Arada recently awarded a AED 604 million contract to build the first phase of the Arada Central Business District (CBD), the new vibrant commercial heart of Sharjah, located within the AED 35 billion Aljada master-planned community. The contract was awarded to Modern Building Contracting, with construction work set to begin immediately on the first phase of the CBD, which is expected to be completed and handed over in the first quarter of 2027.
Smart communities
The eight smart communities in the first phase include Arada’s headquarters, a nine-storey building that will be the new home for the developer’s more than 1,500 employees. The new headquarters will feature a wide range of facilities, including spacious rooftop events spaces, a theatre, a café and a ground-floor restaurant for employees. The building includes a grand atrium that extends from the ground floor to the roof, connecting all departments of the company visually and physically.
The first cluster in total includes 812,000 square feet of premium Grade A leasable space, in addition to 1,666 parking spaces, 76,000 square feet of landscaped greenery, and 26,500 square feet of retail space.
Strong demand
“Since the launch of the Central Business District, we have witnessed strong investor demand for commercial space, in line with the overall exceptional performance of the sector across the UAE,” said Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada.
He added: “The Central Business District will play a pivotal role in Sharjah’s future economic landscape, thanks to its contemporary architectural design, exceptional facilities that will inspire and enhance the productivity of work teams, and its proximity to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, the international airports in Sharjah and Dubai, and the upcoming Etihad Rail Station.” Green Spaces
The Green Corridor will be the central business district’s most prominent feature, a tree-lined park that runs the length of the district, featuring shaded walkways, a theatre, and large green terraces on the roofs of most buildings. It will also include a variety of cafés, dining facilities, and retail spaces, in addition to large parking spaces.
The central business district will include 40 smart office buildings with 4.3 million square feet of leasable space, setting new standards for sustainability and connectivity. Arada aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), WiredScore, and SmartScore standards for all buildings in the central business district upon completion, for the first time in Sharjah.
Standards
LEED is a globally recognized rating system for green buildings, while WiredScore and SmartScore are globally recognized standards for digitalization and smart buildings. Each office will also be smartly equipped as part of Aljada’s Smart Cities programme, leveraging next-generation solutions across all aspects, from waste management and traffic, to the circular economy and smart lighting. Nearly 30% of Aljada’s 25,000 homes are now complete, along with a wide range of leisure, commercial, educational, sports and service facilities, including the SABIS International School – Aljada, the mega-club Wellfit Madar, the Zad Food Court, the Aljada Skate Park and East Boulevard, a tree-lined commercial street dotted with high-end shops, cafés and restaurants.