The local Sharjah Oasis Real Estate is to develop a major waterfront project in the northern emirate.

The 18-million-square-metre Sharjah Waterfront City will be built along 36 kilometres of coastline, with the first phase expected to cost about $2.5bn.

The first phase will comprise 200 residential and commercial towers, 95 apartment buildings, a hotel and serviced apartments, and up to 1,100 waterfront and park-side villas, according to a statement released by the company. A water theme park, shopping mall, entertainment centre, schools, mosques and restaurants will also be built during phase one.

A source close to the project told MEED that the local Darwish Engineering has started construction work for connecting islands, while Canada-based WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff is executing studies for the project.

There are several major waterfront developments in Sharjah. In July, MEED reported that Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has revived the previously stalled $136m Al-Hisn Island project, which was originally announced in 2012.

The leisure and tourism scheme, which will be located on a reclaimed island that was initially developed for a residential area, will comprise water canal, retail and dining units as well as a cinema.

According to state-controlled Emirates News Agency (Wam), the project is in the planning phase, with Jordan’s Wael al-Masri Planners and Architects (WMPA) working on the designs.