zaha hadid anchors smart city masterplan in sharjah, UAE, with shaded oasis spine

zaha hadid architects unveils plans for khalid bin sultan city

Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled the masterplan for Khalid Bin Sultan City, a new chapter in Sharjah’s urban evolution and the latest in a long-standing collaboration with BEEAH Group. This follows an announcement from 2013 when the studio was first commissioned to design BEEAH’s headquarters, envisioning a fluid, dune-like structure shaped by the UAE’s desert context and engineered for net-zero emissions. That building, completed in 2022, set a new standard for sustainable architecture in the region as it attained LEED Platinum certification, and it remains a benchmark for environmentally intelligent design.

With Khalid Bin Sultan City, Zaha Hadid Architects scales that climate-conscious vision to the level of the city. Stretching across a 1.5-kilometre plot and centered around a shaded, two-kilometre-long green spine, the development marks BEEAH’s first foray into real estate, applying its environmental ethos to a city-making scale. The project proposes a new model for smart city living with ecosystems in place to make it a zero-waste city, net zero-ready infrastructure at LEED standards, AI-powered systems for enhanced urban optimization and living, and many more such features. In terms of the residential experience, across its residential, commercial, and public areas it prioritizes well-being with features such as walkable neighborhoods, green zones, and cultural spaces.

all images courtesy of BEEAH unless stated otherwise

a climate- and wellness-conscious city masterplan in sharjah

Khalid Bin Sultan City is designed as a smart, zero-waste community composed of seven walkable neighborhoods, public plazas, and a cultural business district. The masterplan celebrates the legacy of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, a designer and urban thinker who helped shape Sharjah’s architectural identity. Now, his vision continues in a city where people, nature, and technology coexist by design, characterized by shaded colonnades, recessed facades, and tree-lined pathways that respond directly to Sharjah’s desert climate. A linear oasis at its heart is formed by a continuous central park threaded with running trails, sculpture gardens, and wellness courtyards, envisioned to reduce ground temperatures while encouraging outdoor life year-round.

Each residential cluster is also organized around a central plaza within a five-minute walk, offering residents spaces for daily interaction and well-being. From children’s hubs and sports areas to open-air cafés and clinics, every function is integrated into the local fabric, strengthening the sense of community while preserving urban porosity. Across 1,500 freehold residential units, including villas, townhouses, and apartments, the team at Zaha Hadid Architects fuses sustainability with signature design language, offering buyers of all nationalities modern living rooted in place.

Zaha Hadid Architects unveils the masterplan for Khalid Bin Sultan City

integrated with smart infrastructure

Alongside its residential offer, Khalid Bin Sultan City also includes a design and business district as a cultural engine for Sharjah’s creative economy. Here, incubator spaces, civic venues, and cultural programs will be established to support local entrepreneurship, circular design, and knowledge exchange. Public art spaces and a dedicated cultural center will also add further texture to the urban fabric, creating a civic commons animated by education, heritage, and artistic expression.

As one of the UAE’s first net-zero-ready masterplans, Khalid Bin Sultan City features smart infrastructure powered by renewable energy, recycled water systems, and AI-driven services. Residents will navigate a digitally connected environment — with decentralized digital identities and integrated mobility — while benefiting from the district’s passive cooling strategies and native vegetation.

the project proposes a new model for smart city living