Jabel Hafeet Glacier United Arab Emirates

In 2007, Ecosign was commissioned by PNYG Visionary Architects, HOK Sport Venue Event and Wenzel + Wenzel Architects to provide consultation and ski area planning for a proposed world-class indoor ski facility at Mount Jebel Hafeet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Jebel Hafeet is the only mountain in Abu Dhabi, an outlier of the Hajar Mountains along the border of the UAE and Oman. Ecosign’s primary task was to ensure that the ski dome met the highest possible standards for a commercially viable ski facility, as well as the potential to host FIS competitive sporting events. 

Ecosign’s ski area design recommends the installation of two high speed, four-passenger, detachable grip ropeway chairlifts, and one combination four-passenger chairlift/eight-passenger gondola high speed ropeway lift. Additionally, the beginner area would be served by three surface magic carpets, and the ski jump would have a dedicated lift system integrated into the architectural form of the ski jump. A snow play area, including snow tubing, is incorporated into the base area design of the ski dome. 

The proposed ski pistes would comfortably accommodate 2,400 skiers at one time on 273,000 m2 of skiing surface, over a total skiable distance of 5.1 kilometres.