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Alef Group launches Dh3b pedestrian community

Alef Group on Tuesday launched its Dh3 billion Al Mamsha development - a landmark mixed use project that will further enliven Sharjah's residential, retail, tourism and leisure sectors.
Al Mamsha is Sharjah's first fully walkable community, with ample sidewalks and walkways complemented by plenty of greenery and open spaces. The project is divided into three zones that will offer a dynamic lifestyle that integrates modern living, retail and leisure into a vibrant urban environment. Prices for a studio apartment will start from Dh287,000.
Spread out over a total area of approximately three million square feet, the project will have a built-up area of 9.3 million square feet, in addition to ground retail areas totalling to around 500,000 square feet. Al Mamsha's Zone 1 will comprise a total of 33 mixed-use buildings that combine retail and residential spaces connected with sidewalks and walkways. The project has carefully been planned to ensure the privacy of its residents, with special attention given to crafting the right project density to optimise street-level experience, residential views, and seemless integration with the surroundings.
"At Alef Group, we are committed to bringing to Sharjah designed lifestyle experiences inspired by global trends and local needs," said Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Alef group chairman. "Al Mamsha offers a unique modern lifestyle that caters to all segments of society in terms of accommodation, leisure, and retail, providing idyllic living standards and optimal investment opportunities."
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the launch, Issa Ataya, MD of Alef Group, said: "Currently, we are looking at four and a half years of construction, with the first batch of seven buildings in Zone 1 being ready for handover in the last quarter of 2019. After that, we are looking at a schedule that allows us to be ready with a batch of five buildings every three to four months. We have two more zones planned, and we expect those two zones combined to add another 33 buildings to the development. Unlike the first zone, the other two zones will have a different use."
Asked if the location of the project, right next to the Al Zahia community, had any impact on the prices for the units, Ataya noted that the company did factor in the competition in their strategy. "Because of our proximity to the Al Zahia City Centre, we are designing a different type of retail experience that will complement the Al Zahia offerings. We will be focusing more on the lifestyle side of retail offerings, as well as leisure and F&B experiences. We have envisioned Al Mamsha as a tourism destination that will attract a growing number of visitors each year. We also have plans for the development of hotels to cater to visitors, both international and from the region."
"The property market in Sharjah is getting better, and we are very positive about the direction in which it is headed. In general, our prices are maintained slightly below the competition level. However, just because our prices are lower than our direct competition, does not mean that we are compromising on the quality of our product," he added.
Speaking on the importance of connectivity around the new development, Ataya said: "As a developer, we designed accessibility very carefully after having done several traffic studies on the surrounding areas. We also looked at traffic projections that were gathered by experts to better coordinate with the Sharjah RTA, so that we would end up with flawless accessibility in and out of the project."
Alef Group has also set up a dedicated sales centre for the new development at the Hilton Hotel in Sharjah. Jamal Al Shawish, director of leasing and sales at Alef Group, revealed that the sales centre would be offering convenient payment plans alongside mortgage facilities with easy financing options for both end users and investors.
"Sales will be open for everyone, and at competitive prices that will cater to all generations," Al Shawish said. "Mobilisation has already commenced onsite so we are well underway."
Detailing the offerings for interested parties, he revealed that units ranged from studios, 1 bed, 2 beds and 3 beds, in addition to an exclusive selection of duplexes and penthouses featuring wide terraces and private gardens. The integrated car-free development offers a range of services and amenities which are new to Sharjah, that include dedicated basement parking facilities for residential and retail. Cars will only be parked on the basement levels, with visitors and residents using vertical transportation means such as elevators and escalators to get access to retail or residential floors.
In addition, residents at Al Mamsha will enjoy free access to a wide range of amenities and community facilities including dedicated cluster swimming pools, health club & gym, walkways, nursery, family entertainment centre, a dedicated kids' zone, retail spine and much more.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com