Desert sanctuary compared: Khalid Bin Sultan City outperforms The Line?

In the heart of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, a new city project is taking shape. Khalid Bin Sultan City, named after the late architect and urban planner Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, is being developed by the BEEAH Group and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. This planned city aims to improve upon the challenges faced by Saudi Arabia's The Line by focusing on a holistic, people-first approach to sustainability and social responsibility in desert urban planning.

The city's central element is a two-kilometer-long oasis, a connected park that links all the districts together. The city's design is oriented towards natural forms, with curved lines and flowing structures, creating a visually appealing and comfortable environment for its residents. The city's mobility concept avoids a traffic-dominated infrastructure, with a focus on foot and bike movement, making it a pedestrian-friendly city.

Khalid Bin Sultan City will have sustainable mobility infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle paths, and electric public transportation. Car traffic is consciously excluded in many areas of the city, and the city's structure will be pedestrian-friendly with shady paths and car-free zones.

The city's master plan includes public spaces for art, education, and creativity, with a cultural center at the center. Around 1,500 housing units, including villas, townhouses, and apartments, will be built on the 1.5-kilometer site in Rodhat Al Sidir. The city's energy supply will be through solar energy and waste-to-energy systems, aiming for net-zero infrastructure according to LEED standards.

Khalid Bin Sultan City will have a zero-waste concept with a smart waste collection system. The city's design aims to make the desert habitable through recessed building facades, greened arcades, and native plants. The city's architecture is designed to consider not only the desert climate but also the cultural characteristics of the region.

In addition to its environmental focus, Khalid Bin Sultan City also prioritizes community well-being. It will have facilities for children, the elderly, or people with support needs in the middle of every neighborhood, which is intended to consciously strengthen the sense of community. The city's public transport structure includes electric buses, bike lanes, and charging points for electric vehicles.

However, concerns have been raised about the working conditions of the migrant workers who are likely to construct the city. Despite claims of social and ecological sustainability, Khalid Bin Sultan City may face criticism for its construction practices, with NGOs like Equidem or Business & Human Rights Resource Centre speaking of systemic exploitation in the construction industry in the Gulf region.

Despite these challenges, Khalid Bin Sultan City represents a more integrated, transparent, and adaptable model of desert urban planning. It blends advanced technology with social responsibility and sustainability lessons learned from earlier projects like The Line, aiming for a balanced model that integrates environmental stewardship with community and cultural needs from the start.

References: [1] BEEAH Group. (n.d.). Khalid Bin Sultan City. Retrieved from https://www.beeah.com/en/projects/khalid-bin-sultan-city [3] Zaha Hadid Architects. (n.d.). Khalid Bin Sultan City. Retrieved from https://www.zaha-hadid.com/projects/khalid-bin-sultan-city [5] Sharjah Media City. (2021, March 15). Khalid Bin Sultan City: A Sustainable Urban Oasis in Sharjah. Retrieved from https://www.sharjahmediacity.ae/en/news/khalid-bin-sultan-city-a-sustainable-urban-oasis-in-sharjah/

The economic and social policy of Khalid Bin Sultan City emphasizes a holistic, people-first approach to sustainability and social responsibility, as it aims to learn from earlier projects like The Line.
The city's central element is a two-kilometer-long oasis, a connected park that links all the districts together, following a design oriented towards natural forms and environmental-science principles.
Khalid Bin Sultan City's mobility concept avoids a traffic-dominated infrastructure, focusing on foot and bike movement, electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle paths, and electric public transportation, making it a pedestrian-friendly city.
In addition to its environmental focus, the city prioritizes community well-being, offering facilities for children, the elderly, and people with support needs in every neighborhood, to strengthen the sense of community.
The city's architecture is not just focused on the desert climate but also the cultural characteristics of the region, integrating fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden elements in its design.
The city's energy supply will be through solar energy and waste-to-energy systems, aiming for net-zero infrastructure according to LEED standards, while also adopting a zero-waste concept with a smart waste collection system.
The city's design aims to make the desert habitable through recessed building facades, greened arcades, and native plants, demonstrating the application of scientific knowledge in climate-change intervention strategies.
However, concerns have been raised about the working conditions of migrant workers who will likely construct the city, with NGOs like Equidem or Business & Human Rights Resource Centre speaking of systemic exploitation in the construction industry in the Gulf region, threatening the city's reputation for social responsibility.