Business & Finance Club Magazine - Real Estate Sector - Abu Dhabi: Sorouh Real Estate PJSC, the Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer, is making "excellent" progress on the construction of Watani, the master-planned community for UAE nationals, the company said Saturday.

Sorouh awarded the construction contract for the Watani project to Abu Dhabi-based PAL Technologies, which is now on site.

PAL is currently involved in a number of major Abu Dhabi projects.

Sorouh was awarded the contract by Abu Dhabi's Urban Planning Council (UPC) in April this year to formulate a master plan and develop a luxury housing community near the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Watani, Arabic for ‘My Nation', addresses the need for quality housing for Emirati families as outlined in the UPC's Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.

Once complete, the development will provide a broad range of accommodation within distinct family-oriented neighbourhoods.

Sorouh has already completed much of the enabling work on-site and has started construction on the foundations of the development. It is also on track with infrastructure work.

The Watani contract is an important step for Sorouh, which has plans to develop Shamkha, a second community for Emiratis, close to the new capital city.

Strong partnership

Both projects demonstrate Sorouh's strong partnership with the Abu Dhabi Government, and highlight Sorouh's alignment of its strategy with Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, the emirate's blueprint for economic advancement.

One of the goals in the plan is to provide superior homes, in communities similar to Watani, to meet the current estimated demand for 60,000 quality homes for Emirati families.

Watani has been designed using a fareej structure — a traditional architectural design concept where homes are built in clusters to form a neighbourhood or village.

The fareej style takes into account factors such as the climate and social and historical influences. It combines Emirati heritage and close community ties with modern lifestyle elements to deliver a contemporary way-of-life.

At Watani, each fareej — comprising 20-30 villa units — will incorporate neighbourhood parks, local parks and sikkas (walkways). It will also feature a one-way access loops to reduce road traffic.

In addition, Sorouh's provision of a master-planned design will offer all the benefits and amenities residents will need — from clinics and schooling to mosques, retail facilities and entertainment.

Fahd Al Katbi, Sorouh's chief commercial officer, said Sorouh aimed to address the housing shortfall for locals through the timely delivery of superior residential communities, similar to Watani, that serve to preserve the country's national identity while offering all the benefits and convenience accompanying a modern lifestyle.