The Sustainable City: sustainable living in Dubai

In short: The Sustainable City on Al Qudra Road is a community designed around sustainability: solar roofs, largely car-free residential streets, community gardens, bridle paths and its own schools. The homes are villas and townhouses. For buyers who care about the environment and community, it is the top address in Dubai.

Location and access

The Sustainable City lies inland on Al Qudra Road, near Arabian Ranches and Town Square. Downtown and the Marina are about 25 to 30 minutes by car. Towards the desert begin the cycle paths and lakes of Al Qudra.

The concept

Developer Diamond Developers built the community in the mid-2010s with the aim of managing energy, water and waste as sustainably as possible. The houses carry solar panels, and the residential streets are largely car-free – cars park on the edge, and inside you get around on foot or by bike. There are also community gardens and greenhouses, an equestrian centre, sports facilities and schools.

Living in The Sustainable City

• Community: A like-minded neighbourhood with shared gardens and events.
• Children: Car-free paths where children can cycle and play safely.
• Nature: Bridle paths, gardens and the desert on the doorstep.
• Schools: Education facilities within the community.
• Mobility: A car is needed for trips into the centre.

Buying a house in The Sustainable City

On offer are villas and townhouses, mostly with three to four bedrooms and mostly ready, second-hand. Because the community is limited in size, houses only come onto the market occasionally.

What matters

• Position: Houses by green spaces and gardens are particularly sought after.
• Condition of the systems: Check the solar panels and building systems.
• Community rules: The community has its own rules on use and alterations.

How buying in The Sustainable City works

In The Sustainable City you mostly buy villas or townhouses – ready and second-hand, or new from the developer:

• Ready house: viewing, sale agreement in line with RERA (Form F) with a deposit of usually 10 percent, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer and transfer at a Registration Trustee. For houses a technical inspection of air conditioning, pool, roof and pipes is worth it. Details in our guide Buying a ready property.
• New build: purchase agreement with the developer, registration in the Oqood register and payments according to construction progress into an escrow account. Details in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.

For ready houses, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs. Many villas are worth more than AED 2 million and therefore qualify for the Golden Visa.

Running costs as an owner in The Sustainable City

With a house, some typical costs come on top of the usual items:

• Service charges: for roads, green spaces, security and community facilities. The approved rates are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via DEWA; noticeably higher for large houses with pool and garden than for apartments, especially in summer.
• Garden, pool and air conditioning: regular care and servicing are a must if the house is to keep its value.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value via the DEWA bill – paid by the tenant if you let.
• Ejari: registration of every tenancy contract, AED 177.75 via Dubai REST.

There is no annual property tax. All buying costs are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in The Sustainable City you may also be able to get a residence visa:

• Golden Visa: ten years of residence if your properties in Dubai are worth at least AED 2 million in total – also with a mortgage or, under certain conditions, off-plan.
• Investor visa: a shorter visa for owners who don’t reach the Golden Visa threshold.

The detailed requirements are explained in our guide Golden Visa with property.

Typical mistakes when buying

• Underestimating the concept: Car-free paths and community rules don’t suit every tenant.
• Not checking the systems: The solar installation, cooling and water treatment should be in good condition.
• Counting on a quick resale: The target group is clearly defined – plan for a longer holding period.

Renting out

Tenants are mainly families who value sustainability, safety for children and community. Long-term letting is the focus. Check the numbers with our rental yield calculator.

Compared

Pros and cons

Who The Sustainable City suits

The Sustainable City is the first choice for the green investor – our investor type profile names it explicitly. The relocator with children will also find a special environment here. A green alternative in the luxury segment is Al Barari.

Our verdict

The Sustainable City shows what sustainable living in the desert can look like. For buyers looking for exactly that, there’s hardly an alternative in Dubai – and that supports demand in the long term.

Frequently asked questions

Updated: October 2026. This article describes the district in general terms. Prices, rents and service charges change all the time; for a specific property we check the current figures with you.