Sharjah Sustainable City – the first sustainable master-planned community developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in partnership with Diamond Developers, has been awarded the ‘Best International Sustainable Residential Development’ and the ‘Best Sustainable Residential Development Arabia’ at the prestigious International Property Awards 2022-23.

The awards recognize Sharjah Sustainable City’s efforts in leading a global movement to develop future-proof sustainable housing solutions while using contemporary designs and fostering a lifestyle that is compatible with nature and improves health and well-being.

It’s also a new global recognition for The Sustainable City brand—a working model for future cities and further cements its position as a benchmark for sustainable, low-carbon living around the world.

The awards, recognized as a world-renowned mark of excellence, were received by Mr. Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, and presented by Mr. Stuart Shield, President of the International Property Awards, at a high-profile ceremony in London, the UK on 02 February 2023.

Commenting on the awards, Mr. Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa said: “It’s an immense pleasure to be recognized at global platforms such as International Property Awards. We live in a region characterized by high temperatures, arid lands, and limited freshwater resources, and its often seen as difficult to develop sustainable housing projects in such areas. But through projects like ours, we have proved that if you have visionary leadership that embraces innovative ideas, nothing seems impossible. I want to take this opportunity and thank our leadership for making our country the city of possibilities and pushing boundaries in sustainability. I also thank the International Property Awards and its Judging Panel for this recognition. This recognition of our work is an excellent start to the Year of Sustainability in UAE, which focuses on protecting our land, resources and one another today for a better tomorrow. It will encourage us to do more and boost our commitment toward a sustainable future.”

For his part, Salah Habib, CEO of Diamond Developers – the company behind The Sustainable City – commented: “In a year where COP28 is shining a spotlight on the Middle East, this award not only marks our commitment to “Year Of Sustainability” in the United Arab Emirates, but will also pave the way in bringing to life more sustainable and innovative projects, and bringing us one step closer to achieve our net-zero emissions targets.”

He added: “Since the launch of The Sustainable City brand, we have prioritized proving and demonstrating that low carbon, high-quality living is possible even in our extreme climate in the UAE, and we continue to harness our knowledge to replicate this model globally and empower our partners around the world to reach UN 2050 targets today.”

Open for residential and commercial property professionals from around the globe, the International Property Awards is a global recognition that celebrates the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. A panel of over 100 judges decides the awards, with each judge allocated entries matching their areas of expertise.

These awards mark the continued recognition of The Sustainable City brand and Sharjah Sustainable City for developing a residential community that benefits both nature and its residents.

Over the past two years, Sharjah Sustainable City has received several awards, including the Best Sustainable Residential Development Sharjah award at Arabian Property Awards 2022; Sustainable Community Award at Smart Built Environment Awards 2022; Best Real Estate Project (Gold)  and Sustainable Green Development (Gold) at Gulf Real Estate Awards 2022; Best Community Development (Bronze) award Gulf Sustainability Awards in 2021; and Real Estate Development Company award at Real Estate Excellence Award in 2021 and 2022.

Moreover, The Sustainable City brand, while striving toward leading the way to reach UN 2050 targets ahead of time, has won over 50 awards so far. Located in Dubai, it has now expanded not only to Sharjah but to Abu Dhabi and Yiti-Oman, with international locations in the pipeline.

Extended over an area of 7.2 million square feet in the emirate of Sharjah, Sharjah Sustainable City is equipped with renewable energy and aspires to achieve net zero energy. It treats 100% of its wastewater for landscape irrigation, maximizes recycling to divert waste from landfills, produces chemical-free leafy greens and vegetables, and promotes walkability and clean mobility. It has a total of 1,250 sustainable villas, divided into blocks of three-, four- and five-bedroom properties between 2,035 square feet and 3,818 square feet in a built-up area.