The ‘green’ wave that was pioneered in Dubai through The Sustainable City is spreading throughout the region, right from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi and also to Oman – with others to follow, promises the initiator Diamond Developers.

01 April 2023

Construction work has started on a third green city while the ground is set to be broken shortly on the fourth such city under the successful The Sustainable City brand in the region, and the developer says it is now pursuing big ambitions in the sustainable development space – locally, regionally, and globally.

The pioneer of sustainable cities in the Gulf region, Diamond Developers is involved in the development of three ongoing projects: The Sustainable City – Yiti just outside Muscat in Oman, The Sustainable City – Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Sustainable City.

Diamond Developers’  first green city project, The Sustainable City Dubai has been fully operational for almost eight years. Building on this success, the developer last year launched The Sustainable Homes, a collection of 51 short-stay, studio apartments, at the Dubai development to allow visitors to experience sustainable living.

Its second such project Sharjah Sustainable City marked the handover of its first phase some seven months ago, with construction work now on track for the next phase of development.

“The Sustainable City Dubai was a global stepping stone from conventional to sustainable real estate. Building on its success, we have joined forces with reputable like-minded developers to follow in this project’s footsteps and bring to life The Sustainable Cities in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Yiti,” Salah Habib, CEO of Diamond Developers, tells Gulf Construction.

Diamond Developers has partnered with Aldar to launch The Sustainable City – Yas Island, which involves an investment of AED1.8 billion ($490.13 million); while The Sustainable City – Yiti is a partnership with Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) with an investment value of $1 billion. 

One of these projects – Sustainable City – Yiti - is set to be the largest operational sustainable community in the world.

To implement these projects, Diamond Developers says it has partnered with some of the most established and renowned consultants and contractors.

“Our partners play a significant role in the success of our projects, and we are fortunate to have had great experiences over the years across our various developments,” Habib comments. “We have renewed several of those partnerships for The Sustainable City – Yas Island and The Sustainable City – Yiti, in addition to establishing new ones that build on the extensive knowledge and experience of Aldar and Omran.”

 

The Sustainable City – Yiti

The Yiti project, which covers 900,000 sq m, focuses on constructing a fully sustainable mixed-use project, the first-of-its-kind community in Oman that promotes sustainable living. It comprises green public spaces, residences, and tourism, commercial, and educational facilities, all with well-balanced and integrated components.

 “Preparatory and construction works are proceeding according to the schedule on The Sustainable City – Yiti, and construction work has begun in the plaza and residential areas. The project is expected to be completed in 2025,” states Habib.

The Sustainable City – Yiti will offer 1,657 residential units, including 300 villas, 1,225 apartments, and 132 luxury serviced apartments, to house 10,000 residents. It will also be home to a vibrant community plaza, a sustainable school, SEE lab and institute, an autism centre, a wellness centre, an equestrian club, a sports complex, a cultural centre, and a ‘green’ mosque, among others.

The community is designed with the highest social, environmental, and economic sustainability standards in mind, and has ambitions to be the world’s first net-zero-carbon city by 2040, says Habib.

“The Sustainable City – Yiti will reduce the per capita carbon footprint of its residents by at least 75 per cent compared to conventional housing in Oman. This will be achieved by lowering emissions across the six pillars of environmental sustainability: food, energy, water, products, mobility, and waste.

“The city will also feature car-free areas to enhance walkability, whilst shared e-bikes and electric buggies will be available for travel around the community. All these green mobility solutions will promote healthy commuting and support walkability,” he says.

 

The Sustainable City – Yas Island

The Sustainable City – Yas Island spans 40 hectares and will comprise 3,500 residential units, including 864 three- to four-bedroom townhouses and condos.

“The construction of The Sustainable City – Yas Island is set to start in the second quarter of 2023, with first handovers expected in the last quarter of 2025. We have recently announced the first phase of sales and were thrilled to see it sell out within 24 hours of its public launch,” Habib remarks.

The Yas Island community will be solar-powered with a central cooling plan and will provide easy access throughout the city. It has dedicated cycling, jogging, and horse riding tracks, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, as well as a shared buggy network for eco-friendly commute. It also stands out with its lush green landscapes with an irrigation system that uses special methods for water saving and treatment.

Habib states that for The Sustainable City – Yas Island, the partners are exploring various sustainable systems and technologies related to food, energy, water, mobility, and waste whilst monitoring consumption and practices across all spheres.

“We are investing in smart farming systems, technologies, and production to ensure food self-sufficiency and promote farm-to-table solutions, which ultimately minimises food waste. To conserve energy, we are relying on demand-side management and renewable energy. We are also deploying energy management solutions to optimise distribution.

“Additionally, we are designing the development in a way to reduce per capita water demand, which results in minimising water losses. We are also adopting smart tools to optimise irrigation water management,” Habib points out.

 

Future plans

Diamond Developers says its goal since day one has been to inspire, enable, and empower its partners all over the world to adopt sustainable solutions and actively participate in exchanging sustainability knowledge.

“We are partnering with developers who share the same vision – to build sustainable cities of tomorrow. We are proud that we have created our own DNA, which categorises all sources of manmade greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their contributions towards global warming under the six pillars of sustainability. This allows our communities to reduce or eliminate emissions and bring forward our net zero emissions targets.

“We have also challenged the misconception that sustainable developments come with elevated construction costs.

“With the proven feasibility of our sustainable communities, we encourage other industry players to join us on this eco-friendly journey in order to expand sustainable living and achieve tangible results in reducing GHG emissions on a larger scale,” he states.

Habib indicates that Diamond Developers continues steadfastly on its sustainability journey, with many other projects in the pipeline across various markets.

“Future developments will continue evolving from our working model of future cities and the blueprint for low-carbon living originating from ‘The Sustainable City Dubai’ to bring forward the net zero emissions targets and provide the highest quality of life for its residents,” he concludes.

• Sustainable City brand gains strength
• Sponge Cities make a splash in region
• URB advocates ‘empowering cities’

Tags

Kuwait Green Buildings Concrete Technology Focus: Vertiports Loaders Just Out TechTalk Legally Bound Regional News Saudi Focus UAE Focus Events Tenders Manufacturers & Procurement

Gulf Construction is the undisputed leading trade journal for the building and construction industries of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states. The magazine provides editorial coverage on a wide range of topics which are of interest to industry professionals. In addition, regular features highlight technological developments within specific industry fields. Launched 40 years ago, the magazine has established an enviable reputation as an authoritative, respected journal with unmatched coverage of the Gulf region. Gulf Construction is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in the region’s building and construction industry.