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New projects for Madinat Zayed

ABU DHABI — Madinat Zayed, the town built in the 70s to support the growing oil industry in the west of Abu Dhabi emirate, lacks adequate housing units today.

The town, an important link between the capital and the popular Liwa Oasis (on the edge of Rub Al Khali Desert, Liwa Oasis boasts some of the tallest sand dunes in the world), is located amidst the high and mighty sandy dunes. Madinat Zayed’s wide streets, lined with shady trees, make a good first impression. However, beyond the greenery, there is little else.

Al Mazrouei, director-general of the Western Region Development Council (WRDC), said: “There is simply no accommodation available here in Madinat Zayed. At least, not at the moment.”

The best restaurant in the town is the fast food outlet at a petrol station and the best entertainment venue is a barbecue in the desert. There are no hotels, no shopping malls, no cinema theatres. The last house built here was way back in the 90s, even as the demand for housing has grown by leaps and bounds. All that is about to change, though.

Al Mazrouei pointed out that Madinat Zayed already has a higher education institution, the Higher Colleges of Technologies, which was established last year. “By the middle of 2008, the town will have 200 new housing units,” said Al Mazrouei.

The official explained that residential projects were being planned for all towns of the Western Region. A majority of these projects will be new housing complexes, although quite a few of these units will be built by demolishing some of the old houses. Throughout the Western Region, some 40 to 50 per cent of the old houses are dilapidated and await re-construction.

“In Madinat Zayed alone, around 400 new housing units will be built by local investors, in addition to Al Dafra Ranches, which will add another 672 houses,” said Al Mazrouei.

Apart from the residential projects, other major developments are also being planned for Madinat Zayed.