Ajdan Island in Khobar is a new mixed-use tourism project.

Ajdan Island is advancing as a reclaimed coastal project in Khobar, designed as a mixed use tourism destination featuring sea view cafés, commercial zones, entertainment offerings, and an open air theater. This development reflects a broader regional shift toward experiential leisure infrastructure in Saudi coastal cities. Backed by the Tourism Development Fund and coordinated with the Eastern Province Municipality and Ajdan Company, the project specifically targets underutilized shoreline segments along Khobar’s eastern edge to improve public access to the waterfront.

Design Concept

The island’s masterplan uses a radial configuration to optimize sea views across all functions. Curved pedestrian routes frame vistas of the Arabian Gulf, linking built form with the marine context. Yet the design leans on conventional waterfront motifs such as reflective glass façades and generic walkways without distinctive architectural expression. Similar approaches appear in other Gulf projects archived in the archive, where experiential programming often overshadows formal originality. This raises questions about the project’s contribution to regional architectural design discourse.

Materials and Construction

Marine-grade reinforced concrete and corrosion-resistant steel assemblies are being deployed to ensure durability in the saline coastal environment. Prefabricated modular units for cafés and retail hint at off site construction, a method widely adopted in Saudi Arabia for speed and cost control. Foundations use deep pile techniques to anchor the artificial island against tidal movement and subsidence a standard practice for reclaimed land, as observed in comparable regional buildings. These choices prioritize resilience over material innovation, relying on established building materials suited to harsh climates.

Sustainability

No verifiable data on energy use, water recycling, or ecological impact has been published. Basic climate adaptations like shaded paths and low water landscaping are present, but systems for renewable energy or marine habitat protection are absent. This falls short of international coastal sustainability norms, where regenerative design is increasingly expected. Without transparent benchmarks, the project’s long-term environmental footprint remains uncertain a gap noted in recent research on Gulf tourism developments.

Urban Impact

Ajdan Island aims to ease pressure on Dammam’s crowded waterfront by extending Khobar’s leisure zone eastward. Yet access relies on a single road connection, with minimal alignment to regional cities transit strategies. Should visitor numbers surpass capacity, traffic congestion and coastal degradation may follow. The project’s integration into broader urban infrastructure and its ability to avoid isolated “island” development will be critical. Such challenges are frequently examined in editorial critiques of leisure-driven urbanism in arid coastal zones.

Architectural Snapshot: A radial artificial island in Khobar featuring cafés, retail, and an open air theater, built on reclaimed land with marine-resistant materials but lacking disclosed sustainability benchmarks.
Will Ajdan Island establish a new model for coastal tourism or simply repackage familiar formulas under a new name?

ArchUp Editorial Insight

The coverage of Ajdan Island presents a polished narrative of experiential tourism, aligning with regional ambitions yet echoing familiar Gulf waterfront tropes mirrored façades, radial promenades, and prefabricated leisure pods. The omission of ecological metrics or transit integration reveals a promotional framing disguised as urban news, common in state-backed developments. One credit: its attempt to activate underused shoreline offers a rare spatial intervention in Khobar’s coastal sprawl. Yet without deeper environmental accountability or architectural distinction, such islands risk becoming ephemeral backdrops rather than enduring urban fixtures.