DUBAI // An eco-friendly city in the shape of a flower is to be built in the desert in Dubai.
Desert Rose City has been given the go-ahead and will feature schools, shopping malls, clinics and hospitals, villas and designated housing for Emiratis running on renewable energy.
Hussein Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, said that the project embodied the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and was in line with the UAE policy of following a sustainable approach to urbanisation.
He said that Dubai would make a huge contribution to the development of a low-carbon economy in the region through the city.
In addition, the city will have a police station, mosques and other services, with a focus on green spaces, reduced traffic jams and auto-recycling of waste.
It will be built using state-of-the-art technologies and techniques for the preservation of the environment and natural resources.
Dawood Al Hajiri, executive director of the municipality’s planning department, said that the Smart City would be completely sustainable and provide about 200 megawatts of electricity using photovoltaic roofs on homes and other premises.
He said that 75 per cent of the city would be dedicated to housing.
The first phase is expected to welcome 160,000 inhabitants to an area of more than 14,000 hectares.
It will rely on its own resources to provide transport and communications, to save energy and recycle waste water, providing more than 40,000 cubic metres of usable water.
Renewable energy and solar energy will be used for lighting, while the materials used in the construction will contribute to maximum security and safety, while remaining low cost.
Solar panels, covering a surface area of 65,000 hectares, will generate clean electricity and renewable energy.
No cost, timescale or location for Desert Rose City were given.
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