Dubai developer to design zero-carbon smart city in Saudi’s capital
Dubai developer URB is designing a zero carbon “future city” in the Saudi Arabian capital.
The smart city of ALNAMA will promote sustainable living in a 10-square kilometre community with various hubs including residential, educational, commercial, tourism and medical.
Derived from the Arabic word “thrive”, ALNAMA is planned to provide 11,000 residential units for a population of 44,000 people. It will use 100 percent renewable energy and water recycling.
The 1,000 hectare development in Riyadh will create 10,000 green jobs and will include 44.5 kilometres of dedicated running, cycling and equestrian tracks.
The project is being spearheaded by Dubai-based planning and design consultancy URB which has a long track record of building smart cities.
CEO of URB, Baharash Bagherian, has worked on numerous such projects including The Sustainable City in Yiti, The Sustainable City Yas Island and the Nexgen Sustainable City.
He said: “ALNAMA aims to be the next generation of self-sufficient city, producing all the city’s renewable energy needs, as well as the resident’s caloric food intake on site.”
Biosaline agriculture, productive gardens, wadis and carbon-rich habitats are key features of the development’s innovative and resilient landscape design.
“The city was planned through the design of its landscape, rather than its buildings. This creates an urbanism that is more socially inclusive, more economically valuable, and more sensitive to the environment,” Bagherian added.
Various hubs will transform the city into a unique destination as well as an attraction for eco-tourists and medical tourists.
The green-tech hub will provide an innovative ecosystem for urban-tech companies related to food, energy, water, waste, mobility and building materials.
Eco-friendly glamping lodges and resorts along with a nature conservation centre are key components of the hospitality hub, which will promote ecotourism.
“Ultimately the city will become a work, live and visit destination where people, planet and profit can thrive in balance.”
Bagherian hopes ALNAMA will “become a new benchmark model for all future cities to be planned to promote greener economies that centre around food, water, energy and waste.”
Saudi Arabia is already building a $500 billion megacity called NEOM which will incorporate many smart city features.
Source: Arabian Business
