Residents and investors look to Shams Abu Dhabi for community residential living close to  Abu Dhabi’s new Central Business District

• Community living close to Abu Dhabi's central business district

ABU DHABI, UAE, 20 OCTOBER 2015: With over 10,000 residents now living in Shams Abu Dhabi, the development is fast becoming one of Abu Dhabi's most popular residential destinations, attracting professionals looking for community living close to Abu Dhabi's central business district (CBD), as well as a new generation of investors seeking to capitalize on future growth.

Developed by Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi's leading listed property development, investment and management company, and located in the Al Reem Island investment zone, Shams Abu Dhabi includes:  two of Abu Dhabi's most striking residential buildings - the Gate Tower and The Arc; the mixed residential and commercial Sun & Sky Towers; and Shams Meera, two twenty-storey buildings targeted at middle-income earners, which are currently under development. Al Reem Island is located adjacent to Al Maryah Island, which houses Abu Dhabi's new financial district Abu Dhabi Global Market, which will host some of the largest financial institutions in the region when it opens.

Commenting on Shams Abu Dhabi's high occupancy, Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Development Officer at Aldar, said:

"Shams Abu Dhabi offers all-encompassing community living by complementing some of Abu Dhabi's most sought-after properties with retail and hospitality outlets, all strategically located next to Abu Dhabi's new financial district. Developments like Shams Meera are the perfect place for residents looking for a convenient and comfortable home to bridge the gap between work and home. We have seen strong demand for residences in Shams Abu Dhabi across the market, as more and more people choose to live and work in the capital.

"Shams Abu Dhabi is a complete destination with enabled infrastructure including current and planned education facilities that is attracting strong levels of investment from those who recognize the priority and emphasis placed on planning and infrastructure within the development."

In order to ensure that Shams Abu Dhabi is developed to meet the needs of future generations, Aldar is working in close partnership with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) to meet the requirements of their Complete Sustainable Communities (CSCs) directive. This directive ensures that developments meet the needs of future generations as well as those of today's residents, and Abu Dhabi's residents live in vibrant, high-quality communities that reflect the Emirate's values and culture. At the heart of the CSC directive is the Estidama programme of sustainability, of which the main component is the mandatory Estidama Pearl Rating System, which provides criteria to assess the level of sustainability in the design, construction and operation of communities, buildings and villas across Abu Dhabi.

Mohamed Al Khadar, Executive Director of the UPCs' Urban Development & Estidama Sector, added:

"Developing sustainable communities is a top priority for the UPC, as it makes these areas more attractive, high-quality places to live. We are working very closely with Aldar to finalise the Shams Abu Dhabi Detailed Master Plan, as the development is an important component of the overarching Al Reem Island Integrated Concept Master Plan, which was approved earlier this year.

"Through close engagement with all of Abu Dhabi's major developers, we are ensuring that future developments meet our Complete Sustainable Communities directives, which incorporates the mandatory Estidama Pearl Rating System, to support the creation of more comfortable, liveable and sustainable communities," he added.

Shams Abu Dhabi offers a range of leisure and retail outlets, including Shams BOUTIK, which hosts a Waitrose supermarket along with several other food and beverage and convenience outlets. Sky Tower is becoming a popular destination for major local and international businesses, with 92 percent of the building's 75,300 sqm of commercial space now occupied. Tenants include food and beverage company Agthia and Abu Dhabi based investment management bank Al Ramz Capital.