Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA), formerly known as Sabah Housing Developers' Association (SHDA) was established in 1978 primarily as an association of housing developers. It was reorganised in 2002 to encompass property development as a whole, including housing.

SHAREDA brings together developers who have enlisted as members to pool their expertise and resources to ensure that the industry plays its full part as a prime mover of the economy. Over the years, SHAREDA members have sat on numerous regulatory government committees and helped to shape many government policies and guidelines affecting real estate and housing development in Sabah.

SHAREDA's exemplary performance and its active role in promoting the industry was recognised on 22nd May, 2010 when the Association was chosen from more than 5,000 societies registered in Sabah to receive the prestigious "SABAH SOCIETIES' ROLE MODEL" (Anugerah Pertubuhan Contoh) Inaugural Award by the Registrar of Societies Malaysia.

The award speaks well of an Association that started with 15 members in 1978 and has grown to 148 members in a little over three decades.

The Association has been fortunate to have dedicated and quality leadership from the moment it was formed. Datuk William C. V. Fong was one of the founding members and served as the founding Chairman (1978-1980) of the Association. Others who served as Chairmen were the late Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Chik Lim (1981-1984), Datuk Yap Pak Leong (1985-1989), Datuk Yong Loi Thiam (1993-2000), Datuk Haji Abu Bakar M. Yahya (2001-2004), Datuk Kong Kwok Wah, JP (2005-2008). Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen took over the helm when she was elected to office for 2 years from 2009 to 2010 at the 16th Annual General Meeting on 7th March, 2009 and at the 18th Annual General Meeting, the incumbent was returned uncontested as President for the second term from 2011 to 2012.

To mark its 20th Anniversary in 1998, SHAREDA acquired its own premises at Beverly Hills Plaza, Kota Kinabalu. Then on 27th March, 2002, the SHAREDA Secretariat was established and became operational. In the following year, an additional office adjacent to the existing Association's premises was acquired and was officially declared open by Datuk Haji Abu Bakar M. Yahya on September 23, 2004. Subsequently in April 2007, another adjoining lot was bought over by the Association, thus making up a total area of 2,783 sq. ft. for the Secretariat. The Office is fully equipped with office automation and facilities including a mini auditorium with a sitting capacity of at least 100 persons. The secretariat is also equipped with a conference room, a filing room in addition to office space. The SHAREDA President Datuk Kong Kwok Wah, JP officially declared the new premises open in conjunction with its 15th Annual General Meeting held on 29th March, 2008.

SHAREDA commemorated its 30th year in 2008 with the inauguration of the "SHAREDA Property Excellence Awards" to developers with distinct and significant contributions to the property industry development in Sabah. There were 6 categories in the recognition awards for the Outstanding Developers in SHAREDA, namely:-

• SINAR PEMBANGUNAN SDN BHD – PIONEER HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
• WONG KWOK GROUP OF COMPANIES – LIFESTYLE AFFORDABLE HOMES
• WAH MIE GROUP OF COMPANIES – INNOVATIVE DESIGN & QUALITY
• HAP SENG PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD – HIGH END RESIDENTIAL HOMES
• SABAH URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SDN BHD – LANDMARK DEVELOPMENTS
• NEXUS BAY RESORT KARAMBUNAI SDN BHD – BEACH RESORT HOMES

Congratulations to all the above recipients for the awards!

In the above endeavours, then came the formation of the Malaysian Developers' Council (MDC) on 12th October, 2001, formerly known as "Tripartite" comprised of Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (REHDA) Malaysia, Sarawak Housing And Real Estate Developers' Association (SHEDA) and SHAREDA. The main objective of the Council is to provide a forum for consultation on issues affecting the housing industry in the country and to foster closer relationship amongst the 3 Associations. Each Association takes turns to host the MDC meeting once a year, subsequently changed to twice yearly commencing 2007.

SHAREDA, in collaboration with the New Sabah Times, facilitated the launching of a weekly property column on 11th February, 2002 to provide an avenue to members to feature their housing and development projects and also to provide write-up on matters related to the housing industry. More than 230 articles have been published so far.

The SHAREDA Editorial and Publication Committee has published Bulletins, Articles and Circulars to be disseminated to members and interest-groups and encourage participation by members to contribute ideas and proposals for position papers that can help to enhance the Association's performance as well as that of the industry.

With the success achieved by SHAREDA so far and with the commitment demonstrated and co-operation offered by the members there is no doubt that the Association will progress further and continue to make meaningful contributions towards the growth of the Country.