Page Category: Lifestyle

Four reasons Arabian Ranches is the sustainable community on the block

Integrating sustainability in all our practices is one of our priorities at Arabian Ranches. We do this in a number of ways.

Recycling initiatives

Did you know that over 70% of the average household’s trash can be recycled?

• Recycling bins are installed outside every home.
• Collections are scheduled every week.
• Money generated contributes to the community’s income.

Energy efficiency

• Most pedestrian lights and bollards in the community are solar powered.
• Most other lights in the community are LEDs, helping significantly cut down on electricity.

Sustainable landscaping

• Nearly all species planted in your community are well-adapted to dry and arid conditions.
• Most plants don’t need as much water and thrive under the full sun, with little shade.
• For irrigation, drip irrigation pipes carrying TSE (Treated Sewage Effluent) are employed.

Paperless communication

We’ve been slowly doing away with traditional paper-based communication, going digital on multiple fronts. Most general notices, announcements, community newsletters and CSF Invoices are now sent via email – saving tens of thousands of pages of paper.

How you can contribute:

• Start by fitting LEDs in all your light fittings.
• Check the five-star energy rating every time you buy electrical appliances for your home. Try to pick more energy-efficient products.
• Turn off the main outlet for devices when you’re not using them. All electrical devices consume phantom power when idle.
• Keep your air conditioning at 24 degrees celsius for optimal cooling and efficiency.
• Segregate recyclables like paper, plastic bottles and metal cans and drop them together in the recycling bins outside your home.

Digitalising your community living

Did you know your community portal and the mobile application EMAAR ONE provide you with a world of facilities, right at your fingertips?

Amenity bookings

If you’ve lived in a community with shared amenities before settling down in Arabian Ranches, you probably know the frustration of arriving at your favourite amenity, only to see it never available. In your new neighbourhood however, that’s a scenario you’ll never face – the online booking system lets you reserve the amenity of your choice for two hours, up to two weeks in advance!

Newsletter and events

You can get your quarterly round-up of all the latest happenings in Arabian Ranches by tuning in to your community newsletter. It’s filled with pictures of events, exciting contests and latest improvements to your neighbourhood, and it’s available on your community portal.

Household staff registration

The hassle of visiting offices and filling out paperwork to register your household staff can be daunting, but you’ll be glad to know that’s never the case in Arabian Ranches. Just log onto your portal, fill out the online application and your household staff’s registration card will be processed in one business day – you can even see live status updates on the portal.

Raise home modification requests

Looking to replace your flooring tiles or renovate your kitchen? Applying for a home modification permit can now be done right from your portal – just log on, select the ‘Alterations’ tab choose the request you’d like to apply for. You can even log other service requests through your portal. If you have EMAAR ONE, there’s an option to leave a voice request too!

Online access cards

Registration/ activation of access cards have been digitized for your convenience at www.arabianranches.ae. You can apply for new cards by simply logging onto your community portal and clicking ‘apply for a new card’, whereas, existing cardholders should select the ‘activate existing card’ option.

Digital contractor permits

Your appointed contractors can now register and apply for community entry permits online at ecmpermits.ae, where they will find useful video guides in English, Arabic, Hindi, and Bangla.

Move-in permits/renewals

Looking to apply for your move-in permit? Simply click here, select your community and provide your details. If you’re already residing in the community and want to update your tenancy contract, you can log in and upload it through the portal too.

Payments

If you’re a homeowner, you don’t need to visit the community management office or bank to complete payments for your community service fee – just log onto the community portal to pay, wherever you are.

A closer look at the floral extravaganza in Arabian Ranches

Your community features an amazing variety of landscaping species of all colours and sizes – read on to discover some interesting details about them.

1. Sea purslane

Sea purslanes are light to purple coloured flowers that you’ll find lining most roads along your community.
Private garden suitability: They’re relatively easy to grow and don’t need much water. Not a good idea if you have cats though, as they’re toxic to felines.
Interesting fact: Their leaves are high in iron, vitamin C, vitamin A and calcium.

2. Singapore daisy

These yellow bloomers are evergreens that love sunshine and aren’t fussy about water.
Private garden suitability: Easy to grow and low on maintenance, however they’re invasive and may compete with other plants for nutrients.
Interesting fact: In the wild, these plants rarely spread via seeds, relying more on stem fragments and cuttings instead.

3. Wild jasmine

Another species that prefers warmer temperatures, wild jasmine shrubs significantly brighten up the community with their dense clusters of fragrant flowers.
Private garden suitability: Can be grown indoors/outdoors, are non-toxic, and fragrant.
Interesting fact: Jasmine oils comprise over 100 compounds that contribute to its unique scent.

4. Flame tree

A vibrant tree that can reach 12 metres, flame trees put on a flamboyant display of red flowers during the flowering season.
Private garden suitability: Enjoys sunlight and remains evergreen all year round.
Interesting fact: Flame trees actually produce more flowers when they’re kept slightly dry.

5. Golden shower tree

Golden shower trees are fast growing deciduous trees that produce stunning blooms of yellow-gold flowers during late spring.
Private garden suitability: Prefer warm conditions with well-drained soil.
Interesting fact: The tree is well-recognised in culture; it’s the state flower of Kerala, and featured on the Canadian 48-cent stamp.

Build your own backyard kitchen garden

Sure, Arabian Ranches Retail Centre is right round the corner – but why not grow your own vegetables and save time and money? We’ve gathered some great advice from our landscaping team that you can employ to grow crunchy cauliflowers, tangy tomatoes and juicy melons.

1. Check your calendar

The time of the year is a crucial factor when it comes to prepping your garden. The winter months from September to December are the best time to start sowing seeds.

2. Pick plants that thrive in UAE

Picking versatile species that perform well in the country’s climate helps you maintain a healthier garden.

Vegetables: Tomato, lettuce, beetroot, mint, radish, eggplant, pepper, cucumber

Fruits: Lemon, lime, pomegranate, mango, papaya, fig, guava

3. Ensure the soil is well nourished

Your plants soak up all the nutrients they need from the soil, making it crucial that the soil is well nourished with the necessary fertilisers. Soil is U.A.E. is generally low in nutrients, so make use of fertilisers rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.

Tip: You can also pour water used to cook vegetables or boil eggs – they’re loaded with water-soluble nutrients.

4. Water as necessary

Smaller containers need to have a hole at the bottom to allow excess water to drain. Soil in pots is likely to dry out faster, so they may need to be watered more frequently.
Tip: Insert a dry wooden chopstick into the soil near your plant, remove after ten minutes and check if the wood has dampened. If it’s dry, your soil needs water.

5. Keep an eye out for pests

As the weather changes, plants become more susceptible to fungus and insect attacks, so it’s a good idea to apply some fungicide.

Tip: For a chemical-free remedy, spray a solution of one litre water and one teaspoon of baking soda mixed with half a teaspoon of oil and a few drops of dish soap.

Fun ways to stay fit in Arabian Ranches

Tired of jogging? Your community offers you exciting ways to step outside your comfort zone and keep yourself fit in a variety of ways.

1. Cardio and endurance

Pull on your footie boots and head for the football pitch (called Village Green) next to Alma 1 for a friendly kickabout with friends or other soccer fans from the block.
Brilliant for developing cardiovascular fitness and endurance, football is a great team sport that will also have you meeting new members of the community and getting to know your neighbours!

2. Strength and stamina 

If you’re after building some serious strength while leaning out, the 13 full-size tennis courts in the community (you can find them here) are perfect for you. In addition to working your entire body, tennis tests your hand-eye coordination and improves your reaction time. The game also build resilience, particularly in the later sets when you’re more fatigued.

P.S. You can also hire a personal trainer of your choice to coach you in the community court! Ask your trainer to speak with the security for more details.

3. Balance and agility

If you’re looking for a fast-paced game to develop quicker feet and hone your accuracy, basketball checks all the boxes. The rapid switches from attack to defence and dizzying twists and turns make the game perfect for developing agility and speed. There are 19 half-courts in the community (you can find them here) where you can get some shooting and dribbling practice.

4. Stress-buster

If you’re just looking to just unwind and enjoy a light-hearted activity that doesn’t demand much skill or commitment, swimming is your choice. All the neighbourhoods have pools so jump in and try to learn a new swimming style!

Terms and conditions apply.