Laila Ahmed and her husband Karim made an unusual choice when they decided to leave Turkey and build a new life in the UAE: they bought their home before they had even finished relocating. The couple, both Canadians with Egyptian heritage, had started exploring a move in 2023 with a clear picture of what they wanted, including privacy and a place where they could genuinely put down roots. Within a week of learning about Sharjah Sustainable City later that year, they had committed to a four-bedroom villa off-plan.
That decision meant buying a home they had never set foot in themselves. Karim, 42, who works in the digital technology sector, had come on an exploratory trip to look at different projects, but he heard about Sustainable City from someone on the last day of his visit and could not see it in person. The couple looked it up online and it caught their eye, so they asked a friend who lived there to inspect the show villa on their behalf. Their friend went on a Wednesday. By that Saturday, the family had decided to buy. “It was a bit of a gamble, but my husband is a very quick decision-maker,” says Ms Ahmed, 37, a freelance editor.
They paid Dh2.19 million for a four-bedroom townhouse villa with five bathrooms in phase three of the development, and moved in with their three children in December 2024. The family had initially planned to rent, but realised that renting did not make sense financially. Before settling in, they rented a place five minutes away so the children could start school in the same district.
Today the home is shared with daughter Jannah, seven, sons Adam, six, and Ibrahim, five, and their maid. Ms Ahmed, who showed The National around, says she has not seen anything remotely close to the layout. The square footage and floor plan were the first things the couple examined, and she describes the use of space as ingenious. The bedrooms are generous enough that the children do not feel like they are in little caves. They chose a mid-unit rather than a standalone villa because they felt a standalone property would deprive them of a sense of community and the chance to get to know the neighbours.
The backyard was the first project. Knowing the children needed space to run around, the family completely redid it for this stage of life with three young kids. There is now a deck area where the adults can relax, laid grass, a mini barbecue area and seating, plus a utility area storing the scooters and bikes that come with being a very active family. They have also been getting into gardening.
Inside, Ms Ahmed, who loves design as a side hobby, did all the painting herself, a habit from coming from a very DIY country. She handled every modification except the glass doors installed to separate the formal and informal living spaces, which she says added a really nice touch. She picked out the art and furniture, switched the kitchen sink for a granite one and changed the faucets to match the aesthetic. The boys’ room is staying as it is for now, because they destroy everything, though she says it will happen eventually.
Two parking spots came with the home, and the family installed an EV charger because they own a Tesla. Location matters too: the E611 and E311 are easily accessible, and Sharjah Airport is close by.
The choice of Sharjah itself was deliberate. The family had lived in Turkey for three years, and in Canada before that, never expecting to end up in this part of the world. They wanted a more community-orientated lifestyle, and safety was a major factor. They specifically wanted Sharjah because it had more of the family aspect they were looking for, and the children’s school sits right by the community.
The amenities reinforce that. There is a gym, a pool and parks, basketball courts, multi-purpose courts for different sports and soccer fields, and a mosque is being built. A cycling and running track loops around the city, and the greenery and landscaping mean you do not feel like you are walking in the desert. Neighbours have set up a book club, a walking group and many other activities, and Ms Ahmed says the community spirit is strong. A mall is being built, while coffee shops and a courtyard with restaurants have opened nearby. In just the two years the family has been in the area, she feels like she is in a resort.
As for the future, Ms Ahmed is philosophical. Who knows whether this will be their forever home or just a home for this phase of their lives, she says, but for now it is great, and as an investment they know they will get their money back and more. They are treating it as their forever home for now, which is why they made the modifications, to make it feel like theirs. If they ever move, they would probably sell rather than rent it out, because they have had bad experiences with renters. And while they would probably buy more property here if they had the extra money, right now they are happy owning the one home and putting their time, effort and investment into it. The children, she says, are so happy; they have their friends from school.