Sharjah Sustainable City, an eco-friendly community developed by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with Diamond Developers, hosted a delegation of students and faculty from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) last week, who toured the project site to become acquainted with sustainability concepts, their integration with the urban landscape, and their positive impact on the environment.
Thirteen students from AUS’s Department of Civil Engineering, as well as members of the student organization Civil Engineering Honor Students (CEHS), attended the site visit, where they toured a show villa and the solar-powered biodomes that provide residents with facilities for urban farming in order to create a self-sustainable community.
Professor Aqeel Mohammed Taher, Professor of Practice at the Department of Civil Engineering, AUS, accompanied them, and the tour was hosted by Carl Atallah, Marketing Director at Sharjah Sustainable City, and Karim El-Jisr, Chief Sustainability Officer at Diamond Developers.
Commenting on the visit, Carl Atallah, Marketing Director at Sharjah Sustainable City said: “In line with our commitment to promote Sharjah Sustainable City as a knowledge destination for integrated development, we are delighted to host another delegation from the American University of Sharjah. The visit represents a dynamic opportunity to share our practical experience that complements the theoretical knowledge that the bright minds have acquired from classes, and enrich their understanding about one of the leading sustainable projects in the region. This visit strengthens our collaboration with AUS, one of the leading educational institutions in the region, to support research and learning around sustainable communities for the next generation of sustainability professionals.”
During the tour, students were introduced to Sharjah Sustainable City’s masterplan and technical information, emphasizing the importance of incorporating sustainability into civil engineering projects in the UAE. They also learned about the project’s core sustainable areas, which include the environment, food, energy, water, product, and mobility.
Commenting on the visit, Professor Aqeel Mohammed Taher said: “This educational tour of Sharjah Sustainable City offered invaluable real-world data and applications of sustainable practices in real-estate development for our students. The rich insights gained from this tour will encourage their thinking on integrated communities through the three pillars of environmental, social, and economic suitability, and enable them to incorporate sustainability principles into real estate projects of the future.”
The tour was designed to provide students with hands-on experience with the application of sustainable development theories in real estate projects and their practical implementation in integrated communities. Students not only had the opportunity to delve deeply into several areas of civil engineering, such as environmental, construction, and transportation fields, but they also gained insights into developing a sustainable community.
