The Sustainable City Area Guide (Updated for 2026): Villas, Farm and Equestrian Club
The Sustainable City is a car-free villa community on Al Qudra Road in Dubailand, Dubai, with a riding school, a farm and an IB school inside. A three-bedroom villa rents for about AED 254,000 a year ($69,200 or £51,700) and sells for about AED 4.55 million ($1.24 million or £926,000).
In The Sustainable City, the car stays at the edge of your cluster. The lanes between the villas were built for people on foot, on bikes and in electric buggies, and the roofs carry solar panels. The first homes were handed over in 2016. Today it is a small, green suburb of 500 villas, with a farm, a riding school and a school inside.
About The Sustainable City
The Sustainable City is a freehold villa community built by Diamond Developers, part of SEE Holding. It sits on Al Qudra Road (D63) in Dubailand, in the area called Wadi Al Safa 7. Its neighbours are Arabian Ranches 2, The Layan, Al Waha, Serena and, across Al Qudra Road, Mudon. Downtown Dubai is about 26 km away by road.
This guide covers The Sustainable City in Dubai, not the newer ones by the same developer in Sharjah and on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Whether you want to rent a villa here, buy one or simply understand what life is like, this Sustainable City area guide covers it: what homes rent and sell for, the equestrian club, the farm and the Plaza, the schools and roads, and who it suits.
*This guide was last updated on 21 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 20 October 2026. Dollar ($) and pound (£) amounts use AED 3.6725 to the US dollar and AED 4.9130 to the British pound (XE mid-market rate, 21 October 2026); your bank's rate will differ.
The Sustainable City Location and Map
The Sustainable City is a long, narrow strip on the edge of Dubailand. It has roads and other communities on every side:
- South-west: Al Qudra Road (D63), with Mudon across it.
- North-west: Arabian Ranches 2.
- North-east: Serena.
- South-east: The Layan and Al Waha, then Emirates Road (E611).
By road, it is about:
- 11 km to Dubai Hills Mall.
- 26 km to Downtown Dubai.
- 34 km to Dubai International Airport.
The first map shows where The Sustainable City is in Dubai.
The second shows the community itself, with the mosque, the shops and the schools around it.
The Sustainable City Highlights
Here is the short version, from the homes and the farm to the shops and the drive out.
The Sustainable City Equestrian Club, Farm and Plaza
These three places are why most people search for The Sustainable City. The equestrian club is a riding school open to riders from anywhere in Dubai, the farm is a strip of greenhouses and gardens for the community, and the Plaza is its small shopping and café street. All three are inside the community.
The Sustainable City Equestrian Club
The Sustainable City Equestrian Club is a riding school with lessons for children from age 3 and for adults. It is off Al Qudra Road, next to Arabian Ranches 2. Its instructors are qualified by the British Horse Society, and they teach English-style riding, from first lessons to advanced riders.
What you can book:
- Lessons: group, semi-private or private, sold in packages of 10.
- Track rides: a ride on the 4 km sand track that runs around The Sustainable City. Three rides cost AED 1,000, and you get a fourth free.
- After-school riding: 10 riding sessions and 3 stable care sessions over 10 weeks, for AED 2,100 plus VAT. The club runs these with a number of Dubai primary schools.
- Parties and carriages: ponies for children's birthday parties, and rides in an old-style carriage pulled by a black Friesian stallion.
- Holiday camps: pony day camps in the school holidays.
To book, call the office on +971 4 557 6611 or send a WhatsApp message to +971 50 358 6290. The office is open Sunday to Friday from 8 am to 12 noon and from 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm, and on Saturday from 7 am to 11 am. Prices change, so check the club's price list before you pay.
Before the first lesson
Ask the club which level your child should start at. Beginners start in a 30-minute group, and children aged 2 to 4 have their own "mini riders" class. Ask too what your child should wear, and whether the club lends riding hats.
The Sustainable City farm
The farm is a working urban farm for the people who live here, not a paid attraction. It runs along the central green spine, the long park in the middle of the community:
- 11 biodome greenhouses, where food is grown under cover.
- More than 3,000 sq m of farm land, with plots beside the five villa clusters.
- Aquaponics, a way of raising fish and growing plants in the same water.
Residents grow herbs, vegetables and fruit here, and Fairgreen International School uses a biodome for its lessons. We found no ticket, opening hours or petting farm for visitors. If you want to see it, go with a friend who lives here.
The Sustainable City Plaza
The Sustainable Plaza is the community's shopping street. It is five low-rise blocks next to Al Qudra Road, covering 15,000 sq m, with shops and cafés on the ground floor, offices, and 89 flats above them. This is what you find there:
- Cafés and restaurants: two cafés and four small restaurants (see Restaurants below).
- LIFE Pharmacy: in Block B1.
- Dibber nursery: in Block A.
- A small supermarket for daily needs.
For a bigger choice, The Ranches Souk in Arabian Ranches 2 is 1.3 km away by road.
Rent in The Sustainable City
Almost every home for rent in The Sustainable City is a villa. A three-bedroom villa, the most common home, rents for about AED 253,900 a year ($69,100 · £51,700), and four-bedroom villas cost a little more. There are also small flats above the shops at the Plaza, but very few homes of any kind are free at one time.
*This guide was last updated on 21 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 20 October 2026. Dollar ($) and pound (£) amounts use AED 3.6725 to the US dollar and AED 4.9130 to the British pound (XE mid-market rate, 21 October 2026); your bank's rate will differ.
Apartments for rent in The Sustainable City
The only flats in The Sustainable City are the 89 at the Plaza: studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats on the upper floors of the five blocks. You live above the cafés, with the farm and the riding school a short walk away.
They are hard to find. When this guide was last updated*, Property Finder showed just one flat for rent here. Ask agents to tell you when one comes up, and look at the listing sites every few days.
Furnished and monthly lets are rare. We found none advertised when this guide was last updated*. Most landlords want a yearly contract.
For more flats close by, look at Town Square or Damac Hills.
Studios for rent in The Sustainable City
Most studios let for between AED 50,000 and AED 52,000 a year in the last 12 months*. They are all at the Plaza, so you get a low rent and the whole community on your doorstep.
One- and two-bedroom flats for rent in The Sustainable City
The two-bedroom figure is shown in grey because only three new tenants signed in the last 12 months*. Most two-bedroom flats here are rented by tenants who renew, at about AED 96,000 a year. So when one comes free, expect to pay about the same as the renewing tenants.
See homes for rent:
- Property Finder: apartments for rent in The Sustainable City, one-bedroom
- Dubizzle: all homes for rent in The Sustainable City
Villas and townhouses for rent in The Sustainable City
Most three-bedroom villas let for between AED 225,000 and AED 280,000 a year in the last 12 months*. Most four-bedroom villas let for between AED 260,000 and AED 320,000. A three-bedroom villa is about 3,400 sq ft, and a typical four-bedroom villa about 3,800 sq ft. There are no townhouses: every house is a villa.
Very few villas are free at one time. When this guide was last updated*, only 11 villas were advertised for rent on Property Finder, and 15 homes on Dubizzle. Most tenants stay and renew, so start looking two or three months before you need to move.
If you are moving in, use the figures in the chart. A tenant who renews pays a little less. For a three-bedroom villa the gap was about AED 8,900 a year.
Ask what the rent includes
Villas here have solar panels and a garden. Before you sign, ask:
- Who pays the gardener, and who looks after any pool.
- How many cheques the landlord accepts. One or two cheques can get you a lower rent.
- To see last summer's DEWA bills, so you know what the solar panels save.
See homes for rent:
- Property Finder: villas for rent in The Sustainable City, three-bedroom, four-bedroom
- Dubizzle: all homes for rent in The Sustainable City
Rooms, partitions and bed spaces in The Sustainable City
No rooms, partitions or bed spaces are let in The Sustainable City: each villa and flat is let as a whole home. For a room nearby, look in Dubai Sports City or Motor City.
Property for Sale in The Sustainable City
A typical three-bedroom villa in The Sustainable City sells for about AED 4.55 million ($1.24 million · £927,000), and a four-bedroom villa for about AED 5.25 million. A villa earns about 5.5% of its price in rent each year, more than the Dubai villa average of 4.2%. Every home sold in the last 12 months* was already built.
*This guide was last updated on 21 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 20 October 2026. Dollar ($) and pound (£) amounts use AED 3.6725 to the US dollar and AED 4.9130 to the British pound (XE mid-market rate, 21 October 2026); your bank's rate will differ.
Apartments for sale in The Sustainable City
No flat in The Sustainable City was sold in the last 12 months*: the flats at the Plaza are rented out, not sold. For a flat to buy close by, look at Town Square or Damac Hills.
Villas and townhouses for sale in The Sustainable City
Only 29 villas were sold in the last 12 months*, so each sale moves the average. Most three-bedroom villas sold for AED 3.8 million to AED 4.95 million. Most four-bedroom villas, at about 3,800 sq ft, sold for about AED 5 million. A few bigger four-bedroom villas, of about 5,000 to 5,500 sq ft, sold for AED 6.2 million to AED 7.4 million.
When this guide was last updated*, only 17 villas were for sale on Property Finder, and 9 homes on Dubizzle. With so few to choose from, ask the agent for:
- The last sales in the same cluster.
- The built-up size on the title deed.
- Proof that any extension or pool was approved.
See homes for sale:
- Property Finder: villas for sale in The Sustainable City, three-bedroom, four-bedroom
- Dubizzle: all homes for sale in The Sustainable City
Restaurants in The Sustainable City
The places to eat in The Sustainable City are at the Plaza: two cafés and four small restaurants. It is enough for breakfast, a casual lunch or a takeaway. For a big choice or a family dinner out, The Ranches Souk is next door and three malls are a short drive away.
Good to know:
- Breakfast: Sanderson's and Spill the Bean open early, for coffee and breakfast before school.
- Late at night: Sansation, beside The Ranches Souk, stays open late. Check its hours on its map listing before you go.
- A drink with dinner: we found no licensed restaurant inside The Sustainable City.
Supermarkets, Clinics, Mosques and Gyms in The Sustainable City
Daily basics are at the Plaza. For a bigger shop or a doctor, you drive a few minutes to Arabian Ranches 2 or The Layan.
Supermarkets in The Sustainable City
There is one small supermarket at the Plaza, good for milk, bread and daily needs. For a bigger weekly shop:
- Choithrams: Layan Community Centre, 0.7 km.
- Carrefour Market: The Ranches Souk, Arabian Ranches 2, 1.3 km.
- Spinneys: near GEMS Metropole School Al Waha, at the north end, 2.7 km.
Clinics in The Sustainable City
LIFE Pharmacy in Block B1 of the Plaza is the pharmacy inside the community. Clinics and a hospital nearby, by road:
- Aster Clinic: The Ranches Souk, Arabian Ranches 2, 1.3 km.
- Mediclinic Arabian Ranches: Arabian Ranches, 6.9 km.
- Mediclinic Parkview Hospital: Al Barsha South, 10.5 km.
For people with autism and their families, Sanad Village is a support centre inside The Sustainable City.
Mosques in The Sustainable City
The community mosque, Al Madinah Al Mustadama Mosque, is next to the Plaza, by Al Qudra Road. Its name is Arabic for "The Sustainable City".
- It was built for about 700 worshippers.
- Layan Mosque is about 0.8 km away by road, in The Layan.
Gyms in The Sustainable City
The Sustainable City has a residents' gym, and the outdoor track is its biggest sports space. Your options:
- The community gym: for residents, inside the community.
- The 4 km track: for running, cycling and walking around the community.
- Pools, a football field and a basketball court: for residents.
- Fitness First, Mudon: a full gym across Al Qudra Road, 7.2 km by road.
Schools in The Sustainable City
Fairgreen International School is the school inside The Sustainable City. It teaches the full International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, from pre-primary to Grade 12, and KHDA rates it Good. Its students use a biodome on the farm and the equestrian centre in their lessons.
KHDA is the Dubai government office that inspects private schools. Its ratings, from the top, are Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very weak.
GEMS Metropole School Al Waha is next door, not inside
Some maps show GEMS Metropole School inside The Sustainable City. It is the Al Waha campus of GEMS Metropole, a separate school on its own plot at the north end, with an Al Waha address. It opened in September 2023 and teaches the British curriculum.
| Where | School | Curriculum | KHDA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | Fairgreen International School (pre-primary to Grade 12) | IB | Good |
| Al Waha, at the north end (2.8 km) | GEMS Metropole School Al Waha (FS1 to Year 13) | British | Acceptable |
| Arabian Ranches 2 (1.2 km) | Ranches Primary School (FS1 to Year 6) | British | Very good |
| Arabian Ranches | Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) Arabian Ranches | British and IB | Outstanding |
| Damac Hills (10 km) | Jebel Ali School | British | Very good |
| Remraam (10.4 km) | South View School | British | Good |
Fees rise with each year group, and Dubai froze private school fees for 2026-27. You can find every school's fees on the KHDA school directory. To compare family areas on schools, safety, space and cost, read our guide to the best areas to live in Dubai for families.
Nurseries in The Sustainable City
Dibber is the nursery inside The Sustainable City, on the ground floor of Plaza Block A. It follows a Norwegian, play-based approach. Other choices for young children:
- Fairgreen International School: takes children from pre-primary.
- Blossom Nursery: in Mudon, across Al Qudra Road.
- Arabian Ranches: several nurseries, a short drive away.
Getting Around The Sustainable City
You get around The Sustainable City on foot or by bike, and you leave it by car. Two main roads meet at its south-east end:
- Al Qudra Road (D63) runs along the south-west side. To the north-west it becomes Umm Suqeim Street and takes you past Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) to Dubai Hills and Al Barsha.
- Emirates Road (E611) passes just to the south-east. It goes towards Sharjah one way and Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi the other.
These are distances, not times. At school and office hours, allow extra time on Al Qudra Road.
Metro stations near The Sustainable City
There is no Metro in The Sustainable City: the nearest station is about 17 km away by road. The closest stations:
- Jumeirah Golf Estates: Route 2020 branch of the Red Line, about 17 km.
- Mall of the Emirates: main Red Line, about 19 km.
For buses, check the RTA's S'hail app before you rely on one. We could not confirm which routes stop at the gate today.
Parking in The Sustainable City
You park at the edge of your cluster, not at your front door.
- At home: each cluster has a car park with solar panels on its roof, and you walk the last stretch to your villa.
- Charging: there are charging points for electric cars, and shared electric buggies inside.
Is The Sustainable City a Good Place to Live?
The Sustainable City is a good place to live for families who want their children to walk, cycle and ride safely, and who are happy to drive to work. It does not suit anyone who needs a Metro, a big mall nearby or lots of homes to choose from.
A three-bedroom villa here rents for about AED 67,000 a year more than in Mudon across the road, and about AED 53,000 more than in Arabian Ranches 2 next door. The extra money buys car-free lanes, solar panels and no service charge for the owner.
The good
- Lanes between homes have no cars.
- An IB school and a nursery are inside.
- Horse riding and a farm are inside.
- Solar panels cut power bills.
- Owners pay no service charge.
The not so good
- Few homes come up for rent.
- Rents are high for this part of Dubai.
- There is no Metro.
- You walk from the car park.
- Restaurants inside are few.
Three bills to ask about before you sign:
- Chiller: we could not confirm how the villas are cooled or billed. Ask the agent: "Is the air conditioning in the DEWA bill, or is there a separate chiller bill?"
- DEWA: you pay DEWA, the water and electricity bill, yourself. Solar panels lower it, so ask to see last summer's bills.
- Service charges: owners here pay no yearly service charge. If you are buying, ask the seller to confirm this in writing, and read our guide to service charges in Dubai.
If you are buying, the yield here is above the Dubai average for villas, and every home sold in the last 12 months was already built.
The main risk is the small market: about 30 villas sell in a year, so prices can move with a single sale, and selling can take time. To compare areas, read our guide to rental yield by area in Dubai. Before you make an offer, use our guide on how to check property value in Dubai.
FAQs
How much is a villa for rent in The Sustainable City?
A three-bedroom villa rents for about AED 253,900 a year (about AED 21,200 a month), and a four-bedroom villa for about AED 283,100. These are what new tenants paid in the last 12 months. Very few villas are free at one time, so start looking early.
Who is the developer of The Sustainable City?
Diamond Developers, part of SEE Holding. Building started in January 2014, and the first homes were handed over in 2016. The same group is behind The Sustainable City projects in Sharjah and on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Is The Sustainable City freehold?
Yes. People of any nationality can buy a villa in The Sustainable City. Check that the title deed of the villa you want says "freehold".
Is there a service charge in The Sustainable City?
No. Owners in The Sustainable City pay no yearly service charge. If you are buying, ask the seller to confirm this in writing.
Can anyone ride at The Sustainable City Equestrian Club?
Yes. You do not need to live in The Sustainable City to book lessons. Lessons are for adults and children from age 3, and a package of 10 group lessons for beginner children costs AED 2,300 before VAT.
Is there a Metro station in The Sustainable City?
No. The nearest station is Jumeirah Golf Estates on the Red Line (Route 2020), about 17 km away by road. Most residents drive.
Sources and method37 sources from 23 publishers · last checked 21 October 2026
Official
- KHDA Schools directoryEarly childhood centresDubai freezes private school fees for 2026-27
- Dubai Media Office Mohammed bin Rashid approves Dubai Metro Gold Line
Reporting and other sources
- About this guide: rents, prices, yields and listings were checked on 21 October 2026, and the places, schools and distances on 21 October 2026. It is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.
- Khbz & Zaad rental transactions in The Sustainable Citysale transactions in The Sustainable CityMudonArabian Ranches 2villas for rentapartments for rentvillas for saleTop-rated Arabian Ranches restaurants
- Dubizzle homes for renthomes for salerooms for rent
- XE GBP to AED mid-market rate
- The Sustainable City The Sustainable City Dubai
- Middle East Construction News Project profile: The Sustainable City, Dubai
- Gulf News Inside The Sustainable City in Dubai
- Forbes Middle East Faris Saeed, SEE Holding
- Bayut The Sustainable City area guideEco-friendly living: all about The Sustainable City Dubai
- The National via Hortidaily UAE farming grows sense of community at Dubai's Sustainable City
- The Sustainable City Equestrian Club home pageprice list
- LIFE Pharmacy store locator
- Khbz & Zaad restaurant website
- Khbz & Zaad Sushi Me
- Retail Focus Spinneys opens first sustainable concept store in Dubai
- Fairgreen International School school website
- GEMS Education GEMS Metropole School Al Waha opens in September 2023
- GEMS Education school website
- Edarabia Dibber The Sustainable City Nursery
- Dubai Media Office Metro stations map
- OpenStreetMap the Plaza, cafés, restaurants, shops, mosques and schoolsroad routing
