Pros and cons of living in Masdar City: Going green or disconnected living?

Planning to live, work or invest in Masdar City? Looking at the pros and cons of living in Masdar City can help you decide whether or not the community is ideal for you. One of the pioneers when it comes to sustainable developments in the UAE, Masdar City is also a popular real estate investment option. 

Developed by Masdar (a subsidiary division of Mubadala Development Company), Masdar City is a mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi. Dubbed as the ‘city of the future’, the project was launched in 2006. It aims to promote the UAE’s ambitious sustainability goals through maximum utilisation of renewable energy resources. The prime location of the development (right beside the Abu Dhabi International Airport) means that important areas of the capital city are a short drive away. Here’s the list of the pros and cons of living in Masdar City. 

Masdar City: An Overview

Located to the immediate south-west of the airport, and on the north-eastern edge of Khalifa City, you can access Masdar City from both the E10 and E20 motorways. 

The project was conceived to be a residence for 50,000 people and a commercial hub. The futuristic development is home to iconic buildings, such as:

• Masdar Institute Campus
• Knowledge Centre 
• International Renewable Energy Agency Headquarters (IRENA HQ)
• Incubator Building

These structures exemplify what  is it like to live in Masdar City.

Currently, the community is home to 400 businesses, many of them located in the purpose-built Incubator Building. One can also seek career opportunities in Masdar City.

On the residential side, you can find a line-up of luxurious villas and apartments. With this background, let’s now delve into the pros and cons of Masdar City. 

Pros and Cons of Masdar City

Benefits of Living in Masdar City

Several reasons make Masdar City a viable residential option. The community offers an ideal lifestyle for individuals and families alike.

Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

To begin with, the biggest advantage of living in Masdar City is the environmental-friendliness. The community offers sustainable living at its finest. Whether you are buying or renting villas and apartments, you will reside in homes that combine traditional Arabic architecture with modern technology. For instance, you will find solar panel roofs in most villas.

The community is powered by a solar field consisting of 88,000 solar panels. Within the properties, lights and water taps turn on and off by motion sensors. This significantly reduces consumption and also reduces the cost of living in Masdar City.

One can also go on, for instance, to note that street lamps have their solar panels and that doors and other exterior fittings have palm wood instead of hardwood.

Attractive Investment Opportunity 

Along with promoting a sustainable lifestyle, another benefit of living in Masdar City is the fact that it offers a healthy opportunity to property investors. As per Bayut’s Abu Dhabi Q3 2019 Market Report, Masdar City is the fourth-best area in the capital for buying apartments. Moreover, if you plan to buy apartments in Masdar City, you can expect a return-on-investment (ROI) of 8.5% from projected rental yields.

You can also consider investing in Masdar City villas for sale. Apartment buildings in the community have up to three bedrooms whereas you can find villas with up to five bedrooms. One can rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi for AED 90k per year. 

Also note that Masdar City is a designated free zone, which means along with real estate investments, you can also consider setting up a business in the area to benefit from tax cuts. Thanks to the presence of many companies operating in the area, one can also look for jobs in Masdar City.

Excellent Amenities

While the community is still developing, there are several facilities and amenities that make it a self-sufficient neighbourhood. You have a school (Ryan International School), university (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology), a clinic (Doctors Medical Centre) and a supermarket (F-Mart) in the vicinity. Masdar City also has its mall: My City Centre.

The mall features a Magic Planet, Carrefour Hypermarket and City Centre Clinic. Not to mention, residents can always take a short drive to the neighbouring communities of Khalifa City A and Khalifa City B to find further amenities.

Living in Masdar City is ideal for all kinds of residents. However, the community has a special appeal for families. The amenities within the complex make life easier if you have kids. 

Plenty of Things to do in Masdar City

The best things about living in Masdar City is the fact that there is no shortage of things to do in the area. One of the best attractions in Masdar City is Masdar Park which stretches over 2,500 square metres. The park has children’s play areas, dining options, design installations themed on sustainability and solar-powered benches. The park is great for families. You can walk, run or cycle, or just eat and relax in the open air!

When it comes to dining options, Masdar City is also home to some excellent restaurants, such as:

• Jim’s Kitchen Table
• Osha
• Cafe il de Roma
• Cento
• Baracoa

Visitors can also explore the aforementioned buildings in Masdar City. Among other fun-filled activities, one can also ride rental e-scooters in the community. 

Drawbacks of Living in Masdar City

Now that we have listed the pros of Masdar City, it is also worthwhile to draw attention to some minor inconveniences that you may face while residing or working in the community. 

Construction is Underway

Masdar City was planned to be fully operational by 2015-2016. While a lot of development has taken place, the completion date has been pushed back slightly. Having said that, major projects are now operational on both residential and commercial sides so that you can plan on moving to Masdar City.

Not to mention, ongoing construction also means that over time, residents and visitors will have access to a greater number of facilities and an expanded, albeit green, infrastructure. This also creates jobs in Masdar City.

Lack of Public Transportation

Currently, one of the main disadvantages of Masdar City is the lack of easy access to public transport. The nearest bus stop is located in Khalifa City at a 10-minute distance. You have to use your car to reach the community. Parking is abundantly available both within and on the outskirts of the development at Masdar Park and the North Car Park.

Once you reach the entrance, park your vehicle and get on-board a driverless, eco-powered bubble car to reach inside the city. This Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) in Masdar City is the world’s first on-demand driverless vehicle. 

Within the community, you can ride e-scooters or rent electric vehicles to get around. Masdar City has been developed as a pedestrian-friendly area. Not to mention, with construction still going on, the community may soon have bus and light rail stops and even a metro station near My City Centre. So as you can see, these minor inconveniences don’t offset the overall benefits of living in Masdar City. The community is developing, but everything needed for a comfortable and wholesome lifestyle is available and operational, including shopping malls and parks.

Even for visitors, there are lots of things to do in Masdar City in terms of leisure, shopping and dining. Not to mention, with proximity to areas like Khalifa City and Yas Island, residents will have no problem looking for lifestyle amenities that may not be currently present in Masdar City. 

The eco-friendly housing options are the hallmark of the complex. In fact, the community is among the foremost sustainable developments in the UAE. If going green is something you are keen on, there are lots of things you can do to make your home eco-friendly, even if you’re not moving to Masdar City.

This wraps up our review of Masdar City. You can now weigh the pros and cons of living in Masdar City to see whether it is suitable for you. 

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