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Move to Reduce Congestion and Population Density in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI — The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has come up with a strategy to reduce congestion and population density in the central area of Abu Dhabi city.

“Abu Dhabi’s population is projected to increase to three million by 2030. This will pose significant challenges in terms of mobility and transportation,” said Falah Al Ahbabi, general manager of the UPC.

The approximately one million people living in Abu Dhabi city right now are concentrated in one area, posing immense challenges for commuting.

“The remainder of the capital is developed with palaces, villas, mosques, schools and other institutional and recreational buildings, while low-density suburbs dot the mainland,” said Falah Al Ahbabi.

By 2030, the UPC reckons, the land use structure here will change dramatically to create a city that will function well with more than three times its current population.

“We are creating the Capital City District, with a population of 3,50,000 to 3,80,000 residents, which will form a second centre in Abu Dhabi, located on the mainland in the area known as Khalifa City,” Falah Al Ahbabi added.

The Capital City District will sit on an axis that is an extension of the Mussafah Bridge alignment, being at the centre of the mainland Emirati communities.

The city’s centre will be expanded towards northeast to encompass Sowah Island (the new financial centre), the redeveloped Mina Zayed Port area, and parts of Reem Island. This will continue to be the financial and commercial heart of Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, the Capital City District — the new location of the UAE Federal Government, embassies and some emirate and municipality government functions — will become the seat of the national government.

New transport infrastructure will be developed to connect the city’s centre with the Capital City District.

In a single-centre city, traffic flow towards the centre in the morning would be too high, congesting incoming routes and leaving outgoing routes half empty. The opposite happens in the evening. In a dual-centre city, traffic movement between the centres would be nearly equal so that street space and public transport are fully utilised in both directions.

“By breaking the mould of the traditional city planning model, the UPC is promoting a new mindset through responsive urbanism concepts,” Falah Al Ahbabi said.

By 2030, Abu Dhabi will have a series of major centres of activity, in addition to the dominant central area of the city and Capital City District. The Abu Dhabi mainland will expand substantially with the redevelopment and expansion of Shahama-Bahia, Baniyas and Wathba, and with the development of new communities such as Al Falah and Shamkha.

· silvia@khaleejtimes.com