Sharjah Holding has announced that its Al Zahia residential community in Sharjah, UAE, has been awarded the internationally accredited BREEAM Communities Interim Assessment certificate, the world's leading assessment method for master planning,  infrastructure and buildings.
 

Sharjah Holding is a strategic partnership between the Government of Sharjah and Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

Hawazen Esber, CEO of communities at Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: "At Majid Al Futtaim, sustainability is at the core of our DNA in everything we do and we are proud to be the first in the Middle East to have achieved BREEAM Communities certification for Al Zahia. This award is a testament to the due diligence and hard work that has been put in throughout the community and in relation to the ongoing development, due for completion in 2022."

Al Zahia is a landmark development in Sharjah, combining international standards of living with the emirate's deep-rooted family, community and cultural values. Some of Al Zahia's initiatives include the reduction of noise pollution and energy consumption, water conservation, ecology and transport assessment, in addition to a socio-economic study that aims to set clear goals for the community to ensure consistency in the sustainability approach.

The BREEAM assessment process evaluates the procurement, design, construction and operation of a development against targets that are based on performance benchmarks. Assessments are carried out by independent, licensed assessors, and developments rated and certified on a scale of Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding.

Walid Al Hashimi, chief executive officer,  Sharjah Holding, said: "This internationally recognised certification provides genuine credibility to Al Zahia's claims to have adhered to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to integrate environmentally sustainable practices into new property developments."  -TradeArabia News Service