- Texas AG Ken Paxton launched a probe into SEE Holding’s mixed-use project near Dallas over possible religious governance concerns.
- SEE Holding, a Dubai-based developer, denies plans for religious structures or Shariah law in the development.
- The Sustainable City USA project would be SEE Holding’s first in the US, though they have similar projects abroad.
- The investigation follows similar scrutiny of other large-scale, faith-affiliated communities in North Texas.
Texas AG Targets Mixed-Use Project
According to Bisnow, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into SEE Holding’s proposed 2,300-acre mixed-use community in Kaufman County, southeast of Dallas. The probe centers on concerns from some residents and officials that the Dubai-based developer may include religiously based governance, a claim the company has strongly denied.
About the Project
SEE Holding’s plan, named The Sustainable City USA, aims to deliver a master-planned community with AI-enabled energy management. The project would offer attainable townhomes, multifamily and senior housing, leveraging smart infrastructure. Despite the ambitious proposal, SEE Holding does not currently own the target land parcel.
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Developer’s Response
SEE Holding spokesperson Hadeel Ahmed stated the company would fully cooperate with the AG’s investigation. “There are no mosques planned as part of the development,” Ahmed noted, pushing back on claims regarding religious intent and governance. Previous Sustainable City projects in the UAE and Oman have included mosques, but officials affirm none are contemplated for this Texas project.
Context and Industry Implications
The review follows similar controversies in North Texas. There, a large development tied to a mosque led lawmakers to pass new real estate disclosure laws. Officials have not alleged wrongdoing in this case. However, the scrutiny highlights growing sensitivity toward large master-planned projects backed by international developers in Texas. The proposed site size rivals other significant area projects, such as Hillwood’s 3,200-acre Landmark community under development in Denton. The attention also comes as federal regulators intensify oversight across real estate, including a recent probe examining executive compensation practices at a major publicly traded landlord.
