In Pictures: Sharjah developer Arada is connecting with nature - building a 'forest' is the way to do it

Think different – UAE developers are re-emphasizing their connect with nature for their new launches. Adding to the living spaces is standard practice – after COVID-19 and lockdowns, property buyers will not have anything to do with cramped spaces. Developers are also putting in quite a bit of nature – whether it’s the water(front) or lots of green space.

In Sharjah, the master-developer Arada is extending the green possibilities as much as it possibly can. It was in January that it launched Masaar as a ‘forested’ residential community.

With the latest release on Monday (October 11), Arada sticks to the same theme. For the 4,400 villa and townhouse owners in Masaar, green is the one colour they will see in some abundance.

Masaar, which means ‘path’ in Arabic, does have the land to indulge in. That’s 19 million square feet with more than 50,000 trees lining the pathways. So, if the property owner wants to get in a bit of exercises, there are the ‘acres of green space allowing for forest walks’.

The residents of the future homes there still don’t have to lose touch with city living. Masaar is in the Al Juwaiza’a area of Sharjah, with the Airport about 15 minutes away.

The developer wants to maintain the cap on the number of homes that will populate the 19 million square feet. Only 4,000 units are planned, and the intent is to maintain the ‘low-density’ aspect.

New facilities have been included into masterplan to broaden the ‘connect with nature’ features. There will be two 6.6-kilometre continuous jogging and cycling tracks, which course through woodland areas around the edge of the community. (Both tracks will be completed in the second quarter of 2022, alongside the opening of the Masaar Experience Centre and show villa.)

For the latest launch, one of the property types is a top-of-the-range five-bedroom ‘Kaya Forest Signature Villa. A three-level unit, it will come with a lift and swimming pool as standard. All properties overlooking Masaar’s ‘green spine’ will include rooftop terraces from where the resident can look onto the ‘forested heart’ of the community. (Prices on these are from Dh4.63 million.)

So, how soon can the first homeowners move into all that sea of green? The Arada CEO, Ahmed Alkhoshaibi reckons the initial handovers to be by late 2022.

Once the keys are handed over and the move in, those homeowners can start on the nature trails - without having to hike much of a distance from their homes.