Jumeirah Group has officially launched Eco Village at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, unveiling a new sustainability-driven destination that blends environmental conservation, education and experiential travel.

Positioned within one of the city’s most recognizable luxury resorts, the initiative is designed as a living showcase of the brand’s long-term commitments to biodiversity, food security, waste reduction and community engagement, while inviting guests and local residents to participate directly in hands-on, planet-focused experiences.

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A New Kind of Destination at Madinat Jumeirah

Eco Village is conceived as an immersive sustainability hub embedded in the broader Madinat Jumeirah complex, which is already known for its canals, Arabian-inspired architecture and beachfront setting.

Jumeirah is framing the new space not as a temporary installation but as a permanent, evolving destination where hospitality and environmental stewardship intersect.

Opened its doors to guests on December 11, 2025, the village is intended to remain a centerpiece of Madinat Jumeirah’s guest experience over the coming years.

The concept goes beyond traditional resort programming by turning operational sustainability initiatives into visible, interactive exhibits.

Instead of keeping hydroponic farms, bee habitats or waste systems behind the scenes, Eco Village brings them into the foreground, offering guided tours, workshops and educational displays.

The aim is to demystify how a large luxury resort can reduce its footprint and to encourage visitors to consider how similar principles might translate into their own daily lives.

The space is organized as a curated journey that guests can follow at their own pace or with a specialist guide.

From pollinator habitats and food-production areas to marine conservation exhibits and recycling workshops, each zone is designed to tell a specific story about environmental care.

Jumeirah positions this narrative-driven approach as a core part of its strategy to make sustainability less abstract and more experiential for both leisure travelers and corporate groups.

From Beehives to Hydroponics: A Living Lab for Food and Biodiversity

One of the most distinctive features of Eco Village is its emphasis on food systems and biodiversity. The guest journey typically begins at a homegrown beehive located on the grounds of Madinat Jumeirah, where visitors can observe pollinators in action and learn about their critical role in maintaining ecosystems.

The resort has been working with local beekeeping experts to create safe habitats for native bee species, as well as to raise awareness around responsible bee management in urban and resort environments.

From the beehive area, visitors move into a hydroponic farm that demonstrates how vegetables and herbs can be grown using significantly less water and no soil, an approach particularly relevant in arid climates such as the United Arab Emirates.

Here, guests are introduced to closed-loop agriculture, including nutrient-rich water circulation and controlled growing environments that optimize yield while minimizing resource use.

The produce harvested from these systems is used directly in the resort’s kitchens, reinforcing the farm-to-table link in a tangible way.

The Eco Village gardens also highlight composting and on-site plant nurseries. Food waste from hotel kitchens and landscaping cuttings are transformed into compost that feeds the resort’s extensive green areas, reducing landfill volumes and closing the loop on organic materials.

Jumeirah executives have indicated that the current nursery already supports a significant portion of the property’s landscaping needs, with plans to expand its capacity as part of a broader push toward self-sufficiency in plant production.

For guests, these elements come together as a “living lab” that illustrates how hospitality operations can integrate food security, biodiversity support and reduced resource consumption.

The resort is building out specialized experiences such as farm-to-table dinners and food-safety tours that use Eco Village as their central stage, blending culinary discovery with sustainability storytelling.

Marine Conservation at the Heart of the Eco Village Story

Marine conservation sits at the core of Jumeirah’s environmental narrative, and Eco Village has been designed to shine a spotlight on projects that have been in operation for more than a decade.

Prominent among these is the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, which the group operates in collaboration with local partners. Since 2004, the project has rescued, rehabilitated and returned over 2,320 injured or sick sea turtles to the Arabian Gulf, including green, hawksbill and loggerhead species.

Within Eco Village, dedicated exhibits guide visitors through the turtle rescue and rehabilitation journey, from initial veterinary care to the final release into the sea.

The displays address the main threats facing turtles in the region, including plastic pollution, habitat loss and boat strikes. The intention is to offer transparent insight into the day-to-day work of conservation teams while underscoring the impact that small behavior changes, such as limiting single-use plastics, can have on marine life.

The village also highlights Jumeirah’s coral restoration program. At nearby Jumeirah Al Naseem, the brand is nurturing more than 1,400 coral fragments in a purpose-built nursery.

Over 300 of these fragments have already been successfully transplanted back into the sea along Dubai’s coastline, contributing to the recovery of local reefs.

Eco Village uses visual materials and interpretive content to explain coral fragging techniques, growth monitoring and the importance of reef systems in coastal protection and biodiversity.

Further extending this focus offshore, Jumeirah has aligned its efforts with Dubai Reef, which is being promoted as one of the world’s largest reef development and restoration projects. Within this initiative, over 3,000 coral fragments have been established in offshore nurseries.

At Eco Village, guests can learn how these projects are interconnected, giving them a broad overview of the brand’s marine stewardship work across both nearshore and offshore environments.

Hands-On Circularity: Waste Reduction, Recycling and Low-Carbon Operations

While conservation of species and habitats is a central storyline, Eco Village also zeroes in on the less visible aspects of hotel sustainability, particularly waste reduction and decarbonisation.

Jumeirah has been rolling out measures across its properties to replace single-use plastics, improve water efficiency and divert waste from landfill.

At Madinat Jumeirah, initiatives such as in-house water bottling, food-waste biodigesters and efficient irrigation systems are already in place, and these are now contextualized within the Eco Village narrative.

A key attraction is the plastic-repurposing workshop, held at the Jumeirah Recycle Hub and powered by UAE-based climate tech start-up Midori Network. In this space, guests can bring in plastic waste generated on-site or use pre-collected materials and transform them into new, functional items.

Depending on the workshop, this can range from small household objects to simple tools and accessories. By physically participating in the process, visitors gain a first-hand understanding of circular design principles and the value of keeping materials in use for as long as possible.

The circularity focus is aligned with Jumeirah’s broader sustainability strategy, which emphasizes responsible sourcing and emissions reduction across its portfolio.

At Eco Village, interpretive displays outline the group’s targets in areas such as renewable energy use, supply chain screening and food-waste management.

For corporate and meetings clients, the resort is developing tailored tours and breakout sessions that tie these operational efforts to environmental, social and governance objectives, responding to growing demand for low-impact events.

Beyond the workshops, signage and trained staff encourage visitors to adopt simple behaviors during their stay that contribute to lower carbon footprints, such as choosing plant-forward menu options, reusing towels, and using the resort’s electric buggies or bicycles where possible.

The idea is to connect the high-level concepts of circularity and decarbonisation to practical steps that can be taken both on holiday and at home.

Education, Community Partnerships and Youth Engagement

Eco Village is described by Jumeirah as both a guest attraction and an educational platform for the wider community. A central component of this outreach is the brand’s partnership with Ocean Generation, an environmental charity focused on protecting the world’s oceans.

In September 2025, Jumeirah and Ocean Generation piloted the UNESCO-endorsed Ocean Academy program in five Dubai schools, introducing a curriculum tailored to different age groups with a strong emphasis on younger learners.

This classroom-based program is now complemented by on-site experiences at Eco Village, where school groups can participate in guided tours that tie textbook concepts to real-world conservation work.

Teachers are encouraged to use the village as an outdoor learning environment, integrating topics such as marine biodiversity, sustainable food systems and climate resilience into their lesson plans.

For local families, weekend programming and special events are being developed to make the space a regular part of children’s environmental education.

Jumeirah’s leadership has stated that Eco Village will serve as a foundation for a broader network of educational partnerships and conservation collaborations, both within the UAE and potentially across the group’s international portfolio.

The long-term ambition is to build a framework that can be replicated at other destinations, adapted to local ecosystems and community needs while maintaining consistent sustainability messaging.

The resort is also exploring ways to integrate Eco Village into staff training and internal culture-building. Employees across departments are being offered sustainability workshops and familiarization tours, with the goal of equipping them to act as informal ambassadors when interacting with guests.

This internal dimension is seen as essential to ensuring that environmental commitments are reflected in daily operations as well as in high-visibility projects.

Leadership Vision and the Future of Sustainable Luxury

In public statements around the launch, Jumeirah Group executives have framed Eco Village as a tangible expression of the company’s sustainability strategy across three main pillars: People, Planet and Governance.

The project is intended to demonstrate how a high-end resort can offer experiences that are both luxurious and low-impact, countering the perception that environmental responsibility requires compromising on comfort or service.

By investing in an on-site destination that foregrounds biodiversity, resource efficiency and education, the brand is positioning itself at the intersection of regenerative tourism and experiential travel. Industry observers note that travelers, especially younger demographics and families, are increasingly seeking stays that offer meaningful engagement with environmental issues alongside leisure.

Eco Village gives Madinat Jumeirah a distinctive proposition in a competitive luxury market, particularly as the United Arab Emirates continues to spotlight sustainability following its recent global climate-focused events.

Looking ahead, Jumeirah has indicated that Eco Village is designed to evolve over time. New exhibits, partnerships and programs are expected to be added in line with emerging technologies, scientific insights and community priorities.

The modular design of the space allows for sections to be reconfigured as pilots are scaled up or replaced, ensuring that the village remains relevant and up to date in a fast-moving sustainability landscape.

At the same time, the project is meant to signal a longer-term shift in how the group approaches development and operations across its global portfolio.

Learnings from the beehive installations, hydroponic systems, waste-management innovations and educational collaborations at Madinat Jumeirah are likely to inform future property openings and refurbishments, creating a blueprint for integrating sustainability more deeply into the fabric of luxury hospitality.

What Eco Village Means for Travelers

For travelers considering a stay at Madinat Jumeirah, Eco Village represents an added layer of experience that can be integrated into everything from casual resort days to milestone celebrations and business events.

Guests can choose to join scheduled tours, sign up for specialized experiences such as farm-to-table dinners and hydroponic workshops, or simply explore interpretive displays at their own pace while moving through the resort grounds.

Families may find particular value in the child-friendly educational elements, which include interactive explanations of pollination, coral growth and turtle rehabilitation.

The space is designed to be visually engaging and accessible, with guides trained to adapt the level of detail to different age groups.

This aligns with wider trends in family travel where parents seek destinations that combine entertainment with learning opportunities.

Culinary enthusiasts, meanwhile, can trace ingredients from the garden beds and hydroponic units to the plate, especially through curated dining experiences that spotlight locally sourced and site-grown produce.

For many visitors, the chance to taste dishes prepared from ingredients harvested just meters away from the table offers a direct connection between agriculture and gastronomy, grounded in principles of seasonality and reduced food miles.

Business and events travelers are another key audience. Meeting planners increasingly prioritize venues that can demonstrate credible sustainability credentials, and Eco Village provides tangible talking points for corporate retreats, incentive trips and conferences.

Breakout sessions in the village, combined with low-impact catering options and visible conservation projects, offer companies a way to align their travel programs with internal environmental goals.

FAQ

Q1. What is Jumeirah Eco Village at Madinat Jumeirah?
Jumeirah Eco Village is a dedicated sustainability-focused destination within Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, featuring interactive exhibits, gardens, conservation displays and workshops that showcase the resort’s environmental initiatives and invite guests to participate in them.

Q2. When did Eco Village open to guests?
Eco Village opened to guests on December 11, 2025, and is designed as a long-term, permanent feature of the Madinat Jumeirah experience rather than a temporary installation.

Q3. Where exactly is Eco Village located within Madinat Jumeirah?
Eco Village is situated within the Madinat Jumeirah resort complex in Dubai, integrated into the landscaped areas and experiences of the property so that visitors can easily access it from the main hotels and shared facilities.

Q4. What kind of experiences can visitors expect at Eco Village?
Visitors can explore a homegrown beehive, hydroponic farms, edible gardens and composting areas, learn about marine conservation and turtle rehabilitation, join plastic-repurposing workshops, and take part in curated experiences such as farm-to-table dining and guided sustainability tours.

Q5. How does Eco Village support marine conservation efforts?
Eco Village features exhibits on the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project and Jumeirah’s coral restoration work, explaining how more than 2,320 turtles have been rescued and released and how coral fragments are nurtured on-site before being transplanted into the sea, as well as highlighting the brand’s involvement in wider reef restoration projects.

Q6. Is Eco Village suitable for children and school groups?
Yes, Eco Village has been designed with education in mind and regularly hosts school groups and families, using interactive displays and age-appropriate explanations to teach younger visitors about oceans, pollinators, sustainable food systems and waste reduction.

Q7. Are there special events or tours that need to be booked in advance?
Certain experiences, such as private farm-to-table dinners, in-depth hydroponic tours and structured workshops at the Jumeirah Recycle Hub, typically require advance booking, while general access and some guided walks may be available on a scheduled or walk-in basis depending on resort programming.

Q8. How does Eco Village tie into Jumeirah’s wider sustainability strategy?
Eco Village acts as a physical showcase for Jumeirah’s People, Planet and Governance commitments, translating initiatives such as waste reduction, responsible sourcing, biodiversity conservation and educational partnerships into visible experiences that guests and community members can engage with directly.

Q9. Can non-hotel guests visit Eco Village?
Access policies are managed by Madinat Jumeirah and may vary by season, but the village is primarily intended for resort guests, visiting diners, event attendees and organized groups, including schools and community partners.

Q10. Why is Eco Village significant for sustainable travel in Dubai?
Eco Village is significant because it embeds practical sustainability and conservation work into a flagship luxury resort, offering travelers a chance to learn about and participate in environmental initiatives while enjoying a high-end stay, and setting a visible benchmark for how large-scale hospitality destinations can support regenerative tourism in the region.