Environmental sustainability is the dragon of the modern era, and Dubai’s sustainable city is the most significant attempt by the country. Sustainable City Dubai is an eco-friendly project of Dubai in response to climate change. The main aim is to create an autonomous community for upcoming generations.
Dubai, the city of dreams, has always been synonymous with luxury and extravagance. But in recent years, the city has made a conscious effort to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
This is evident in the creation of The Sustainable City Dubai, a community that is aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly, and self-sufficient. In this blog post, we will explore the features that make The Sustainable City Dubai a dream built into reality.
What is a Sustainable City?
A sustainable city is a city that uses less energy and has clean water and fresh air without compromising the quality of life for future generations with excessive carbon emissions.
Sustainable City Dubai is a community located on the outskirts of Dubai, near the Al Qudra cycle track. The community spans an area of 46 hectares and is home to more than 700 villas and townhouses. The community was designed to be a self-sustaining ecosystem, producing energy, recycling waste, and even growing its own food.
Key features of the Sustainable City Dubai
1. Renewable Energy System
The key feature of The Sustainable City Dubai is its renewable energy system. The community is powered by a 10-megawatt solar farm with over 40,000 solar panels. The solar panels generate enough energy to power the community, including villas, townhouses, and public facilities like schools, malls, and hospitals. The excess energy generated by the solar farm is sold back to the grid, making the Sustainable City Dubai a net energy exporter.
2. Water Management System
Another unique feature that makes The Sustainable City Dubai is its water management system. To reduce water consumption, the community uses technologies like greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment. The community has its wastewater treatment plant, which treats the sewage the residents generate and converts it into high-quality recycled water. The recycled water is then used for irrigation and landscaping purposes. The community also has a rainwater harvesting system, which collects and stores rainwater in underground tanks. The collected rainwater is then used for non-potable purposes like flushing toilets and washing cars.
3. Reducing carbon footprint
Sustainable City Dubai is also committed to reducing its carbon footprint. The community has a fleet of electric vehicles used for transportation. The community also has a car-free zone, meaning residents must park at the entrance and use electric buggies to move around the neighbourhood. The community also encourages residents to use bicycles for transportation, and there are designated bicycle lanes throughout the community.
4. Highlighting green spaces and biodiversity
The community also places a strong emphasis on green spaces and biodiversity. The Sustainable City Dubai has more than 2,500 trees, which provide shade and help reduce the ambient temperature. The community also has a 5-hectare urban farm, producing more than 3,000 kilograms of organic fruits and vegetables monthly. The urban farm is also an educational centre where residents can learn about sustainable agriculture practices.
5. Socially Inclusive Community
The Sustainable City Dubai is also a socially inclusive community consisting of a school that follows the British curriculum and offers classes from nursery to year 13. The district also has a mall with retail stores and restaurants. The mall is designed to be a social hub for the community, where residents can come together and socialise. The community also has a hospital which provides medical services to residents.
6. Acknowledgement
Sustainable City Dubai is not just a dream but a reality. The community won several awards for its sustainability initiatives, including the ‘Happiest Community’ award at the Gulf Real Estate Awards in 2020. The United Nations has also recognised the community as a model for sustainable living.
Sustainable living and working in the city
Residents celebrate their eco-friendly lifestyle. Ukranian expat Natalia Gataullina, living in a three bedroom villa at The Sustainable City, said she was attracted towards the community programme and decided to live there.
Running a Sustainable Business
Karam Hamadeh, an owner of a three bedroom villa, has lived in the community for the last seven years. Inspired by the idea of a sustainable community, he has taken his passion to the next level by setting up a business called Cycology- which supplies bicycles, skateboards, and accessories. It also offers a rental service for bicycle maintenance service.
Monofloral honey
Ala’a Mustafa, Managing Director and partner in “Myhive” honey shop is another resident-entrepreneur at the Sustainable City.
Mustafa said, ” This sustainable lifestyle is a win-win for residents living a sustainable journey at work and home in the same place. You don’t usually hear about this lifestyle, so truly, we live in an enriching community”.
Sharjah Sustainable City
According to the developers, the Sharjah Sustainable City – with a total of 1252 units, is completed 95%.
Nahlawi said, “The first phase of the project was completed in September. Families are already living here. Phase three was launched in October, with phase 2 approaching completion and will be handed over next year”.
In Abu Dhabi, construction of The Sustainable City YAS is expected to start soon. Diamond’s Al Nahlawi stated that the project would be completed within 30 months following the innovation.
Conclusion
The Sustainable City Dubai is more than just a community. It’s a dream built into reality and a lantern of hope for a more sustainable future. The community has set a benchmark for eco-friendliness and has demonstrated that it’s possible to create a self-sufficient and sustainable ecosystem that benefits both people and the planet. Its initiatives have inspired similar projects globally, and it’s a testament to the fact that sustainability is achievable.
