilities. Oystra responds directly to the emirate’s projected 55% population growth by 2030 and supports its target of welcoming 3.5 million annual tourists within the same timeframe.

Al Marjan Island extends 4.5 kilometres into the Arabian Sea and offers 23 kilometres of coastline, including nearly 8 kilometres of white sand beaches. Already a hub of hospitality and leisure infrastructure, the island is located 25 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport.

Render © Redvertex

Designed to Maximise Sea Views

More than 75% of Oystra’s residences offer unobstructed views of the sea, with each unit designed to bring the outdoor environment into the living experience. The project’s large balconies and terraces follow fluid, undulating forms shaped to resemble wave patterns in sand. These extensions serve dual functions: expanding usable living space while also shielding interiors from direct sun exposure.

The development’s 20-storey waterfront towers rise within a 42,000 square metre site filled with planted gardens, open courtyards, swimming pools, and a beach club overlooking the bay. A rooftop restaurant and a circular infinity pool offer panoramic views of both the island and the Arabian Sea.

Zaha Hadid Architects Present Oystra Mixed-Use Development
Render © Redvertex

Connecting Architecture and Nature

Oystra connects directly with Al Marjan Island’s coastal promenade. This shaded, tree-lined walkway gives residents access to other areas of the island and benefits from the cooling effect of north-westerly sea winds. Zaha Hadid Architects designed the circulation throughout the site to encourage walkability while improving the sense of openness along the shoreline.

Architectural elements draw inspiration from the site’s marine conditions. Oystra’s curvilinear forms and sculptural massing reflect patterns observed in the natural environment. These shapes also help organise views, airflow, and light, forming a continuous dialogue between the built form and the coastal setting.

Render © Redvertex

Energy Strategy Informed by Data

The project integrates performance-driven environmental design through simulations and digital mapping. By analysing solar exposure and wind direction, the team optimised shading, structural orientation, and ventilation strategies to reduce energy use. A seawater-based cooling system and an insulating cavity between the facades and sun-exposed surfaces help lower indoor temperatures, addressing the region’s high demand for cooling while improving thermal comfort.

These sustainability measures build a responsive design approach that reduces reliance on mechanical systems. Zaha Hadid Architects used digital tools not for form alone, but to test and refine how the building behaves under Ras Al Khaimah’s intense climate.

Zaha Hadid Architects Present Oystra Mixed-Use Development
Render © Redvertex
Render © Redvertex

Shared Vision Behind the Project

Christos Passas, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, described the project as “a result of shared ambition and creative dialogue.” He explained that Oystra’s design takes cues from the energies of the sea and sky, aligning the architecture with its surroundings through movement and openness.

Richmind’s CEO, Mohammad Rafiee, emphasised the company’s focus on “visionary design and lifestyle innovation,” and praised the collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects for pushing spatial ideas forward. Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan, positioned Oystra as a valuable addition to the island’s development strategy, framing it as part of Ras Al Khaimah’s broader ambitions for Al Marjan.

Zaha Hadid Architects Present Oystra Mixed-Use Development
Render © Pyxid

Client: Richmind
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
Design: Patrik Schumacher, Christos Passas
ZHA Project Director: Christos Passas
ZHA Project Associates: Mei-Ling Lin, Joao Bravo Da Costa, Eider Fernandez
ZHA Project Architects: Sattor Jabbor, Branko Svarcer, Kourosh Asgar Irani
ZHA Project Leads: Ben Kikkawa, Ekaterina Smirnova, Gaganjit Singh, Anri Gyoloyan, Nassim
Eshaghi, Maria Bystrova
ZHA Project Team: Dahyun Kim, Elizabeth Konstantinidou, Shizhao Yang, Mirella Dourambei,
Abdullah Ummer Farook, Ali Rais, Avneesh Rathor, Theodoros Tamvakis, Danae Mavridi,
Canon Lee
ZHA Competition Project Director: Christos Passas
ZHA Competition Associates: Joao Bravo Da Costa, Mei-Ling Lin
ZHA Competition Project Architects: Ben Kikkawa, Maria Bystrova,
ZHA Competition Project Leads: Dieter Matuschke, Akis Polykandriotis, Anri Gyoloyan,
Avneesh Rathor
ZHA Competition Team: Abdullah Ummer Farook, Ali Rais, Dahyun Kim, Shizhao Yang,
Mirella Dourambei, Theodoros Tamvakis, Gaganjit Singh
ZHA BIM Team: David Fogliano, Michael O’Reilly, Muaz Masri
ZHA Environment & Sustainability Team: 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 Consultant: Cracknell Landscapes
Lighting Design: FPOV
Interior Design: HBA, London
Signage and Wayfinding: TDC
Waste Management: Climatize, Dubai

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