Four hotels, three schools, a business district, a mall, tree-lined avenues and an entertainment complex designed by the acclaimed Zaha Hadid Architects. Welcome to the megaproject that represents a new era for Sharjah.
Aljada, a sprawling 2.2-square kilometre site close to the emirate's airport, universities and the E311 motorway, is now about 30 per cent complete with major elements such as the mall and business district still to be built.
But the development is already buzzing and not just with its own residents. Aljada, which loosely translates as “the district”, has become a destination for people from across the UAE, who come to enjoy its cafes, farmers market, outdoor cinema, restaurants, supermarkets, skateparks and bike paths. There is even a shop selling Emirati farm produce.
Aljada is a very interesting project; very complex and challenging. There is a story behind every spot of this project
Maher Metraji,
Arada
To get a sense of how transformational Aljada could be and why so many people are already spending time there, The National was invited to tour the site, given a rare look inside the major construction areas and shown renderings of the mall that have not been released before.
“In the Sharjah real estate market, we say there is a phase before Aljada and a phase after Aljada,” said Maher Metraji, senior development director at Arada, who is responsible for delivering the project. “Because we have set not only a new standard but a very high standard of how a master development should look; what should it include; how it should be designed; how it should be executed; and handed over.”
Building a destination
Construction of what Arada describes as Sharjah’s largest-ever mixed-use project began in 2018.
In 2020, the first phase of its Madar entertainment complex opened, featuring a skatepark and food district.
Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic with its stay-at-home measures and travel bans, Aljada welcomed more than a million visitors in its first year and by the start of 2021, people were moving into the first homes.
By the end of 2023, it is expected 12,000 people will live in the self-contained city.
There is also a nursery for the trees that line its roads. The trees are indigenous where possible and old ghaf trees that were growing on the site when it was just a remote patch of sand have been preserved.
“When you drive to Aljada, you can see parks, gyms, pools, open cinemas, jogging tracks, shops, restaurants – everything you would require whether you live here or visit,” said Mr Metraji.
“That is very interesting to us – that we have built a destination and not just projects.”
Aljada will also be home to what Arada say will be Sharjah’s largest gym. It is just a few months from opening and an army of workers are racing to complete the job. Located in the Madar entertainment district, the 6,038-square metre facility will have an elevated running track winding around the outside.
A trampoline park managed by Bounce will open beside it.
Construction of the mall will start next year, and while Arada are tight-lipped about what will be inside, the developer said it is going to be something special.
Renderings shown to The National reveal a series of futuristic, curved buildings surrounding an observation deck. It will also feature a “showpiece water feature”.
“We are so excited to start this as soon as we can because it is going to be another transformation … not just for Sharjah but the public of the UAE,” said Mr Metraji. “Trust me: it is going to be wow.”
Green spine
The scope of Aljada does not stop there. Four hotels will be built including a Rove, Address and Vida with construction of the Vida already under way.
The central business district, a network of about 40 buildings, has ambitions to be the new commercial centre of Sharjah. Construction is expected to start next year and is styled as the region’s first “post-pandemic business district”.
A striking feature is its “green spine” of trees along with shaded paths, green terraces and spaces for outdoor meetings.
“In Sharjah there is no [specialised] business district,” said Mr Metraji. “This is where we find it very interesting to develop such a product and introduce it to the market. And we are sure this will contribute to the business success of Arada and Sharjah.”
Arada, a venture between KBW Investments – a company controlled by Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed and Sharjah's Basma Group launched in 2017.
Arada has unveiled three master communities in Sharjah – Aljada, Masaar and Nasma Residences. It also bought land on Dubai’s The Palm Jumeirah for Dh240 million but construction has not begun.
For those wishing to purchase a property in Aljada, units are freehold. This is part of a wider trend in Sharjah that started in 2014 when all nationalities were allowed to buy in the emirate in certain areas on 100-year leasehold.
By 2022, Sharjah allowed freehold to all nationalities. This encouraged a more diverse mix of investors, helped development expand beyond the historic centre and also eased some of the traffic issues in central Sharjah.
Major infrastructure development undertaken by the Sharjah government, such as the Al Badee interchange works that eased a bottleneck on the E611, have also helped in this regard.
Arada said projects in Sharjah were also boosted by rising populations in both Sharjah and neighbouring Dubai. In July it reported a 186 per cent increase in sales during the first half of this year. It sold 1,616 homes worth Dh4.26 billion ($1.16bn) in the first six months. Apartments cost around Dh786,000 to buy, while rent for a two-bed starts at around Dh55,000.
“It has always been the case that whenever the Dubai market does well, it has an effect on Sharjah as well,” said an Arada representative. “We see the effects of that over the past couple of years.”
The entire Aljada site has a total sales value of Dh24 billion (a construction cost was not revealed) and will ultimately have 25,000 residential units of which most are apartments.
As of July, more than 6,000 residential units, the first school, the first phase of Madar, the student housing community of 12 buildings and the first prime retail spaces have been completed.
Arada said residential investors are primarily Emiratis, other Gulf nationals, Indians, and then Europeans, Australians, Britons, Americans and other nationalities.
It is a similar picture when it comes to renting and people commute to other emirates from Aljada.
Cars are still the only way to get to the development but it is expected that public buses will stop at Aljada in the future. The project is set to finish in 2028, when it will have 75,000 residents.
Arada says Aljada is “transformational” for Sharjah as it is the first master development that looks to the future but also tries to incorporate some of its past.
For example, some of the buildings took inspiration from the Al Khan historic neighbourhood where buildings are grouped together in a certain way to channel the wind and keep them cool.
Today, much of the development still lies ahead, But as Mr Metraji, a veteran of the megaproject game who worked on Dubai Mall, drives around the site his passion for helping to deliver what is undoubtedly a new era is clear.
“Aljada is a very interesting project; very complex and challenging,” he said. “There is a story behind every spot of this project. I'm proud.”
Madar at Aljada opens in 2020 – in pictures
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Second ODI
England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)
England win by 86 runs
Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
If%20you%20go
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
Match info
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
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Manchester United 0
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
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