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Plan 2030 aims to make Abu Dhabi a global city

ABU DHABI — After 12 months of consultation and planning, the Abu Dhabi government yesterday published its ‘Plan Abu Dhabi 2030: Urban Structure Framework Plan’ and sought suggestions from the media and others to formulate a comprehensive plan for the development of the city of Abu Dhabi.

The plan, a copy of which was released at a Press conference in Emirates Palace, is aimed at making Abu Dhabi a global capital city.

Under the plan, the city is projected to grow to house over three million people by 2030. The plan envisages a diverse mix of housing options, including Emirati housing inspired by the traditional family structures of the local community and affordable ones, for all citizens and residents.

The plan has been created under the directive of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to fulfil the grand design envisaged by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Chairman of the Executive Council and Chairman of the newly formed Urban Planning Council, said: “This urban plan provides a strong and comprehensive foundation for the development of the city of Abu Dhabi in a strategic and coordinated way. It will ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy and be inspired by ongoing access to the desert, sea and natural assets that are integral to our national identity, while building a global capital with its own rich cultural heritage”.

The plan specifies the land uses, building heights and transportation plans for the entire metropolitan area of Abu Dhabi. The plan includes developing apartment buildings, eco-friendly villages and deserts, enhancing the transportation facilities and an extensive central business city in a new region in Abu Dhabi.

The newly formed Urban Planning Council (UPC), which was announced at the Press conference, will facilitate constructive dialogue between the public and private sectors involved in the real estate and property development sector in Abu Dhabi. The private sector was widely consulted in formulating the plan and has formally been briefed on its contents.

Speaking at the Press conference, Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of UPC, said: “The publication (of the plan) represents an unparalleled opportunity for the real estate sector to express their entrepreneurial and creative spirit within the coordinated framework of a strong and decisive plan for the city. It is essential that the public and private sectors work together to achieve the vision laid out by the government in an environment that can be beneficial for everyone.”