
BEEAH launches multi-billion-dirham sustainable city in group's first real estate venture
20 June 2025 02:30
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Sharjah-based sustainability leader BEEAH Group officially entered the real estate sector with the launch of Khalid bin Sultan City, a multi-billion-dirham freehold development that promises to set new benchmarks for smart, sustainable urban living.Strategically located between Dhaid Road and Khorfakkan Road, this project is inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, a pioneer in the field of design and urban planning, who influenced the architectural identity of Sharjah.The announcement took place on Wednesday at an event held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.The city was designed by the world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects as a master-planned, mixed-use development that integrates residential, commercial, cultural, and recreational spaces. It spans a 1.5-kilometre-long plot, offering 1,500 freehold residential units.Founded in 2007 with a mission to drive sustainable transformation, BEEAH began by tackling landfill waste in Sharjah. Today, it boasts an over 90% landfill diversion rate, one of the highest globally.
"This achievement laid the groundwork for expanding into sectors where innovation is essential for the future: environment, energy, technology, healthcare, and now real estate," Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH, told Aletihad . "We have created an ecosystem that is interconnected and aligned with our goals of making zero-waste to landfill a reality, achieving net-zero targets, disrupting industries to be more sustainable, and fostering people's wellbeing and quality of life in tomorrow's cities. By entering real estate, we can leverage this ecosystem to create resilient and sustainable urban environments, which is unlike any other."
Khalid bin Sultan City will reflect BEEAH's commitment to sustainability and innovation, he said.
The development is set to include smart infrastructure, emission-reducing systems, and green design principles that promote harmony with nature and enhance residents' quality of life."It's a living, breathing model for cities of the future," Al Huraimel said. "This project will represent the full integration of BEEAH's capabilities – from circularity solutions and clean energy to technology, mobility and even healthcare – creating an urban environment that is regenerative, restorative and resilient for people and nature."
Green Infrastructure BEEAH's LEED Platinum-certified headquarters embodies its vision for sustainability and innovation."As an office of the future, our headquarters uses on-site solar and water recycling plants, complemented by AI-powered systems for resource efficiency, significantly cutting emissions and operational costs," Al Huraimel said.It has influenced other BEEAH-led projects, including the Sharjah Creative Quarter and the forthcoming Jawaher Boston Medical District, being developed with world-renowned architects and healthcare leaders."These projects echo our philosophy as we formally enter the real estate sector – to build developments rooted in design excellence, integrated with technology for future-ready infrastructure, committed to sustainability from the ground up, and, ultimately, fostering the well-being of people at every level," Al Huraimel noted.BEEAH's expansion into real estate is tightly aligned with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 initiative and UAE Vision 2031, particularly the aim to make Emirati cities among the world's top 10 for quality of life.Having already pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across UAE operations by 2040, a decade ahead of national targets, BEEAH's new developments are expected to be benchmarks in energy-efficient construction and carbon-conscious urban planning."Our real estate developments will directly support this ambition, incorporating energy-efficient design, circular infrastructure, and low-impact construction materials. Just as importantly, they are designed to create lasting value for communities," said Al Huraimel.Sharjah's real estate sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, with transactions surging to Dh13.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone – a 31.9% increase year-on-year, according to the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department.Al Huraimel noted that what sets BEEAH's real estate strategy apart is the full integration of its broader innovation ecosystem.From advanced recycling facilities in Sharjah to the region's first Waste-to-Energy and Hydrogen-from-Waste plants, BEEAH is applying its cross-sector expertise to urban environments.Its digital ventures, including EVOTEQ, ION, and re.life, provide smart mobility, logistics, and supply chain solutions embedded in these new communities.
In healthcare, BEEAH's vision for the Jawaher Boston Medical District, with green spaces, energy-producing canopies, and net-zero design, exemplifies how the built environment can enhance wellness.
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Al Etihad
6 hours ago
- Al Etihad
BEEAH launches multi-billion-dirham sustainable city in group's first real estate venture
20 June 2025 02:30 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Sharjah-based sustainability leader BEEAH Group officially entered the real estate sector with the launch of Khalid bin Sultan City, a multi-billion-dirham freehold development that promises to set new benchmarks for smart, sustainable urban located between Dhaid Road and Khorfakkan Road, this project is inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, a pioneer in the field of design and urban planning, who influenced the architectural identity of announcement took place on Wednesday at an event held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of city was designed by the world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects as a master-planned, mixed-use development that integrates residential, commercial, cultural, and recreational spaces. It spans a 1.5-kilometre-long plot, offering 1,500 freehold residential in 2007 with a mission to drive sustainable transformation, BEEAH began by tackling landfill waste in Sharjah. Today, it boasts an over 90% landfill diversion rate, one of the highest globally. "This achievement laid the groundwork for expanding into sectors where innovation is essential for the future: environment, energy, technology, healthcare, and now real estate," Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH, told Aletihad . "We have created an ecosystem that is interconnected and aligned with our goals of making zero-waste to landfill a reality, achieving net-zero targets, disrupting industries to be more sustainable, and fostering people's wellbeing and quality of life in tomorrow's cities. By entering real estate, we can leverage this ecosystem to create resilient and sustainable urban environments, which is unlike any other." Khalid bin Sultan City will reflect BEEAH's commitment to sustainability and innovation, he said. The development is set to include smart infrastructure, emission-reducing systems, and green design principles that promote harmony with nature and enhance residents' quality of life."It's a living, breathing model for cities of the future," Al Huraimel said. "This project will represent the full integration of BEEAH's capabilities – from circularity solutions and clean energy to technology, mobility and even healthcare – creating an urban environment that is regenerative, restorative and resilient for people and nature." Green Infrastructure BEEAH's LEED Platinum-certified headquarters embodies its vision for sustainability and innovation."As an office of the future, our headquarters uses on-site solar and water recycling plants, complemented by AI-powered systems for resource efficiency, significantly cutting emissions and operational costs," Al Huraimel has influenced other BEEAH-led projects, including the Sharjah Creative Quarter and the forthcoming Jawaher Boston Medical District, being developed with world-renowned architects and healthcare leaders."These projects echo our philosophy as we formally enter the real estate sector – to build developments rooted in design excellence, integrated with technology for future-ready infrastructure, committed to sustainability from the ground up, and, ultimately, fostering the well-being of people at every level," Al Huraimel expansion into real estate is tightly aligned with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 initiative and UAE Vision 2031, particularly the aim to make Emirati cities among the world's top 10 for quality of already pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across UAE operations by 2040, a decade ahead of national targets, BEEAH's new developments are expected to be benchmarks in energy-efficient construction and carbon-conscious urban planning."Our real estate developments will directly support this ambition, incorporating energy-efficient design, circular infrastructure, and low-impact construction materials. Just as importantly, they are designed to create lasting value for communities," said Al real estate sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, with transactions surging to Dh13.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone – a 31.9% increase year-on-year, according to the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Huraimel noted that what sets BEEAH's real estate strategy apart is the full integration of its broader innovation advanced recycling facilities in Sharjah to the region's first Waste-to-Energy and Hydrogen-from-Waste plants, BEEAH is applying its cross-sector expertise to urban digital ventures, including EVOTEQ, ION, and provide smart mobility, logistics, and supply chain solutions embedded in these new communities. In healthcare, BEEAH's vision for the Jawaher Boston Medical District, with green spaces, energy-producing canopies, and net-zero design, exemplifies how the built environment can enhance wellness.


Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Oklahoma aspires to become hub for mineral refining
Nestled beneath Oklahoma's Wichita Mountains sits a two-story warehouse containing the only machine in the United States capable of refining nickel, a crucial energy transition metal now dominated by China. The facility, owned by startup Westwin Elements, aims to help Oklahoma become the epicentre for US critical minerals processing, a sector the country largely abandoned decades ago. The state will have to overcome several obstacles to get there, including a lack of major critical mineral deposits, a weak education system and its location at the centre of the United States — far from international shipping lanes. Yet Oklahoma's push into minerals processing marks an unexpected twist in the country's efforts to wean itself off Chinese rivals who have blocked exports. President Donald Trump has said he wants to boost US production of minerals used across the economy. In Oklahoma, the country's only nickel refinery, its largest lithium refinery, two lithium-ion battery recycling plants, a rare earths magnet facility, and several electronic waste collection facilities are under construction or in operation — more than in any other state. They join a Umicore site that produces germanium crystals for solar panels. An aluminum smelter — the country's first since 1980 — is set to break ground next year at a site bordering an Arkansas River tributary. "I've strategically made a conscious effort to go after some of these new industries that I think are going to be critical," Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, told Reuters. "There's money flying into critical minerals from the investment side, so it might as well be located in Oklahoma." Investors and corporate executives say the state's location, lack of mineral deposits, and other detracting factors are outweighed by a string of positives: Oklahoma has railways and highways bisecting the state en route to the three US coasts, a workforce with deep energy experience, state rebates and other financial incentives, a large inland port with access to the Mississippi River watershed, and accommodating regulators. Officials boast on social media that Oklahoma is a "one phone call state," a description meant to evoke what they see as a streamlined regulatory process. Australia-based MLB Industrial, a startup that supplies lithium-ion batteries to the locomotive industry, expanded its business to Oklahoma earlier this year for that very reason. "Other states were looking for a large, established company to invest, rather than a company with a growth profile," said Nathan Leech, MLB's CEO, who moved his family to Oklahoma. "We intend to grow in Oklahoma." A nickel refinery, in particular, has been sought by Washington for years but Chinese market dumping had scared away would-be entrants, said a source familiar with the Trump administration's minerals policy. KaLeigh Long founded Westwin and named it after her desire for the US to shake off Chinese minerals dependence — as she puts it, "The West will win." The firm has built a demonstration facility 85 miles (137 km) south of the state capital that it says can refine 200 metric tons of nickel annually and will expand to produce 34,000 metric tons per year by 2030. If successful, the Westwin facility would refine 10% of America's annual nickel needs, demand projections from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence show, drawing on rock taken from Turkish and Indonesian mines, as well as recycled US batteries. Even as Oklahoma promises state tax rebates and other incentives, Westwin is lobbying Washington not to eliminate a federal production tax credit heavily opposed by Republicans along with other green energy subsidies enacted by former President Joe Biden, as Reuters reported earlier this month. Westwin is in negotiations with the Pentagon for a nickel supply deal that would keep metal inside the United States to make batteries for military drones and other equipment, according to a source familiar with the deliberations. Roughly 220 miles (354 km) northeast, a lithium refinery under construction from Stardust Power aims to produce 50,000 metric tons of the battery metal per year, about a fifth of what the US is expected to need by 2030. Japan's Sumitomo signed a preliminary agreement in February to buy up to half of the facility's output. Stardust aims for the plant to filter lithium from brines — something that has yet to happen at commercial scale — and will have roughly the same capacity as Tesla's refinery under construction in Texas. It will be powered in part by renewable energy; nearly half of the state's electricity is generated by wind turbines. "That was a huge draw," said Roshan Pujari, Stardust's CEO. The company is pushing forward even after rival Albemarle paused plans to build a large US refinery, citing weak lithium prices. "During these down cycles is the best time to be developing, because why do we want prices to be high when we have nothing to sell?" Pujari said. USA Rare Earth, which went public earlier this year, chose Oklahoma over Texas for its rare earths magnet facility given what it felt was the personalized support from Stitt and other officials, said CEO Josh Ballard. Magnets made from rare earths turn electricity into motion for EVs; the US stopped making them in the 1990s. Ballard says the facility is slated to open early next year and initially produce 1,200 metric tons annually, enough magnets to build more than 400,000 EVs. That supply is already highly sought after in the United States since China placed export restrictions on rare earths in April. Ballard said he has been fielding "a lot of phone calls" since April from prospective customers. The company on Tuesday signed a preliminary supply agreement with Moog for magnets used in AI data centers. "We can do this quickly. It's just a matter of how do we do it, and can the government help be a catalyst?" said Ballard. The company could get a boost from legislation introduced earlier this month by three U.S. senators - including Oklahoma's Markwayne Mullin - that would provide a tax credit for roughly 30% of the cost to manufacture a magnet made from rare earths. Elsewhere, two Oklahoma battery processing facilities - from Green Li-ion and Blue Whale Materials - will break down lithium-ion batteries into copper and other building blocks for new batteries. Natural Evolution, in Tulsa, is spearheading a push to expand electronic waste recycling. Green Li-ion, which has a recycling facility in Atoka - Country music star Reba McEntire's hometown - has held talks with Glencore as well as Westwin about buying a recycled version of battery scrap known as MHP, or mixed hydroxide precipitate, that can be used to make nickel products, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. Glencore declined to comment. Most of the country's recycled batteries are exported now to China in the form of black mass, essentially shredded battery parts. Green Li-ion, which is headquartered in Singapore, moved its US operations to Oklahoma given the state's history with oil and gas extraction, skills it sees as complementary to black mass processing. "This state has a lot of chemical engineers," said Kevin Hobbie, the company's senior vice president of operations. Oklahoma's foray into the energy transition hasn't been all smooth sailing. Tesla supplier Panasonic in 2022 chose Kansas over Oklahoma for a battery plant after the Sunflower State wooed it with $1 billion in incentives. In January, EV startup Canoo filed for bankruptcy despite a $1 million state grant and Stitt's commitment for his administration to buy 1,000 of the company's vehicles. Canoo, which had several production facilities in Oklahoma, blamed uncertain demand for its cargo vans. State officials say they are trying to recoup the funds. Stitt said he is not bothered by the bankruptcy. "We're going to keep swinging for the fences," he said. Ernest Scheyder, Reuters


Arabian Business
13 hours ago
- Arabian Business
UAE real estate: BEEAH announces new Khalid Bin Sultan City project in Sharjah
BEEAH has announced the launch of Khalid Bin Sultan City, its first real estate development in Sharjah. The project marks the organisation's expansion into the real estate sector, building on its expertise across the environment, energy, technology, real estate, and healthcare sectors. The project was unveiled under the patronage of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. BEEAH reveals Sharjah's new freehold project Named after the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the development is described by BEEAH as a continuation of his legacy in design and urban planning. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the master-planned, mixed-use project will span a 1.5-kilometre-long plot, including BEEAH's LEED Platinum-certified headquarters in Sharjah, and will offer 1,500 freehold residential units. The city includes residential, commercial, cultural, and recreational zones. It will be divided into seven neighbourhoods, each centred around a plaza designed to be accessible within a five-minute walking distance. The project includes children's hubs, wellness clinics, sports facilities, and outdoor cafés. The development also includes a two-kilometre shaded linear park. The central park features cycling and running tracks, sculpture gardens, wellness areas, and shaded courtyards. The layout incorporates native trees, colonnades, and recessed façades to reduce ground temperatures and improve pedestrian comfort. According to BEEAH, the project was designed following the directive of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Family Affairs and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of BEEAH. The city is built on four pillars – sustainability, technology, culture, and people. It will feature net-zero ready infrastructure, renewable energy systems, recycled water facilities, and sustainable mobility. It will also include AI-driven digital infrastructure and decentralised digital identities. Public art, a cultural centre, and architecture reflecting the local identity are also part of the plan. 'BEEAH's journey in real estate marks a transformative milestone with Khalid Bin Sultan City, a flagship real estate project that brings our principles of sustainability, technology, culture, and community to an urban scale. The city builds directly upon lessons learned from creating one of the world's most advanced office buildings – demonstrating how technology can scale sustainable impact across entire communities rather than just individual structures,' Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH said. The city will also include a design and business district with incubator spaces for the creative economy and venues to support entrepreneurship and circular design. This district will be connected to residential, retail, and entertainment zones. 'Our experience as a world-class visionary developer of landmark projects has led to today's announcement of Khalid Bin Sultan City, and the formalisation of BEEAH's wider expansion into real estate. This is a natural progression of our determination to build tomorrow's smart and sustainable cities. Inspired by our earlier achievements, we are now applying these same principles on an urban scale – demonstrating how technology can scale sustainable impact across entire communities rather than just individual structures. This city is a testament to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, whose unwavering commitment to sustainable development has guided BEEAH's journey,' he added. BEEAH's move into real estate follows earlier infrastructure and development projects. These include the organisation's Sharjah headquarters, the Jawaher Boston Medical District – designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop – and the Sharjah Creative Quarter, designed by Taller de Arquitectura – Mauricio Rocha in collaboration with Daniel Rosselló. 'We have designed Khalid Bin Sultan City as a dynamic ecosystem where diverse perspectives and talents converge, sparking new ideas and solutions for a sustainable future. We believe that building a better future starts with how we live today. This is why the city's design goes beyond utility – celebrating heritage, art, and identity through vibrant public spaces and cultural landmarks. The master plan and signature architecture by Zaha Hadid Architects bring this vision to life, blending innovation and beauty to create an environment that inspires, invites, and endures. It is a city where people can thrive, connect, and experience the best of sustainable living – all within a walkable, vibrant, and culturally rich environment,' Nada Taryam, CEO of Real Estate at BEEAH added. Khalid Bin Sultan City will offer villas, townhouses, and apartments in phases. As a freehold development, it is open to buyers of all nationalities. More details about unit types and services will be shared in future announcements. The announcement comes as Sharjah's real estate sector continues to grow. Transactions reached AED 13.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 31.9 per cent year-on-year, according to the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department. The sector's growth is attributed to investor confidence, infrastructure development, and government support.