Arada has announced the launch of Arada Central Business District (CBD), a new commercial centre for Sharjah, which will be located at the heart of the Emirate’s most desirable and fastest-growing mixed-use community, Aljada. Spread over 4.3 million square feet of prime leasable space located in 40 smart office blocks, Arada CBD has the capacity to accommodate 20,000 workers, fulfilling the substantial demand for a contemporary business district in Sharjah and catering to the needs of the future workplace for companies across the UAE and beyond.
HH Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada, said: “Arada CBD is aligned with Sharjah’s vision to position itself as a leading business hub, attracting companies of all sizes and talents from across the UAE and beyond. The launch of Arada CBD fulfils our promise to provide a transformational urban experience where residents can work, live and play.”
HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Vice Chairman of Arada, said: “Arada CBD takes the best features from the most prominent business parks from around the world and combines them in a perfectly designed location that is specifically geared to support the workforce of tomorrow.”
The region’s first business park to be conceptualised after the pandemic, Arada CBD is defined by contemporary urban architecture that has been designed to inspire staff and enhance their productivity. Flexible and wide, open floor plans enhance collaboration and benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows allowing more natural light, while each office also benefits from smart technology that is part of Aljada’s overall smart city programme, which will use next-generation solutions that are linked to everything from waste and traffic management to the circular economy and smart lighting solutions.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “We are confident Arada CBD will unlock growth opportunities for companies in Sharjah and will encourage corporates and SMEs to expand and relocate to the Emirate, consequently redefining the business scene in the Emirate and enhancing its position on the regional investment map. We have just begun the process of offering guided tours to all corporates interested in leasing space in Arada CBD and expect to see healthy demand for this exceptional new addition to Arada’s growing portfolio.”
The signature feature of Arada CBD is the ‘green spine’, a forest park that runs the length of the district, containing shaded walkways, an amphitheatre, art installations, seating areas and spaces set aside for activities as well as quiet reflection. All external green spaces and indoor trees and plants are fed using recycled water from Aljada’s onsite treatment plant.
Workers at Arada CBD can also use the free electric public transportation system at Aljada, the e-scooter and bicycle rental system, and can even charge their vehicles while they work. Most buildings within Arada CBD have green rooftop terraces for events, outdoor meetings and networking, many of which also contain juice bars and yoga zones.
Arada CBD also contains a mix of café, dining and retail spaces, all carefully curated to serve local employees, and the district is also served by extensive parking. The Rove Aljada hotel, located within Arada CBD, offers convenient hospitality for business trips from other parts of the UAE or overseas, as well as dining options for the local workforce.
Workers at Arada CBD will enjoy easy access to rest of the world-class facilities on offer at Aljada, including high-quality housing, the Madar entertainment district, the Naseej cultural neighbourhood, schools, hotels, retail, sports facilities and landscaped green parks.
Arada CBD is ideally located within the Aljada master plan, which has excellent connectivity with Sharjah city centre, Dubai and the Northern Emirates via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The district is also within 20 minutes’ drive from two international transport hubs, Sharjah International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
The launch of Arada CBD complements the ongoing growth of the Sharjah economy, which is projected to grow at 5% annually for the medium term, according to Oxford Economics. One of the most vibrant and diverse economies in the region, with 96% of GDP derived from non-oil sectors, the Emirate also attracted AED808 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2021.
Sharjah was recently named by New World Wealth as the world’s second-fastest growing city for millionaires in the first half of 2022, reflecting several successive years of record government spending, a robust response to the pandemic by local authorities, and steady growth in new businesses registered. The Emirate is already recognised as a cultural and educational capital for the region, with around AED5.5 billion invested annually in education and R&D, while local authorities have identified several high-potential growth sectors of the future, including mobility, logistics and advanced manufacturing.
According to JLL, office space demand growth in Sharjah is projected to grow by 5% over the medium term due to improved confidence in the business sector as well lucrative business incentives from the government.
Scheduled to break ground in the first quarter of 2023, the first cluster of Arada CBD features a total of 812,000 square feet of Grade A and Grade B leasable space, spread across eight impeccably designed buildings. The cluster also includes 1,666 parking spaces, 76,000 square feet of landscaped green space and 26,500 square feet of retail space.
Arada is moving its headquarters to the first building of Arada CBD, introducing a dynamic new workplace for its growing workforce spread over seven levels. The Arada headquarters building reflects the master developer’s vision for the workplace of tomorrow, with a striking design aesthetic and impressive list of amenities, including an in-house gym, cafeteria and nursery.
By the time the first cluster of Arada CBD is ready in the first half of 2025, there will already be a population of 20,000 living within the Aljada community.
Spread over a 24 million square foot area, Aljada is Sharjah’s largest ever project and a transformational destination for the Emirate. Aljada contains numerous residential districts, as well as extensive retail, hospitality, entertainment, sporting, educational, healthcare components and Arada CBD, all set within a green urban master plan. So far, Arada has completed almost 1,500 homes at Aljada, with another 6,000 currently under construction.