[3] At this time, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum planned to develop Jebel Ali into an industrial area with its own airport, port, and township.

The remoteness from central Dubai meant that Jebel Ali Village had to be self-sufficient, making residents develop a strong attachment to the area, even after they had left.

[4] It was a project of Sir William Halcrow and Partners and acted as a prototype for further semi-autonomous residential areas in Dubai such as Emirates Hills and The Gardens.

Jebel Ali Village upon completion was planned to include commercial, community, and retail facilities, and the expansion of the existing central park to 12 hectares.

[6][7][8] However the project was put on hold, because of the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession, which affected Dubai severely.