A Verdant Community in Sharjah-Masaar

Imagine a lush, verdant forest in the middle of a desert terrain. For most people this seems highly unlikely, but Arada developers have made this a reality in Tilal City in the Sharjah suburb of Al Juwaiza’a. The residential area, called Masaar, is a 180-hectare forest-themed property designed for 65,000 residents offering a mix of residential, retail and commercial spaces. Designed as what the developers call a “woodland paradise,” featuring tens of thousands of trees and structured into eight gated sub-communities comprising approximately 3,000 low-rise homes. Properties include luxurious villas and townhouses with smart home technology, extensive green spaces and amenities such as cafés, swimmable lagoons and cycling tracks – making it a true oasis for verdant living in the desert. 

Designed by Dewan Architects + Engineers, the residences are interconnected by what the architects call a “green spine” – a continuous forested corridor running through the community, planted with 70,000 trees. This massive afforestation makes Masaar among the greenest residential projects in the United Arab Emirates offering a lush, natural backdrop for everyday life and reinforcing the development’s commitment to wellness and sustainability.

The first three phases of Masaar – Sendian, Kaya, and Robinia, are now complete and were designed by Dewan Architects + Engineers, who also acted as a supervision consultant, focusing on wellness and integration with nature. Sendian, part of phase 1, included 431 homes, and introduced smart home technology in every unit, alongside immediate access to green parks. Kaya, Phase 2, included 421 homes and was planned according to the principles of Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture and design, aligning homes with natural elements to offer greater wellness, balance and positivity in residents’ lives. Robinia, Phase 3, included 565 homes and continues this approach, blending architecture effortlessly with the surrounding landscape to optimise healthy living. 

Each phase offered additional green parks, walking trails and sports facilities, encouraging residents to get out in nature through physical activities such as forest walks, jogging, cycling and even outdoor meditation amid a verdant environment while staying close to home.

Subsequent phases, include Azalea, Sequoia, Saro, and the ultra-luxury Sarai mansions, will further expand the community while maintaining the same ethos of smart, nature-centric design. Each new phase introduces additional parks, community facilities, and housing options to further create a vibrant, self-contained township that contributes to the sustainable growth of the emirate of Sharjah. Masaar Central, the retail and lifestyle hub at the heart of the development, is currently under construction and scheduled for completion later in 2026, alongside the final three residential phases.

The unique design of Masaar, with its alluring verdant environment, aims to foster a strong sense of community while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Education is also of importance for the area. The project will be home to Reigate Grammar School Masaar, a branch of one of the UK’s top private schools, due to open in 2027.