From housing to green innovation: Repurposing Sha’abiat for sustainable urban future
Sahera BLEIBLEH, Boshra HASSAN
Abstract. Sustainable and inclusive housing requires strategies that extend beyond high-tech construction solutions to embrace adaptive reuse, cultural heritage, and neighborhood-scale innovation. This study explores the transformation of Sha’abiat, the UAE’s earliest state-led housing initiative, within the context of Al Ain City. By repositioning these neighborhoods as sustainable and socially inclusive assets, the study highlights how adaptive reuse can reduce demolition waste, conserve cultural identity, and strengthen social cohesion. Drawing on qualitative field research, spatial analysis, and policy review, the study demonstrates that repurposing Sha’abiat provides an alternative to resource-intensive redevelopment by integrating principles of heritage conservation, environmental responsibility, and community resilience. The findings show that the adaptive reuse of these Sha’abiat not only advances material sustainability but also safeguards collective memory and social networks. This study positions Sha’abiat as a transferable model for sustainable urban development in rapidly modernizing contexts, offering lessons for cities seeking to integrate housing heritage with green innovation and cultural sustainability.
Keywords
Housing, Adaptive Reuse, Sha’abiat, Sustainability, Cultural Heritage, Al Ain, UAE
Published online 6/20/2026, 7 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Sahera BLEIBLEH, Boshra HASSAN, From housing to green innovation: Repurposing Sha’abiat for sustainable urban future, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 803-809, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-111
The article was published as article 111 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
References
[1] Aldossary, M. J. (2025). Cultural heritage as a catalyst for sustainable urban development. Sustainability, 17(10), 4431. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104431
[2] Bleibleh, S., & Hassan, B. (2025). Placemaking, spatial behavior, and community interactions: Lessons on social housing and sustainability. The case of Al Ain City, UAE. In V. P. Bagnato et al. (Eds.), Sustainable approaches to environmental design, materials science, and engineering technologies (Vol. 1, pp. xxx–xxx). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76025-9_12
[3] De Man, A., & Hassan, B. (2023, October). Notes on UAE Heritage Clustering for Urban Planning. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2881, No. 1, p. 040001). AIP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0181218
Ecomena. (2018). Construction waste management in the UAE. Retrieved from https://www.ecomena.org/construction-waste-uae/
[4] Saradara, S. M. (2023). On the path towards sustainable construction—The case of the UAE. Sustainability, 15(19), 14652. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914652
[5] SCAD. (2018). Waste statistics 2018: Annual report. Abu Dhabi: Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi. Retrieved from https://www.scad.ae/Release%20Documents/Waste%20Statistics_2018_Annual_Yearly_en_v1.pdf
[6] UN. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
[7] UAE LTS. (2024). The UAE’s Long-Term Strategy for Net Zero by 2050. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/UAE_LTLEDS.pdf
[8] UAE Centennial 2071. (2025). UAE Centennial 2071: Vision and pillars. Retrieved from https://trinitycorporateservices.com/uae-centennial-2071-a-vision-for-sustainable-growth-and-global-leadership/
[9] UAE National Policy for Preserving Modern Architectural Heritage. (2024). Federal policy document. Retrieved from https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/policy/details/the-national-policy-for-preserving-the-modern-architectural-heritage-of-the-united-arab-emirates
[10] MEED & Mashreq. (2020). Removing waste from UAE construction: Insights on reducing waste and improving efficiency in construction in the UAE (Vol. 10). MEED Mashreq Construction Partnership.https://www.meedmashreqindustryinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/V5_MashreqConstruction_Report-10.pdf
[11] Swain, S. (2024, May 8). Construction wastes management in the UAE. EcoMENA.
[12] Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi. (2017). Waste statistics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (2017 data, summarized in “United Arab Emirates: On the road to zero wastes”). Gulf Environment & Waste FZE.https://www.gulfenviro.ae/2021/06/22/united-arab-emirates-on-the-road-to-zero-wastes/
