URB unveils plans to build new zero-carbon city in Riyadh
RIYADH, June 30, 2022
URB, a global leader in developing sustainable cities headquartered in Dubai Design District, has announced the launch of its ambitious 10-sq-km zero carbon destination, Alnama Smart City, in Riyadh.
Alnama (Arabic for thrive), a major project aimed at promoting sustainable living, will boast 11,000 residential units for a population of 44,000 people along with various other hubs including residential, educational, commercial, tourism and medical in the Saudi capital.
It will offer residents the highest standards of social, environmental and economic sustainability with 100% renewable energy, water recycling and waste recycling units, said a statement from URB.
According to the developer, various hubs will transform the city into a unique destination as well as an attraction for ecotourists and medical tourists. The green-tech hub will provide an innovative ecosystem for urban-tech companies related to food, energy, water, waste, mobility & building materials.
Also to promote a healthy lifestyle among its residents, the upcoming smart city will boast 44.5 km of dedicated running, cycling and equestrian tracks.
The project aims to create 10,000 jobs in various sectors including green-tech industries to create a green circular economy for the city, it added.
Baharash Bagherian, the chief executive of URB, who has masterminded designs of various sustainable cities including the recently-launched projects such as The Sustainable City in Yiti, The Sustainable City Yas Island and Nexgen Sustainable City, dubbed Alnama as the next evolution in smart cities.
"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," explained Bagherian.
"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," he noted.
According to him, eco-friendly glamping lodges, eco-resorts as well as a nature conservation centres are key components of the hospitality hub, which will promote ecotourism at the smart city.
An autism village, wellness centre and clinics within the medical hub will promote medical tourism, he noted.
"Ultimately the city will become a work, live and visit destination where people, planet and profit can thrive in balance. It will become a new benchmark model for all future cities to be planned to promote greener economies that center around food, water, energy and waste," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
