1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Dubai
Region
Asia
Short description of the intervention
The Sustainable Residential Complex project was a measure taken by the city of Dubai, one of the largest city ecological footprints, with a goal to reduce it to the smallest ecological footprint by 2050. For the past two decades, the UAE government has made an effort to lower its own dependency on fossil fuels, shifting toward more environmentally-friendly sources to power its cities. The sustainable residential complex development project is one of the few initiatives taken by the city administration of Dubai under Vision 2021. Located just outside Dubai the area is the first operational net-zero energy residential complex in Dubai. [1, 2]
Address

United Arab Emirates

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (55.279614 25.033776)
POINT (55.283183 25.031127)
POINT (55.277034 25.025117)
POINT (55.272852 25.02718)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Maps. URL: https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Sustainable+City+plaza/@25.0299912,55.2750893,1167m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x3e5f71f3cb2599a1:0x6075036f6e764c4e!8m2!3d25.0278142!4d55.2747532. Accessed on 7th October, 2021.
Total area
460000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Unknown
Website of the intervention
https://www.thesustainablecity.ae/home/home/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2011
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2012
End date of the intervention
2019
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. To create a residential complex with net-zero energy.
2. To pledge for the maximum of 2-degree temperature increase of the world above the pre-industrial level.
3. To encourage sustainable agricultural practices.
4. To create habitat for diverse species. [1, 3, 6]
Quantitative targets
1. To create a residential complex with more than 60% green areas.
2. To create a 10-meter high green pollution buffer zone.
3. Build 2 artificial lakes with recycled grey water.
4. Plant 10,000 trees.
5. Create 1 beehive. [1]
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Climate change mitigation
Water management (SDG 6)
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Waste management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Real estate development
Employment/job creation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce exposure to climate risks directly
Build resilience
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat
Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce carbon footprint or emissions
Sequester and store carbon
Reduce energy demand, with the use of renewables or energy efficiency improvements
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Halt desertification by restoring grasslands or other nature-based solutions
Sustainable agriculture practices to reduce energy use or carbon emissions
Implement solutions to help reducing energy consumption or support the use of sustainable energy resources
Invest in public transport/bicycle infrastructure as a means to prevent car use
Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential
Implementation activities
The project started in the year 2012. It included construction and building of 500 residential stays, 10,000 tree plantations, 2,500 trees for air pollution reduction and temperature control, 11 biodome greenhouses and 3,000 square metres of urban farming for biodiversity (including the non-native ones),10-metre-high buffer zone with trees for pollutants and carbon sequestration, beehives for bee population maintenance and habitat creation. [1, 6]
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Creation of semi-natural blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
House gardens
Green parking lots
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Other
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Please specify "other allotments and community gardens"
Beehives
Please specify "other green areas for water management"
Artificial lakes from recycled greywater. The
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Flower beds
Garden beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
10000
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Noise reduction
Carbon storage/sequestration
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
National-level government
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Diamond Developers, a local real estate agency. [1]
Key actors - initiating organization
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Land owners
Real estate developer
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Land owners
Real estate developer
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
1. UAE Net Zero by 2050.
2. Vision 2021.
3. National Climate Change Plan of the UAE 2017–2050. [6, 7]
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the emir has decreed that his city will get 75 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2050. [2, 6]
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
1. UAE Net Zero by 2050.
2. Vision 2021.
3. National Climate Change Plan of the UAE 2017–2050. [6, 7]
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific climate change policy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
No
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Not applicable
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
354 million AED = 84.17 million Euro (1AED=0.24 Euro)
Source(s) of funding
Private Foundation/Trust
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
1. The project has a 10-meter high buffer zone made with pollutant absorbing tree species. It purifies the local air.
2. The area has 2 artificial lakes made of recycled greywater. [1, 2]
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Similar projects have been implemented in other parts of the world. The developer was inspired by the UC Davis West Villas for students, faculty and other staff in the United States. [5]
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is transferred to new initiative(s) without substantial adaptation
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is planned to be implemented in other parts of the country. [6]
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Reduced emissions
Energy efficiency improvements
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Improved waste management
Improved protection against strong wind
Improved soil quality
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Increased number of species present
Enhanced support of pollination
Description of environmental benefits
1. 2,500 trees act as a buffer zone for air pollutants to protect the residents. These also have significantly reduced the local temperature and helped in reducing heat island effects in the city.
2. 11 biodome greenhouses and 3,000 square metres of urban farming have improved the biodiversity in the area which had very little species variety before the project was implemented.
3. The 10-metre-high buffer zone with trees helps in carbon sequestration.
4. The beehives in the complex support the bee population maintenance and habitat creation.
5. The area produces 50% more renewable energy than it consumes and contributes to Net Zero by 2050 strategy.
6. The project was successful in reducing the landfill load to 85% from the local residents.
7. Plantation of nearly 10,000 trees has protected the soil and created a green oasis. [1, 2, 5, 6]
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
More sustainable tourism
Increased property prices
Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Generation of income from NBS
Description of economic benefits
1. The farm areas produce locally grown foods (vegetables and fruits) that are sellable to the market. This creates jobs and economic help for some.
2. The area is open for visitors and is an example of sustainable tourism in Dubai city.
3. The improved quality of the lives in the area has helped in increasing property prices. [1, 6]
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Improved liveability
Improved access to urban green space
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. The in-built recreational areas create opportunities for the residents to be socially active and interact.
2. More than 60% of the built area is filled with greeneries, improving the access for the residents.
3. The locally grown foods are available for the residents for free.
4. The car-free pedestrian and cycling path encourages the residents to live an improved active life.
5. The locals are trained with environmental education and training with community gardening. [1, 6]
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Increased access to healthy food for humans and/or animals
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
Yes
What problem or concern was identified with the implementation of the NBS?
Problems with/Unfair distribution of access to the area
Other
Please specify other negative impact
Unsatisfaction of the outsiders over the price; building material sources
Please specify the negative impacts
The project has invited some unsatisfactory arguments over the prices, process and building material sources. According to these,
1. The project has imported most of its building materials which creates a high footprint.
2. Many trees planted are non-native ones.
3. The property prices are very high, making it available to the affluent class only. [8]
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of November, 2021.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
List of references
1. The project website. URL: https://www.thesustainablecity.ae/home/. Accessed on 7th November, 2021.
2. Kunzig, R. (2017). The World's Most Improbable Green City. The National Geographic Case Study. URL: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/dubai-ecological-footprint-sustainable-urban-city. Accessed on 7th November, 2021.
3. Garfield, L. (2018). The United States Emirates is building a $354 million city with driverless cars, greenhouses, and solar-powered villas. Business Insider. URL: https://www.businessinsider.in/the-united-states-emirates-is-building-a-354-million-city-with-driverless-cars-greenhouses-and-solar-powered-villas/articleshow/62701911.cms. Accessed on 7th November, 2021.
4. Morgan, J. (2016). CW Awards 2016: Sustainable Project recognised. Construction Week. URL: https://www.constructionweekonline.com/business/article-42190-cw-awards-2016-sustainable-project-recognised. Accessed on 7th November, 2021.
5. Nikos-Rose, K. (2014) UC Davis and Dubai-based developer enter agreement to collaborate on sustainability research. UC Davis. URL: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-and-dubai-based-developer-enter-agreement-collaborate-sustainability-research. Accessed on 7th November, 2021.
6. Paola, S. and Wattengel, A. (2020) A sustainable city in the desert. Julian Bar. URL: https://www.juliusbaer.com/en/insights/future-cities/a-sustainable-city-in-the-desert/.
7. The United Arab Emirates. The UAE's response to climate change. URL: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/environment-and-energy/climate-change/theuaesresponsetoclimatechange.
8. Mattei, S. (n.d) DUBAI’S SUSTAINABLE CITY AND THE FALSE PROMISE OF UNIVERSALITY. Compass: The Gallatin Research Journal. The Private University of New York. URL: https://wp.nyu.edu/compass/2019/03/28/shanti-escalante-dubai-sustainable-city/. Accessed on 11th November, 2021.
Comments and notes
Public Images
Dubai Residential Complex
Dubai Residential Complex
https://www.juliusbaer.com/en/insights/future-cities/a-sustainable-city-in-the-desert/
Dubai Residential Complex Beehives
Dubai Residential Complex Beehives
https://www.thesustainablecity.ae/myhive-2/
Dubai Residential Complex Biodomes' food production
Dubai Residential Complex Biodomes' food production
https://www.juliusbaer.com/en/insights/future-cities/a-sustainable-city-in-the-desert/