Al Mamsha ... pedestrian friendly residential community.

The Alef Group is set to develop a new pedestrian-friendly residential community called Al Mamsha at an estimated cost of Dh3 billion ($816 million) in the Al Juraina area of Sharjah.

Al Juraina area is in close proximity to Sharjah University City and Sharjah International Airport, about 15-20 minutes drive from Sharjah city centre and 20-30 minutes drive from Dubai International Financial Centre.

Dubbed as Sharjah’s first fully walkable community and covering an estimated area of 3 million sq ft, Al Mamsha (which means ‘pedestrian area’ in Arabic) will offer a variety of modern apartments, from studios through to penthouses with private terraces, said a statement from the Sharjah developer.

Al Mamsha has been designed with ample sidewalks and walkways with landscaping and open spaces. The community is expected to appeal to a wide range of tastes and budgets, with accommodation units ranging from studios, through to one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments.

The development will also offer a selection of duplex apartments and penthouses, featuring wide terraces and private gardens besides other key amenities such as nurseries, a beauty spa and fitness facilities.

Al Mamsha Zone 1 will comprise 33 mixed-use buildings with a combination of retail and residential units.

A community square will provide the focal point of the development, with water features, green areas and a variety of dining outlets.

The project will include about 500,000 sq ft of available space for retail, plus basement parking for more than 7,000 cars.

Alef said the plans for the community include entertainment zones, platforms for live music concerts, art galleries, a Friday market and outdoor events.

Meanwhile, the Sharjah developer is now gearing up for the launch of its first Zero 6 branded shopping mall in Al Juraina 2, which is due for opening in the fourth quarter of this year.

The 37,000-sq-m property will have a gross leasable area of 16,000 sq m, including approximately 3,000 sq m area dedicated to restaurants and cafes, a supermarket and an eight-screen cinema complex.