Aldar Properties has reinforced its commitment to ensure that all its projects meet the minimum requirements of Estidama, as mandated by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Development Officer, Aldar Properties, spoke on the company’s alignment with Estidama during a press conference on September 4 to announce the launch of ‘Water’s Edge’, in Yas Island.

Elaborating, Al Dhiyebi said the company goes beyond what is required in a large number of its projects, as it is conscious of their impact on the environment and looks towards implementing the necessary measures to conserve energy.

When asked what approach Aldar is taking with regard to its MEP infrastructure, Al Dhiyebi said the company does not employ MEP consultants or contractors directly. “The MEP consultants are part of the overall design package,” he said, “and the MEP contractors are part of the main contractor’s overall construction programme. However, we do look at MEP as a key area, with particular focus on energy savings. Estidama is a big part of everything that we do. We try our best to make sure that these systems are relevant and that they are not over-spec-ed or overdesigned.” This approach is not only with regard to the systems itself, he said, but also in terms of the overall design of the building, touching on factors such as orientation and the amount of glazing being done. These aspects, he emphasised, will determine the amount of air conditioning and power that will be consumed.

Speaking then, on the overall outlook for the real estate sector, Al Dhiyebi said he believes prospects in Abu Dhabi remain stable in light of expansions across various sectors, such as renewable and nuclear energies, as well as the industrial expansion in KIZAD. This, he said, will lead to the creation of more jobs and greater demand for real estate.

Al Dhiyebi stressed that the mid-market segment remains underserviced. ‘Water’s Edge’, a AED 2.4 billion, 2,255-home master-planned development, will serve as Aldar’s third development in the mid-market segment and collectively, he said, the company now has AED 4.2 billion and 3,000 units in the sector. This, he said, signals the company’s proactive efforts to focus on this segment, in addition to other divisions within its portfolio.

Al Dhiyebi said that early works for the development would commence in December while construction would begin in March 2018, with the aim of completing the first phase by 2020. “I expect us to get good demand for this project for a number of reasons,” Al Dhiyebi said. “First, it’s the most exciting destination in the region with the investment and facilities on the island today.”