Leading UAE sustainability pioneer Beeah has unveiled the masterplan for its mega development – Khalid Bin Sultan City – in Sharjah.

Khalid Bin Sultan City is situated adjacent to Beeah’s headquarters in Sharjah.

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), a renowned British architecture and design firm, Khalid Bin Sultan City is envisioned as a year-round living environment.

Anchored by four guiding principles – sustainability, smart technology, culture and people, ZHA’s design continues the philosophies embedded with the architecture of Beeah’s renowned headquarters building, drawing inspiration from the fluid forms of wind-swept desert dunes to define a multi-centred urban network with seven distinct residential neighbourhoods interconnected by sheltered walkways and vibrant streetscapes.

Each neighbourhood is organised around a central public space, strategically placed within a five-minute walking distance of the other. These civic plazas offer public facilities and a range of local amenities that act as vital social and wellbeing anchors, helping to foster a strong sense of community, said Beeah.

At the heart of the development lies a 2-km-long, shaded linear oasis that weaves through the city. The width of this park varies as its borders extend in some areas to create a series of distinct pockets enveloped by nature for diverse activities, fostering a unique sense of place at every turn, said ZHA.

Rather than revealing itself all at once, this linear oasis unfolds gradually, offering glimpses of what lies ahead and encouraging curiosity and exploration.  This natural landscape extending through the heart of the city serves as both a recreational retreat and a social gathering place, featuring sheltered running and cycling tracks, sculpture gardens and courtyards with wildlife ponds, cafés and restaurants, and wellness spaces.

Avoiding that car-centric urban planning which is proven to significantly increase temperatures within urban environments, Khalid Bin Sultan City’s design cultivates walkability, environmental cohesion and a strong sense of place, said ZHA.

For the project, Beeah has signed up three UK-based specialists – Buro Happold as engineering consultants; Atelier Ten as sustainability and environmental design/lighting consultants and Gross Max as landscaping consultants.