Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi announces ‘Sharjah Sustainable City’ Project

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, launched the ‘Sharjah Sustainable City’ Project on Wednesday, March 27. It is the first urban mixed-use project in the emirate, which meets the highest standards of green economy and environmental sustainability. It is the outcome of a strategic partnership between Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers, which develops sustainable communities in the UAE.

The AED2 billion project is spread across 7.2 million sqft, and is strategically located in Sharjah near Al Rahmaniya area, easily accessible from the Sharjah International Airport and Sharjah University City. Upon completion, it will feature 1,120 eco-friendly and energy-efficient villas with a modern-meets-oriental design in harmony with the unique architectural aesthetic Sharjah is known for.

The project includes a number of public facilities – a community shopping centre for premier shopping and entertainment, a venue to host social events, health clubs, swimming pools, cycling and jogging tracks, restaurants, nurseries, medical clinics and a mosque.

The project will also include a sustainable school, which will promote the concepts of sustainability through school curricula. It will also feature a ‘Sustainability Experience Centre’ – a platform to host meetings and forums by government and academic entities, NGOs, as well as school and university students, centred around promoting awareness about environmental issues and sustainable living.

Sharjah Sustainability City – designed to cover all three elements of sustainability: social, economic and environmental – is poised to be a landmark contribution by Sharjah to the global movement towards reducing carbon footprint, slowing global warming and decreasing the harsh impacts of climate change. It reflects Shurooq’s commitment to promote the green economy culture in Sharjah and the UAE, and create new opportunities for the establishment of world-class infrastructure that promotes environment-friendly and sustainable living.

“Shurooq’s business philosophy is based on mutually-beneficial partnerships that promote and realise Sharjah’s growth strategy. It is inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, who believes that the true measure of a successful economy is in its social outcomes, the impact it has on the quality of living of each individual, and how it contributes to social stability,” said Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, executive chairman of Shurooq.

He also explained that Sharjah Sustainable City, located at Um Funnain area, is powered entirely by renewable energy produced by solar panels, and has recycling plants that will recycle water and waste. The city will feature biodome greenhouses and outdoor gardens to support sustainable farming of a variety of fruit and vegetables within the community.

“The project is the first of its kind in Sharjah, which thanks to its wise leadership, has come a long way in promoting environmental sustainability with a focus on preserving our natural resources for generations to come,” added Faris Saeed, CEO of Diamond Developers.

In conclusion, Yousif Al Mutawa, CEO of Sharjah Sustainable City, noted the integrated residential project reflects the vision of Sharjah government to promote economic diversity and aligns with the global approach to support green investments within the sustainable development framework. He added that the development is a leading model of a future city. It aims to create an eco-friendly, non-traditional community with world-class amenities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, and has presented a brand new opportunity in sustainable investments.