Sharjah Unveils Uruk, an AI-Powered Sustainable City Designed for Resource Self-Sufficiency

Sharjah has unveiled Uruk, a proposed AI-powered sustainable city designed to integrate renewable energy, resource self-sufficiency, and intelligent urban infrastructure. Announced on 29 October 2026, the project was introduced at the second edition of Sharjah Next through a partnership between Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), American University of Sharjah (AUS) and SEE Holding. The initiative was presented in the presence of Sheik Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS and Chairperson of SPARK.

 

Uruk is designed to generate its energy requirements through solar, wind, and biogas, with the ambition of achieving energy self-sufficiency. Its proposed infrastructure also includes groundwater desalination, treated-water reuse, and circular waste management systems. Local food production will be supported through indoor and outdoor farming, fish, egg, and honey production, and private agricultural plots for residents. These systems aim to reduce dependence on external resources while integrating energy, water and food management into the city's design.

 

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Artificial intelligence and robotics will form another component of Uruk's proposed infrastructure. Intelligent systems are intended to support services such as deliveries, cleaning and security, while urban mobility will prioritize walking, cycling, electric vehicles and shared transportation. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Chief Executive Officer of SPARK, said, "Our ambition is to create an AI-powered innovation city, where technology is embedded into its foundations from the outset." The development is also intended to function as a living laboratory where researchers, students and entrepreneurs can test emerging technologies in real-world urban environments.

 

Faris Saeed, Founder and Chairman of SEE Holding, said, "The true measure of progress is not what technology can achieve, but what it makes possible for people." The project aims to combine resource-efficient infrastructure with technologies that improve residents' quality of life and reduce routine demands. However, the announcement does not provide a confirmed construction schedule, project investment value or quantified environmental performance targets. Uruk therefore represents a proposed model for sustainable urban development, with its long-term impact depending on implementation and measurable resource-efficiency outcomes.

 

Source: AETOSWire