Dubai developer Nakheel said on Wednesday that it raised nearly AED34 million ($9.25 million) at its auction of prime land at its Jumeirah Park project.

A Nakheel spokesman said: "Today's land auction was a great success. Nearly 80 percent of attendees had registered a day in advance, highlighting the huge appetite for prime land in Dubai."

The plots, each 8,820 sq ft, form part of the ever-growing Jumeirah Park community, where Nakheel has already completed 1,795 luxury villas, with almost 800 more under construction.

Jumeirah Park spans 350 hecatres and will have around 3,000 homes and a host of integrated facilities when fully complete.

Among them will be Jumeirah Park community centre, Nakheel's new, 114,000 sq ft retail and dining venue with a supermarket and nearly 30 other shops and cafes. Shop fit out is now underway, with the centre due to open mid-2014.

* Nakheel no longer responds to media enquiries from Arabian Business, nor does it grant Arabian Business access to any of its media events or announcements.

The Beach on the Jumeirah Beach Residence will attract eveb more visitors

JBR’s residents are excited about the open-air cinema, the first of its kind in the country, and the mall with shops and restaurants that run along the beachfront from The Hilton Hotel at one end to the Sheraton Hotel at the other.

According to Meraas, developer of JBR’s Beach, “The Beach will include a dynamic mix of top brands and attractions offering everything from casual eating, signature fine dining, luxury retail and a range of attractions from the traditional luxury zone to the exciting entertainment zone at the opposite end keeping an underlying and consistent framework to ensure overall cohesion.”

Another fun element along JBR beach are these very impressive sand sculptures. As part of the beach complex, these stunning gigantic sandcastles have been created, one of which represents all of Dubai’s most loved landmarks.

The project will create more than 70 new retail, food and beverage and entertainment outlets. Bait Al Bahar, a four-floor beachfront restaurant and cafe, with terrace, off Jumeirah Beach, will be one of the highlights of the beachfront mall.

It will offer a very special dining experience that embraces authentic tastes and flavours, along with elegant modern touches. Once you set foot in Bait Al Bahr, you will take pleasure in the charming atmosphere. Amid open terraces overlooking the Beach, Bait Al Bahr will offer you the best place in the city to relax.

A cross-section of JBR residents told Gulf Newsthat they liked the new attractions but a few did not.

Some residents said although they are looking forward to the new attractions, they worry about the effects on traffic and rents.

Meraas said the upgrades will enhance traffic and pedestrian flow in and around The Walk and JBR, and will contribute to easy connectivity, with future tram stops as well as improved linkage for pedestrian flow to Dubai Marina.