Masdar City, Planned city in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

This solar-powered settlement extends across six square kilometers (2.3 square miles) near Abu Dhabi International Airport, comprising energy-efficient structures, renewable technology research facilities, and car-free residential districts with public transit networks.

Launched in 2006 as a $22 billion state-funded project, Masdar City was built by Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala, with construction starting in February 2008. The first six buildings, designed by Foster and Partners, were completed and occupied in October 2010, but the 2008 financial crisis pushed final completion toward 2030.

This sustainable residential community serves as a model for future cities in extreme climates, integrating Arab architectural principles like narrow streets for natural cooling and demonstrating environmental responsibility.

Cars with combustion engines are barred inside; drivers park at the city edge and continue on foot, by autonomous shuttle or by the personal rapid transit pods on their underground track. The PRT has stayed a prototype since 2010 because of the cost of its undercroft, and the planned Abu Dhabi light rail and metro link remains unbuilt.

The development employs sensor-based controls instead of conventional switches and faucets, reducing electricity and water consumption by approximately fifty percent while automatically adjusting to occupant needs.