Al Qudra Real Estate's concept project, Al Nasseem, praised for its sustainability and selected to test Estidama guidelines

Estidama, which means sustainability in Arabic, is an initiative developed by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC). Al Nasseem will be a live project to asses Estidama's draft guidelines that have a point-based rating system that examines a wide range of criteria - water, energy use, indoor environmental quality, ecology, management, transport, pollution, materials, waste management and land use.

Selecting the Al Nasseem concept as a pilot project is testament to AQRE's long term drive for sustainable development, bringing technology and innovation to all of its projects, as well as setting a benchmark for future developments in the UAE. AQRE will be working closely with Estidama to assess the critical factors, usability of the documents and market realities of the guidelines.

AQRE's Al Nasseem concept project, which will be showcased as one of the pilot projects selected in 2008, by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2009, is located in Surooj Park in Al Ain, covering an area of 120,000 m2. It is a mixed use project, turning the park into a unique residential and wedding destination including a hotel, sports, and leisure and health complex.

"At AQRE, much of our efforts are placed on building innovative, value-driven communities that ensure high quality living. We believe that sustainability is critical to long term success, and we are proud to be recognised as a key player in this arena", said Mahmood Ebraheem Al Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer of Al Qudra Holding.

All of AQRE's current projects (Ain Al Fayda, Shades, Danet Abu Dhabi, and Desert Towers), are progressing as scheduled. Ain Al Fayda is in the process of submitting its application for evaluation for the 2009 Estidama pilot project. The Ain Al Fayda project, which is also in Al Ain, is a strategic collaboration between AQRE and the UPC with sustainability as its key design principle. Sustainability continues to be an important design criteria in all of AQRE's developments.

In his turn, Saood Al Junaibi, Director of Development Review and Urban Design, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and a senior spokesperson for Estidama, said:

"such a project makes a meaningful contribution towards global sustainable developments in our Emirate and clearly positions Estidama as the driving force that is becoming a marketing added value for developments."

Both Al Nasseem and Ain Al Fayda are marquee projects as they are located in the cultural birthplace of the UAE - Al Ain.