A Dh1.9 billion residential complex that will be home to 7,000 Emiratis opened in Fujairah on Tuesday.
Nestled between the Hajar Mountains, in the east-coast emirate, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed City contains 1,100 villas that will be distributed to citizens.
Construction on the 2.2 sq km housing complex, in Al Hail, three kilometres south of Fujairah airport, took four years.
It was built, following orders from President Sheikh Khalifa, to provide Emiratis with homes and improve the quality of life for citizens in Fujairah.
“Our citizens represents the true wealth of the country and the axis of its policies and future, and we will continue, God willing, to implement projects that guarantee the Emirati families the quality of life and decent living,” Sheikh Khalifa said on Tuesday.
“Mohamed bin Zayed City in Fujairah is a new witness to the ability of achievement, construction and excellence in planning and implementation.”
He said the government would continue to build “vital projects” throughout the country to improve infrastructure and provide Emiratis with “elements for a decent life”.
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, said the new city was an example of government efforts to provide high-quality homes for its citizens.
“We are proud that this housing project, with all its innovative ideas and originality in design, bears the name of my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who is a man of initiatives that enhance cohesion between the people and their leadership,” he said.
The city includes 20 public parks, with more planned. Schools, mosques, shops, a cultural centre and majlis are also expected to open “in time”.
The homes, which include three to five-bedroom villas, are fitted with fire alarm systems.
The city has three dedicated main power stations and 19 subsidiary power stations and pumping station for firefighting, in addition to a sewage system station.
The city was designed with modern specifications, which combine the local and Andalusian heritage and take into account the privacy of its residents, reported state news agency Wam.
It has advanced infrastructure networks, including 40km of roads, a 139km power network and a rainwater drainage network of 13km, Wam reported.
Each villa in the city has been assigned a Makani number – a 10-digit unique code that improves location finding for emergency vehicles, deliveries or individuals – by Fujairah Municipality. Installation of the smart addressing system is part of wider efforts to transform Fujairah into a smart emirate.
A joint committee that includes representatives from the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court and the President’s Initiatives Committee will assign the villas to Emiratis.
Last month, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, launched the National Policy for Residential Communities, which aims to improve living standards and build stronger communities for Emiratis after approving a wide-ranging nationwide housing initiative.
The policy aims to provide a structure for a new model of living, in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and national agendas that will lead to the UAE centennial in 2071.
