H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed was given a guided tour of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) stand at Cityscape Abu Dhabi as its new identity was revealed.
ABU DHABI, 18th April 2017
H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, today visited the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) stand, as he received a full update on the progress of the Zayed City project.
H.H. Hazza was given a briefing on the vast 45km2 mixed-use mega-project by H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UPC, in the presence of contributing stakeholders, H.E. Saeed Eid Al Ghafli, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, H.E. Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport, H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Shareef Al Khouri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada), H.E. Musabah Mubarak Al Marar, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi City Municipality and H.E. Eng. Suwaidan Rashed Al Dhaheri, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada).
Zayed City, located between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Mohammed bin Zayed City, is a fusion of social, economic and environmental elements, and will emerge as a new residential and commercial heart of Abu Dhabi. It represents close collaboration between the UPC, Musanada, Abu Dhabi Municipality and Abu Dhabi Housing Authority.
During the tour, it was revealed that essential infrastructure works, including the road network, sewage, lighting, electricity and water networks, are close to 20 per cent complete, with the entire project scheduled to launch in 2020.
Named in honour of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, the vibrant project has been given a new identity revealed today at Cityscape. It includes a fresh logo that highlights the seven main boulevards radiating from Zayed City, each representing one of the UAE’s seven emirates.
The project, which forms a key aspect of the Abu Dhabi Plan, is valued at around 3.3 billion AED, making it one of the largest and most ambitious developments being planned in the UAE.
Once complete, the district will house an estimated 370,000 residents, as the residential area represents 60 per cent of the project total area, all of whom will have close access to schools and universities, healthcare centers, hotels, mosques, Government agencies, embassies, and a huge range of leisure amenities.
Built to comply with the UPC’s full suite of planning frameworks and manuals, the project will provide a model for high-quality sustainable living in Abu Dhabi.
H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UPC, said: “The UPC is honoured to provide the UAE’s leadership and members of the public with updates on the progress of one of Abu Dhabi’s most important development projects.
“There is no better forum than Cityscape Abu Dhabi to disclose major milestones and today’s progress report highlights that different project stakeholders in Abu Dhabi are making positive strides towards a common goal.”
Abu Dhabi General Services Company, Musanada, is building infrastructure for the “Emirates district” area of Zayed City. The 17.1 million m² project is set to be delivered by the end of 2019 with a value of more than 2.5 billion AED, including roads and infrastructure works.
The 22,000-resident district is expected to include 2,790 residential plots, 35 mosques, 45 gardens and 15 schools within a residential community that extends 1,401 hectares.
The firm is also working on the Commercial District within Zayed City. Soil leveling and settling works have begun in the northern and southern districts, as well as the mosque area and the Central Business District launched at the beginning of February 2017. Infrastructure works costing approximately 1.039 billion AED will begin in the Southern Business District in early 2017 and will be completed by the end of 2019.
H.E. Eng. Suwaidan Rashed Al Dhaheri, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada), said: “We are delighted to be working on this project which is so aligned to the Abu Dhabi Plan and its objectives. The work we are doing for the ‘Emirates district’ will help provide a sustainable infrastructure that serves our society and economy while delivering the best world standards.”
Visitors to Cityscape Abu Dhabi, which runs at ADNEC from April 18-20, got to sample a taste of life at Zayed City using an interactive visual experience at the UPC stand. Delegates were able to view a hologram image of the project and access certain parts of the Master Plan for more information, such as Emirati housing neighbourhoods, commercial districts and community amenities. Investors were even able to use an app that identifies the exact plot they have bought.
Director General of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, H.E Saif Bader Al Qubaisi, said: “The Authority is keen to cooperate with all government agencies in Abu Dhabi as we seek to establish a cohesive, diverse and sustainable residential community by making sure that all housing projects have been planned, designed and constructed in accordance with Abu Dhabi Housing Authority standards.”
In line with the UPC’s Complete Sustainable Communities mission, Zayed City will provide low density residential neighbourhoods, mosques, schools, parks and shops to ensure a high quality of life and will be designed around the UPC’s four pillars of sustainability - the natural environment, economic development, cultural heritage and social cohesion.
H.E. Musabah Mubarak Al Marar, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi City Municipality, said: “The Municipality is moving ahead with the implementation of infrastructure projects in Abu Dhabi to reflect the Abu Dhabi comprehensive development plan. We are keen to review the technical aspects of the project to ensure that all requirements, manuals and specifications are met as well as issuing of necessary planning approvals in line with the continuous urban development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City also announced it has now established an ad hoc committee for the project, with the decision makers representing all service providers, in order to identify all the challenges of the project, work to overcome them, and to provide the necessary guidance to serve the continuity of the project and implementation in accordance with the best international standards.
As the Government agency managing the physical planning of Abu Dhabi, the UPC developed the Zayed City Master Plan during a series of workshops featuring a team of international experts, including architects, urban planners, urban designers, transportation engineers and transportation planners.
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For more information on the UPC, please visit www.upc.gov.ae
Zayed City Fact Box:
- 45km2 area in total
- 370,000 is estimated future population
- 7 central axes leading into the Central Business District (CBD) represent the seven Emirates
- 60 per cent of Gross Floor Area made up of residential areas
- 374,000m2 allocated for national cultural and civic institutions
- Will contain 6 metro stations
About the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council:
The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) was created by law number 23 of the year 2007 and is the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environments, and the expert authority behind the framework plans for the Emirate: Plan Capital 2030, Plan Al Ain 2030, Plan Al Dhafra 2030 and Plan Maritime 2030. Chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council defines the shape of the Emirate, ensuring factors such as sustainability, infrastructure capacity, community planning and quality of life, by overseeing development across the city and the Emirate as a whole. The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council ensures best practice in planning for both new and existing urban areas.
The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s primary purpose is to deliver upon the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Ruler of Abu Dhabi for the continued fulfilment of the grand design envisaged by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the ongoing evolution of Abu Dhabi as a global capital city. By drawing on urban planning expertise locally, throughout the GCC and around the world, the UPC strives to be a global authority on the future of urban planning and design.
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© Press Release 2017
