Diamond Developers, a private real estate firm, launched here Tuesday Dubai Sustainable City, a mixed- use residential and tourism project whose electricity needs will be mostly covered by solar energy.

Dubai Sustainable City, about 20 minutes' drive south of Dubai' s financial district, consists of a residential area of 500 townhouses and a nature-inspired "green school, along with tourist attractions such as a planetarium and a grass amphitheatre.

"Each of the townhouses will be equipped with a solar panel covering the entire roof so that around 60 percent of every unit's energy needs will be covered by solar power," the project's chief executive Phill Dunn told Xinhua in an exclusive interview at the ongoing three-day International Property Show that began Tuesday.

Also, the "smart water systems" will reduce water demand of residents by 30 percent, whereas the waste water from the kitchen or grey water will be used to irrigate plants and greenery in the city.

The chief executive did not want to disclose the price of each unit but said the townhouses would be sold "at competitive rates."

"Construction has started and we plan to launch the first phase at the beginning of 2014," added Dunn.

The project is in line with the green trend in the United Arab Emirates and the government's desire to reduce its dependency on gas, which currently provides 99 percent of the Gulf state's total energy needs.

By 2030, the share of gas in energy consumption shall be reduced to 71 percent with the remaining share covered by a mix of green and nuclear energy.

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