Sustainable and luxury design for Amwaj Islands’ private beach

Al Saraya Properties engaged Ayesa for marine consultancy to transform a southern Amwaj coastline into a private beach, complementing a new resort with villas and chalets. This development was designed to meet UPDA requirements for coastal protection, ensuring the safety and stability of the adjacent onshore structures. The project aimed to create a recreational beachfront that harmonises with its natural surroundings while providing a luxurious retreat.

Ayesa delivered a comprehensive suite of engineering consultancy services for this coastal development project. Our involvement began with the creation of concept design sketches, laying the groundwork for the project’s vision. We then conducted extensive coastal modelling, which included spectral wave modelling, cross-shore stability analysis using SBEACH, and longshore stability modelling with LITPACK. Specifically, we performed two spectral wave modelling studies: one for extreme wave conditions and one for annual wave conditions. This ensured the beach design is robust enough for both storm and operational conditions. This modelling was crucial in ensuring the feasibility and sustainability of the coastal design over the lifetime of the project.

Ayesa provided an efficient design that incorporated the effects of the surrounding environmental conditions using a “work with nature” approach. These environmental conditions were established through offshore data extractions, which were analysed in a spectral wave model using the MIKE 21 suite of models. The interpretation of these results allowed Ayesa to adapt and tailor the design to ensure minimal maintenance over time and robustness to withstand storm conditions without overdesigning the beach. This approach provided an effective long-term solution, balancing initial and maintenance costs.