Concrete works on Moma's J1 Hotel near completion

Concrete works have been substantially completed at J1 Hotel, a Gran Meliá property, Port de La Mer, Dubai, marking a major construction milestone for the five-star beachfront hotel, designed by Moma International. 

Scheduled to open in Q4 2027, the hotel will become the first Gran Meliá property in the UAE, bringing the Spanish luxury hospitality brand to the country. 

With the main structural works substantially complete, the project is now progressing into the next phases of construction, including interior fit out, façade, MEP and finishing works.

The J1 Hotel marks the first Gran Meliá in Dubai, representing the highest and most luxurious tier within the Meliá Hotels International portfolio. Meliá already has an established presence in Dubai through Meliá Desert Palm and ME Dubai. 

366 rooms and suites

Located on the beachfront at Port de La Mer in Jumeirah, the hotel comprises 366 rooms and suites, including 40 luxury accommodations with private pools, bringing together luxury hospitality, dining, wellness, leisure and event spaces within a single waterfront destination.

Moma International is lead consultant for the hotel’s architecture, interior design and landscape, guiding the multidisciplinary design and its implementation through the construction stage. 

Carter Hones Associates is providing project and commercial management services, with the wider consultant team including John R Harris & Partners, SEED Consulting Engineers and Dutco Construction. 

Façade glazing and glass installation are now under way as the building progresses towards enclosure, while interior works continue throughout the property.

Ceiling closure works 

Within the guest room areas, ceiling closure works are progressing, demonstrating further advancement of the interior fit-out programme. The project is being developed in compliance with the Dubai Green Building Code and incorporates a grey water treatment system to support water conservation and sustainable operations.

Commenting on the milestone, Monica Merhebi, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Moma International, said: “The substantial completion of the concrete works is an important milestone for this property. We are now seeing the design vision increasingly take physical form as the project moves into the next stages. As Lead Consultant, our focus remains on maintaining the integrity of that vision throughout construction, bringing together the architecture, interiors, landscape and guest experience to create a cohesive waterfront destination.”

Designed to respond to its prominent waterfront setting, the project occupies one of Dubai’s last remaining prime coastal properties - a unique peninsula setting surrounded by water on three sides. 

 Direct beach access

The J1 Hotel will offer direct beach access and views towards the sea and Dubai skyline. The beachfront location has influenced the design of the external guest areas, pools, terraces and F&B spaces, with the project designed to connect with the wider Port de La Mer community. 

The hotel will feature four swimming pools within landscaped gardens, a rooftop terrace, ballroom, meeting and event facilities and a fitness centre. Its destination dining programme will include Zuma Beach House, Park Chinois, Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club, Jul’s and Tala, alongside a rooftop wellness destination by Journée Wellbeing.

Important milestone

Andrew Snelling, Project Director at Carter Hones Associates added: “Reaching the major concrete pour milestone represents a significant achievement for the entire project team. Approximately 65,000 cubic metres of concrete have been poured on the project to date, while the team recently achieved five million safe man hours, an important milestone that reflects the scale of the development and the focus on safe and coordinated delivery. From a project and commercial management perspective, our attention now turns to maintaining momentum across the programme as activity progresses across the façade, MEP and interior fit out packages.”

Carter Hones Associates initially supported J1 Hotel through design management and project strategy advisory services, followed by tender services, and is now providing full onsite project management and cost management services. 

Once complete, the property will become Meliá Hotels International’s third property in Dubai.—TradeArabia News Service