Dubai’s Sustainable City plucks eco-friendly way of life from desert sands
Alook inside the gates of Dubai’s Sustainable City offers a glimpse of how more of us could live our lives.
The growing eco-development, surrounded by desert on the outskirts of Dubai near Emirates Road, is becoming famous for its harnessing of the environment to power modern life.
In two years, the 465,000-square-metre mini city has become a thriving community of like-minded people who have keen eyes on all matters green.
Its ecological ideology attracts more residents than it can accommodate – occupancy rates are about 98 per cent and there is a waiting list for residency.
“Most people don’t come to the community for the social side of life here but it is something they quickly discover once they are here,” said Karim Al Jisr, executive director of the development’s innovation centre.
“The sense of community is not something that is easy to pitch without coming here but once they live here it becomes the No 1 attraction and the driver to get people to stay.
“Utility bills are low and service charges are zero, so there are lots of attractive factors. People have access to farming, they can grow their own food and that also attracts a certain mindset. People want to live in a car-free community – that also changes the dynamic completely.”
The residential areas in the complex are car-free zones. Residents have access to a fleet of 124 electric buggies. Last year they travelled a total of 216,735 kilometres around Sustainable City’s roads. A driverless shuttle system that can carry 11 passengers is being tested.
Homeowners are offered a Dh10,000 incentive to switch to an electric vehicle for use outside the community and there are several charging points in the parking zone near the city entrance.
Developers also hope the community will become the region’s first net zero energy residential zone through its use of solar energy. Villas generate electricity using photovoltaic panels and return the surplus to the grid, with the excess taken off monthly household bills.
There are urban farming schemes and the popular My Hive programme that yields honey to be sold to neighbours.
Sustainable City’s success, and its modern blend of hightech with community spirit, could be used as a model.
Neighbourhood committees encourage residents to interact and build friendships. The urban farming committee offers the chance to grow organic fruit and vegetables. Chillies, courgettes, aubergines, onions, sunflowers, tomatoes, cabbages and sweet potatoes are all popular.
“The farm uses aquaponics, an integration of aquaculture with hydroponics, meaning that fish and plants grow together,” Mr Al Jisr said.
“The reason aquaponics is such a unique solution is that the fish waste provides a food source for the plants, while the plants filter the water for the fish. Residents are also offered vouchers every month with which they can pick up their own herbs from the farming operation.
“The system relies on an honesty box to deposit vouchers in exchange for produce.”
The farming season begins in mid-September and runs until April.
“I live and work here, and there is a lot of swapping and sharing of appliances and car boot sales,” Mr Al Jisr said. “It is helping to build a strong sense of community and belonging.
“Three years ago, 15 families had signed up to the community farming project, now there are 41 families involved.”
In July, Sustainable City became the first gated community to release its greenhouse gas inventory and give an indication of emissions produced.
Last year, 563 villas and flats were occupied by about 1,900 people.
Results showed the average greenhouse gases were almost half that of a conventional UAE home.
“These results confirm the Sustainable City is continually working to fight climate change and proactively reducing our carbon emissions,” said Faris Saeed, chief executive of Diamond Developers, the company behind the city.
“We will be taking steps to further reduce our emissions through the addition of more solar energy, biodiesel for construction activities and various awareness campaigns for residents.”