Abu Dhabi approves host of development projects

ABU DHABI — The Abu Dhabi Executive Council on Monday reviewed and approved a number of ongoing and new infrastructure projects, setting up 24 new public schools, over 4,000 villas for citizens, extension of roads and new industrial zones.

The meeting was chaired by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who is also the chairman of the council. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chairman Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor.

The council approved a number of new development projects in the emirate, especially in the areas of social services, housing, health and education. The new projects to be developed in Abu Dhabi city and its suburbs, Al Ain and its outskirts and Al Gharbia (Western Region) also include new health facilities and rehabilitation facilities with two new autism centres.

The council gave approval for construction, renovation and infrastructure projects in Liwa, Ghiyathi, Al Hayr, Al Showaib, Bida Al Mutawa’a, Mazyed, Um Ghafa, Nemah, Al Salamat, Umm Al Ashtan and Alybanh.

Additional infrastructure projects will be implemented in a number of other residential districts in the north of Al Wathba, Al Falah, Mohammed bin Zayed City and other neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi city.

According to a report by the official Emirates News Agency (Wam), the North Wathba project is one of the largest residential projects to have been approved to date. It covers an area of 4,178 hectares and, on completion, will provide 13,150 new residential plots. The 2012 projects also include a total of 7,608 residential villas for its citizens.

The meeting also approved the budget for infrastructure works at Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) for the new Shaikh Khalifa Port. The first operations at the new port are expected to commence on September 1.

The council also approved projects to develop new terminal facilities at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The new terminal building has an area of 700,000 square metres and will be able to handle 27 million passengers a year. It is planned to be open in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The meeting further reviewed and approved the Al Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Highway, connecting the emirate to the Saudi border.

The project includes the development and expansion of the current road by 246km and the building of 15 new overhead interchanges. This will enhance traffic flow, ensure the security and safety of the road users and keep pace with the economic growth. It should have a significant impact on the growth of the Abu Dhabi transport sector.

The second major road project is the extension and expansion of the existing Truck Road, linking Emirates Road in Dubai.

The meeting further discussed the emirate’s metro project that has been designed and planned under the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

The council also approved construction and maintenance of drain systems in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region.

The new projects also include 14 healthcare facilities and a world-class rehabilitation centre. This continues the process of upgrading the level of healthcare to serve the community and delivering better and more uniform health services to all areas of Abu Dhabi.

One of the new facilities to be built is the Abu Dhabi Cleveland Clinic, which will provide world-class services in the specialist areas of cardiac, digestive, gastrointestinal, neurological and ophthalmological medicines.

In industrial development, the meeting approved two new industrial zones in Ruwais and Medinat Zayed in the Western Region. The Ruwais industrial zone will cover an area of 14 square kilometres and will focus on the chemical, petrochemical, plastic manufacturing, oil and gas, cement, building and logistics industries.

The Madinat Zayed industrial zone will focus on the oil and gas, food manufacturing and logistics’ industries and will cover an area of 2.5 square kilometres. Both the industrial zones will provide employment to the people in that region.

The development of an auto city which will be located adjacent to the Industrial City Abu Dhabi (ICAD) in Mussafah was approved. It will act as a cluster development for all auto-related businesses and is intended to serve the future growth needs of the automobile sector in Abu Dhabi.

The Shams solar power plant is scheduled to be operational by August and will contribute 100MW to the Abu Dhabi power grid. Approval has also been given for the construction of the Sir Baniyas wind farm. Both of these projects will help support the government’s vision of having seven per cent of its energy needs supplied by renewable energy.

For the law enforcement agencies, the council approved a number of projects by the Abu Dhabi Police to provide high-end security and training infrastructure facilities to ensure that the already high standards of safety and security are maintained and enhanced.

The council also approved projects proposed by the Abu Dhabi Education Council for the establishment of 24 new schools, and the refurbishment of 10 existing schools.

Accommodation projects for teachers have also been provided to ensure that quality staff will be prepared to work in remote areas. “These investments are in line with the government’s stated plans to provide an international standard education system for all of its citizens,” the council said in a statement.

Budgets and opening dates were approved for the museum projects in the cultural district on Saadiyat Island. These include the Shaikh Zayed Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Museum, and Emirates Museum and will rank Abu Dhabi as a world-class tourist destination.

Two additional projects were approved for the redesigning and building of a new Al Ain National Museum and the design and development of the cultural Hili site. These two projects will significantly contribute to the historical material and cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi, raising awareness of Abu Dhabi’s deep ancestral history, and adding value to Unesco’s international heritage collection.

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• UAE