Dubai's master developer Nakheel said it has unveiled the Forbidden City, home to 4,000 low rise studio, one-bed and two bed apartments in the International City.

Inspired by the legendary Royal Court Palace of Imperial China, Forbidden City will be a residential neighbourhood offering its own extensive community facilities, enhanced by the range of retail and leisure offerings at International City and Dragon Mart.

At the heart of the development will be a landscaped vista leading to an ornate Grand Mosque, the spiritual centerpiece of the community. Work on the development started in April 2008 with final completion estimated to be in April 2011.   

Rashid Al Helli, director, International City, said: 'We are very excited about the unveiling of Forbidden City; another significant milestone for International City.  This low-rise residential community will be quite unique in its design, inspired by the architecture of Imperial China.

'The development has been carefully planned to take into consideration everything that residents will need in terms of retail and leisure amenities, to help build a thriving and sustainable community.'

In addition to the 4,000 homes, Forbidden City will feature 50 retail stores including food outlets, restaurants, internet cafés and boutiques.

Residents will also benefit from the close proximity to Dragon Mart, which offers the widest range of Chinese merchandise available outside of mainland China.

International City provides a diverse range of affordable accommodation options in an accessible living environment.

Truly international in its design, the project's Residential District is divided into ten internationally themed communities representing, China, England, France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Persia, Russia, and Spain.

Also located nearby is Lake District, thoughtfully designed residential community that shares enthralling views to Al Warsan Lake, one of the very few freshwater wetlands in the UAE.

The lake is home to more than 190 species of birds, including some of the rarest birds know to the Arabian Peninsula and neighbouring regions.

Nakheel has undertaken a series of measures to ensure that this habitat is protected and in the longer term, there are plans to provide suitable facilities that will enable the general public to enjoy the wildlife there.

International City is situated in Dubai’s Al Warsan area, 12 kilometers from Dubai International Airport. - TradeArabia News Service