Vision Magazine Online Issue 1

April 2010 

Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council Magazine 

Issue 1 

Abu Dhabi 

Urban Planning Council 

at Cityscape 

Blueprint for the Next Generation 

A look at how Abu Dhabi is set to grow 

A Race Against Time 

Aldar’s 999 days to get the right formula

Editorial: M&N Communications, Abu Dhabi 

Design: Brand Faith, Abu Dhabi 

Print: Universal Publisher and Distributor EST. Abu Dhabi 

Distribution: The Media Factory. 

For advertising opportunities please call 02 409 6000 

or email us on vision@upc.gov.ae 

The paper in this magazine is made from sustainable forests 

2 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE

WELCOME PAGE 5 NEWS PAGE 6 -7 

BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION 

PAGE 8-11 EASTERN PROMISE PAGE 

12-15 WAKING UP THE CORNICHE 

PAGE 16-17 HOME ECONOMICS PAGE 

19 A RACE AGAINST TIME PAGE 21- 24 

QUALITY STREETS PAGE 26-27 MEET 

THE TEAM PAGE 28-29 BRANDING THE 

UPC PAGE 31-32 CITYSCAPE SPECIAL 

ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 3

Planning Abu Dhabi for the Next Generation 

The Urban Planning Council produces plans and 

development regulations that govern Abu Dhabi’s physical 

environment. In alignment with the clear targets identified 

by Economic Vision 2030, the Council manages the 

Emirate’s sustainable urban growth through efficient 

development review and proactive implementation in 

coordination with the public and private sector partners. 


Welcome 

Keeping you better informed 

At the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) we consider 

communication to be vital: people are at the heart of 

everything we do. We take time to listen to the people of 

Abu Dhabi to ensure we meet the needs and wants of the 

various communities across the Emirate so that we improve 

the quality of life for all. We take time to listen to businesses 

to ensure we help them thrive, and the wider and diversified 

economy to grow. 

We work hard to communicate the fast paced changes 

across Abu Dhabi Emirate to all stakeholders. This new 

quarterly magazine, “VISION”, is part of our commitment 

to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with the plans 

and urban developments within their cities, towns, islands 

and rural areas across the Emirate. It also links with our 

website www.upc.gov.ae which contains a wealth of 

easily accessible, up to date information; please do take the 

opportunity to look. 

Cityscape Abu Dhabi will be showcasing the most exciting 

real estate projects across the Emirate, including the first 

viewing of the UPC’s 23 by 17 metre model of the city 

of Abu Dhabi. We felt that Cityscape Abu Dhabi was the 

appropriate place and time to launch our new magazine so 

that visitors, as well as the general public, can understand 

how all these proposed developments will come together to 

create our new city. 

I hope you enjoy this first issue of “VISION” and find it a 

valuable guide to some of the changes happening in Abu 

Dhabi and also the role that we at the UPC are taking in 

shaping a better place for you all to live, work and play. 

H.E. Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi 

General Manager 

Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council 

We always welcome and value your feedback. 

Please email us at vision@upc.gov.ae 


NEWS 

Developments Receive 

Estidama Awards 

Twelve developments across Abu Dhabi Emirate have been 

awarded Estidama Excellence Awards at the World Future 

Energy Summit at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre 

(ADNEC). 

Estidama is the sustainability programme managed by 

the Urban Planning Council (UPC). It bestowed Estidama 

Excellence Awards to 12 developments that help use 

various methods to reduce their negative impact on the 

environment. 

All 12 developments are advancing towards certification 

within Estidama’s sustainability guidelines and principles, 

which have been designed to enhance sustainability and 

livability standards across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. 

A wide range of projects from single buildings to mixeduse 

developments received the award, including: Al Salam 

Street Residence Development; Al Rayyana Development; 

the British College in Abu Dhabi; Al Ain Wildlife Park and 

Resort Hotel; R-3 Residential Development in Al Ain; 

Masdar Headquarters; the Abu Dhabi Mid-Field Airport 

Terminal; the Magnet at twofour54; and Ain Al Fayda 

Community in Al Ain. 

The 12 projects are exemplary representatives of the goals 

of Estidama and have offered a wide range of innovative 

solutions that meets the needs of both Abu Dhabi and the 

wider GCC region. 

The process of Estidama compliance certification 

commenced in 2009 with a number of projects vying to 

gain Estidama pilot project status in recognition of their 

green credentials. 

The UPC Wins Excellence 

in GIS Award 

The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has been selected as 

the winner for the 2010 Excellence in GIS (Geographical 

Information Systems) Award, in recognition of its 

achievements in executing exceptional GIS systems across 

three municipalities in Abu Dhabi. 

The award was presented to the UPC at GISWORX fifth 

annual conference held from 15-17 March in Abu Dhabi. 

The Excellence in GIS Implementation (EGI) Awards 

have been implemented by GISTEC, the official and sole 

distributor of ESRI software and the organiser of the GIS 

event in the UAE to promote innovation and experimentation 

in the area of GIS implementation. 

Scoring For The UPC 

In March, the Urban Planning Council (UPC) took part in the 

Dar Abu Dhabi Football Championships 2010, which is an 

intergovernmental initiative, with teams from a number of 

Abu Dhabi’s government bodies. 

Aldar, Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, 

Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Mubadala, Executive 

Affairs Authority, National Crisis & Emergency Management 

Authority (NCEMA) and Injazat Data Systems all took part. 

After a valiant effort by the UPC players in their first round 

matches, the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific 

Research were eventually declared the winners. 

The UPC Supports 

Red Crescent 

The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has teamed up with 

the Red Crescent to support Al Ghadeer, a joint initiative 

designed to develop and improve the skills of local women 

on low incomes. Al Ghadeer will train local women to 

craft traditional UAE products using locally provided and 

recycled materials. Products include date baskets and 

Arabic coffee sets. 

Al Ghadeer’s promotion of the Emirate’s culture and 

Islamic values complements the UPC’s Capital 2030 

(formerly known as Plan Abu Dhabi 2030), which 

supports the preservation of Abu Dhabi’s unique heritage 

and traditions. 


Students Win Acclaim 

for Green Fareej Design 

The UPC Takes Part in 

The Abu Dhabi Award 

The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has introduced the 

Abu Dhabi Award for Organisational Excellence. 

Launched in 2007, the Award invites all government 

organisations to participate in the initiative to drive 

organisational excellence and improvement. The 

Award will allocate scores on the contribution of 

UPC staff across all its departments. A newly created 

‘excellence team’ will support the UPC’s Award 

submission in the summer. 

The winners will be announced in late 2010. 

However, all award nominees will benefit from 

feedback from the judges on how their organisation 

can change and improve their performance. 

Students of Ajman University of Science and 

Technology (AUST) have been announced as 

winners of the first Estidama Fareej Design 

Contest, a competition jointly created by the 

Urban Planning Council (UPC) and Abu Dhabibased 

private property developer Aldar, at the 

Greenbuild International Conference in Arizona, 

USA. 

Over 100 university students from architecture, urban 

planning, engineering and other related degree courses took 

on the challenge to design a sustainable, energy efficient 

Emirati villa that could be integrated into a traditional ‘fareej’ 

neighbourhood plan. 

‘Fareej’ is the traditional Arabic neighbourhood design. 

The pattern is based on the traditional organisation of 

Emirati settlements and reflects the importance of family 

relationships. 

AUST’s winning design, entitled ‘Wind Catcher’ incorporated 

a modern take on the traditional ‘Wind Tower’ design 

element which is prevalent in traditional Middle Eastern 

homes. 

UPC Undertakes Baniyas 

Public Consultation 

The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has held a 

number of community events in Baniyas and 

South Wathba to ensure the views of the local 

community are incorporated into the South 

Wathba/Baniyas Revitalisation Masterplan. 

The community events form part of the UPC’s Public 

Involvement Plan, which is committed to including 

the local residents within the planning process for all 

revitalisation masterplans. 

In Baniyas and South Wathba, the community 

actvities have included Community Majlis events 

in August and September 2009, during which 

consultants and planners from the UPC met with 

community leaders to identify issues within the area. 

This was followed in October by inviting community 

The judging panel, made up of expert representatives from 

the UPC, Aldar and Masdar, along with two prominent 

Emirati planners from X-Architects and dxb.lab, were 

extremely impressed by AUST’s design. 

“The incredible response to the contest from the students 

is a clear indication of Estidama’s bright prospects in the 

future,” said H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of the 

UPC. “It is a perfect example of the support our mission 

enjoys among our next generation of young Emiratis 

who will certainly have a key role to play in the ongoing 

implementation of Estidama.” 

members to discuss any problems, solutions and 

future dreams for the region. Additional events are 

due to be held in the coming months. 

The UPC will continue to work on the creation of the 

Baniyas/South Wathba Revitalisation Masterplan and, 

once approved, will report back to the community. 

The UPC is committed to listening to the public and 

involving them throughout the planning stages, 

highlighting the importance the UPC places on local 

knowledge. Through its various Public Involvement 

Plans, the UPC aims to reach out to the public as it 

creates masterplans for communities across Abu 

Dhabi Emirate. 



Blueprint for the Next 

Generation 

Abu Dhabi is set to undergo a remarkable period of growth. The 

Urban Structure Framework Plan called Capital 2030 and the Urban 

Planning Council will ensure the city will grow in a contemporary 

and connected manner that is fit for the next generation. 

The city of Abu Dhabi has come a long way 

since the 1960s. The discovery of oil during this 

decade and the formation of the UAE in 1971 

saw the city experience an unprecedented 

period of growth. From a population estimated to 

be 25,000 in 1960, Abu Dhabi has today grown 

into a city of about one million people. 

Despite this rapid progress, Abu Dhabi’s best 

days are still ahead. Its population is expected to 

triple to over three million by 2030, its economy 

is expected to diversify and continue its upward 

momentum, while Abu Dhabi’s reputation on the 

international stage is set to flourish. 

But to achieve these goals, Abu Dhabi needs a 

detailed strategic plan. 

Until 2007, there was no definitive plan to 

oversee the growth of the city. Building 

regulations focused on developments in isolation 

rather than how they contributed to neighbouring 

buildings and the overall cityscape. However, 

in 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council 

(UPC) was created by the law No.23 of 2007 to 

oversee the future growth of Abu Dhabi’s urban 

environments and to define the shape of the 

metropolitan area that is set to become one of 

the world’s fastest growing cities. 

The UPC immediately set about designing an 

Urban Structure Framework Plan, originally 

called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 but now renamed 

Capital 2030, to act as a blueprint to guide the 

evolution of the city between 2007 and 2030. 

The purpose of the detailed document is to 

deliver upon the vision of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin 

Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler 

of Abu Dhabi, to fulfil the Late Sheikh Zayed bin 

Sultan Al Nahyan's goal of transforming Abu 

Dhabi into a global capital city. 

“It is important that the growth of Abu Dhabi 

is managed in a co-ordinated and sustained 

way,” explains H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General 

Manager of the UPC. “So we designed this 

visionary plan primarily to help Abu Dhabi filter 

and respond to current and future development 

needs by establishing a planning culture and 

introducing strong guiding principles for any new 

development. 

Capital 2030 provides a way to grow the city, 

take advantage of the economic opportunities 

and add new elements to the city. We want to 

create a world-class contemporary interpretation 

of an Arab city, but not at the expense of our 

people or the natural environment.” 


The UPC undertook rigorous research to create an 

urban structure framework plan to ensure Abu Dhabi 

can cater for its anticipated economic and population 

growth over the next 20 years. Work began in 

December 2006 with a series of evaluation exercises 

and preparatory analysis. This comprised economic 

analysis, including projecting the main sectors that will 

contribute to economic growth, as well as population, 

employment and tourism forecasts. It also included 

a review of Abu Dhabi’s existing infrastructure and 

transportation capacity. 

Then in February and March 2007, the UPC organised 

a series of 'charrettes'. These brought together local, 

regional and international urban planning experts to 

debate and discuss the best ways to expand the city 

of Abu Dhabi, so it can accommodate the predicted 

population and economic growth while becoming a 

more vibrant and liveable city. 

The economic and demographic analysis projected 

that Abu Dhabi’s population will more than triple from 

930,000 in 2007 to 3.1 million in 2030. Meanwhile, 

the number of tourist visits to Abu Dhabi is forecast to 

grow from 1.8 million in 2007 to 7.9 million in 2030. 

This high level of growth needs to be accompanied by 

an increase in accommodation to house the growing 

number of residents and tourists. Capital 2030 has 

calculated that Abu Dhabi will need 686,000 residential 

units in 2030. In 2007 it only had 180,000 homes. It 

also needs to boost the number of hotels rooms from 

10,000 in 2007 to 74,500 in 2030. 

Of course, all these new people will only come to Abu 

Dhabi if they can find jobs. Capital 2030 is therefore 

closely aligned with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 

2030, which sets out economic targets that have 

been prepared by the Economic Vision Taskforce and 

approved by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. 

It is important that the 

growth of Abu Dhabi is 

managed in a 

co-ordinated and 

sustained way 

H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, 

General Manager, 


To meet these economic targets, Capital 2030 has 

calculated how much commercial space is required to 

accommodate the necessary businesses to grow the 

economy and create jobs. It estimates that Abu Dhabi 

needs to treble the amount of office and industrial 

space for warehouses and factories by 2030. This 

means creating more office space and industrial space 

to accommodate future needs. 

All these new residents, employees and tourists also 

need places to shop and spend their leisure time. Retail 

space, cinemas, restaurants and even golf courses 

have been factored into Capital 2030. 

In addition, community amenities such as schools, 

hospitals, clinics, playgrounds and parks also need to 

be provided to keep pace with the growing population. 

For instance, Capital 2030 forecasts that the city will 

need 650 schools and 10,000 hospital beds to serve 

the enlarged population in 2030. The delivery of 

infrastructure for basic amenities, such as water, sewage, 

power and telecommunications, has also been planned. 

More people means more traffic, so Capital 2030 

includes an integrated transport strategy that includes 

building new roads and parking facilities to improve 

traffic flows, but also proposes the development 

of cycle lanes and new public transport networks, 

including an underground metro and overland tram, to 

offer an alternative to the car. 

This amounts to a lot of required development and 

new infrastructure. The Urban Structure Framework 

Plan is therefore a vital document to ensure Abu Dhabi 

meets its growth forecast, but in a measured and 

sustainable way. 

Abu Dhabi Island is not big enough to house this 

huge growth in population and to accommodate 

all the necessary business, leisure and community 

developments. Capital 2030 has identified locations 

where the city will expand. These include many 

surrounding islands. 

For instance, the 27 square kilometre Saadiyat Island has 

been identified as Abu Dhabi’s new cultural heart. It will 

be home to the new Zayed National Museum, the Louvre 

Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum. But 

it will also be home to 160,000 residents with all the 

necessary community, retail and leisure facilities. 

Sowwah Island has been designated as the heart of Abu 

Dhabi’s new Central Business District. The 105 hectare 

island will accommodate much of the necessary new 

office accommodation for blue chip companies and 

have a daily working population of 75,000 as well as 

being home to 30,000 residents. Meanwhile, Yas Island 

has already become a key entertainment location. The 

25 square kilometre island played host to the inaugural 

Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and it 

will also open the world’s first Ferrari World theme park 

later this year as well as other entertainment and leisure 

venues and hotels. 

Meanwhile, Capital 2030 has identified the proposed 

Capital District, located between Khalifa City A and 

Khalifa City B and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, as a 

second centre for the city. The 4,900 hectare new 

district will act as the federal seat of government 

and accommodate the majority of Abu Dhabi’s 

government departments, foreign embassies as well 

as being home to 370,000 residents. 


Next Steps: 

The Capital 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan 

provides a clear, viable vision for the future of Abu 

Dhabi. It is a broad document of ideas, directions and 

patterns but it does not provide detailed guidelines for 

individual areas. 

The UPC is now adding detail to the broad proposals 

outlined in Capital 2030 and is in the process of drawing 

up detailed masterplans for new developments and 

revitalisation plans to regenerate and improve existing 

neighbourhoods. 

For instance, a detailed masterplan has been drawn 

up for the new Capital District and revitalisation plans 

are being created for existing neighbourhoods such as 

Khalifa City A and Khalifa City B, Shahama and Bahia 

and Wasat Madinat Abu Dhabi (downtown Abu Dhabi). 

Capital 2030’s vision is already being delivered on the 

Corniche with the first phase of the Revitalisation Plan 

completed in November 2009. 

Meanwhile, the other regions within Abu Dhabi 

Emirate are undergoing the same process to create 

their own framework plans. Plan Al Gharbia 2030, 

which covers the western region, is due to be 

published in the coming months. Plan Al Ain 2030 

was released in 2009 and covers the Al Ain City 

Urban Structure Framework Plan. Work is currently 

underway to create the Al Ain Regional Structure 

Framework Plan to complete Plan Al Ain 2030 to 

provide a comprehensive and consistent plan that 

reflects the varying characteristics across the region. 

What Does The UPC Do? 

To deliver on Vision 2030, the UPC 

has five core areas of responsibility: 

1. To develop the comprehensive 

plans for blocks, neighbourhoods, 

districts and regions across Abu 

Dhabi Emirate; 

2. To assist in the implementation 

of all plans created by guiding, 

monitoring and working with the 

implementation team and other 

governmental bodies; 

3. To develop regulations, guidelines 

and policies that will help guide 

planning and development in the 

Emirate; 

4. To review and assess major 

strategic developments to 

comply with the plans, policies, 

regulations and guidelines in-line 

with Capital 2030 and external 

government requirements; and 

5. To incorporate and encourage 

Estidama principles of 

sustainability into the built 

environment through the 

Estidama Pearl Rating Systems 


Eastern Promise 


The UPC charrette 

process will ensure 

local needs and issues 

are recognised in the 

forthcoming Al Ain 

Regional Structure 

Framework Plan 

Al Ain has some of the most stunning scenery in 

the Emirate, along with significant agricultural and 

archeological sites not found outside of the region. 

Back in 2008, an Urban Structure Framework Plan 

was created for the oasis city of Al Ain, but it quickly 

became clear that the rest of the Al Ain Region also 

needed a plan of its own to ensure local communities 

within the 20 settlements which surround the city 

of Al Ain were sensitively developed to harness the 

region’s potential to meet the needs of both current 

and future generations. 

In November 2009, 60 local planners, officials, 

specialists and international consultants participated 

in a ‘charrette’ to learn about the region and create 

the principles, policies and plans which will eventually 

become the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan. 

A charrette is the term used to describe an intensive, 

creative and collaborative session which brings 

together an array of participants who each bring a skill, 

expertise or local knowledge to the team. 

The Al Ain Region charrette brought together people 

from the Urban Planning Council (UPC), Al Ain 

Municipality, local agencies, urban planners, designers, 

architects, engineers and other experts, both local and 

international, to work through an agreed schedule on 

the geography, environment and economy, through to 

culture and heritage. The charrette participants also 

spent a day touring the settlements with local officials 

to get a good understanding of the region and the 

existing facilities. 

“Charrettes are an essential tool in creating a successful 

regional plan,” says Saif Ghubash, Senior Planning 

Professional at the UPC. “Bringing everyone together 

in one room, working together to define the vision and 

sharing knowledge with one another ensures that the 

plans are creative, yet realistic and meet the needs of 

the communities within the region. 

“Local specialists have an in-depth knowledge that 

shapes and directs the plans that our international 

experts cannot acquire in such a short period of time,” 

adds Ghubash. “From ensuring that new roads won’t 

suffer from sand drifts by knowing which way the 

winds typically blow, through to understanding the 

intrinsic views and traditions of local people which will 

shape the type and location of community facilities; 

charrettes are the most efficient way of quickly 

gathering knowledge and creating a comprehensive 

plan,” he explains. 

The Al Ain Region charrette examined key issues such 

as the growth of smaller communities; the creation of 

new infrastructure and industry; the development of 

multi-use community facilities; outlining plot patterns; 

and, most importantly, the protection of the natural 


eco-system. It also discussed the incorporation of 

community facilities and retail centres to serve the 

region’s settlements. 

The Emirati residents of the Al Ain Region continue 

to maintain strong family bonds; however, the 

settlements have become more culturally diverse due 

to the rise in expatriates. As one of the key objectives, 

the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan will also 

take into account the different needs of these new 

residents. 

Furthermore, the framework plan will ensure a ’critical 

mass’ in some of the settlements to reduce the level 

of outward migration. 

“We need to really focus on increasing the quality of life 

for all residents living and working in the settlements 

of the Al Ain Region,” says Ahmed Al Kuwaiti, Planning 

Professional at the UPC. “The attraction of bigger cities 

such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain, particularly for 

young and ambitious Emiratis, can often lead them 

to pursuing careers outside of the region. So we 

need to create economically productive, sustainable 

communities that provide opportunities closer to home 

without compromising the environment.” 

In line with Estidama, the UPC’s programme of 

sustainability and Abu Dhabi’s contribution to the global 

discussion on the creation of more environmentallyfriendly 

communities, cities and global enterprises, 

the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan will be 

founded on key environmental, cultural, social and 

economic sustainability principles. 

Next Steps 

Following a presentation of the plans and principles to H.E. 

Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of the UPC, and Dr Matar 

Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Al Ain Municipality, the 

UPC and their consultants will spend a number of months 

collaborating with the Eastern Region Development Council 

(ERDC), Al Ain Municipality, Department of Transportation, 

the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi 

Authority for Culture and Heritage to create the Al Ain 

Regional Structure Framework Plan. 

Once the plan, which will sit alongside the existing Al Ain 

City Urban Structure Framework Plan, is given approval, the 

UPC will apply a comprehensive community involvement 

programme in order to ensure a sustained involvement of 

key local people in the entire planning process. 

Community involvement activities will aim to inspire and 

increase citizens’ involvement by encouraging them to 

activate Abu Dhabi’s sustainable vision to improve community, 

environmental, social and economic responsibility. 

As H.E. Falah Al Hababi, General Manager of the UPC 

summarises: “Each community in the Emirate is distinct in 

its own vision. At the UPC, we understand and acknowledge 

the distinct cultural and environmental ethos of each region 

and hence, have always aimed at creating framework plans 

that not only preserve these precious elements but also 

create the authentic Arab capital of the world.” 

Charrettes are the 

most efficient way 

of quickly gathering 

knowledge and creating 

a comprehensive plan 

A First For The UPC 

Four Emirati urban planning and design students were 

invited to the charrettes to help support the consultants 

and planners. The students took notes, provided local 

knowledge and assisted in the drawing and colouring of 

the settlement plans. 

“The students did a fantastic job,” said Saif Ghubash, Senior 

Planning Professional at the UPC. “It was a great opportunity 

for the students to apply their course knowledge and have 

exposure to the real life challenges that urban planners 

face.” 

Given the success of the students’ participation, the UPC 

aims to provide this opportunity again in future charrette 

sessions to inspire and support the next generation of 

Emirati urban planners. 

Saif Ghubash, 

Senior Planning Professional, 




Waking up the 

Corniche 

upgrade of 1.6 kilometres of public beach completed 

in October 2009, the waterfront now buzzes with 

cyclists, joggers, skateboarders and people playing 

beach volleyball and beach football. 

Those of a more leisurely nature can be found strolling 

along the new boardwalk that stretches the entire 

length of the public beach, picnicking on the newly 

laid grass areas, eating in one of the many new cafes, 

or sunbathing on the sandy beaches using the rental 

beach beds, umbrellas and cabanas. 

In a short space of time, the Corniche has become 

one of Abu Dhabi’s leading destinations for local 

people and tourists. This transformation is thanks to 

the Corniche Revitalisation Programme, which is being 

led by the Urban Planning Council (UPC) in conjunction 

with the Abu Dhabi Municipality and Executive Affairs 

Authority. 

The aim is to provide Abu Dhabi with the “ultimate 

beach experience” by creating an attractive, vibrant, 

liveable and publicly accessible waterfront to rival some 

of the best beachfronts in the world from La Croisette 

in Cannes and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, to 

Beirut’s Corniche and Los Angeles’ Venice Beach. 

Abu Dhabi now has a Corniche to rival the best waterfronts in 

the world due to the Corniche Revitalisation Programme 

Excitement was delivered to the max in March with 

Wakestock Abu Dhabi. The international wakeboard 

and music festival brought together the world’s best 

wakeboarders as well as a number of leading local and 

international music acts. 

Before anyone had chance to catch a breath, another 

exhilarating event was held at the same venue; the 

Red Bull Air Race. 

Both Wakestock and the Red Bull Air Race followed 

other successful events on the Corniche. These include 

Yasalam in late October, which celebrated the inaugural 

Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a 

series of free music concerts, movie nights and public 

art events. The WOMAD international music festival 

will come to the Corniche again this spring. 

It is a facility that has 

become a day out for the 

whole family 

Stretching 8 kilometres from the 

Heritage Village Marina to 

Mina Zayed, the Corniche’s 

potential was identified in 

the UPC’s Capital 2030 

as an area that needed 

to be activated and 

enhanced while 

maintaining Abu 

Dhabi's green 

forecourt. To fulfil 

the Corniche’s 

potential, a 

substantial 

investment has 

gone into developing 

new facilities and 

amenities and 

improving beach 

areas. 

New sports, leisure and 

entertainment activities 

have been created, while 

new facilities, such as 

changing rooms, toilets and 

a Mosque for offering prayers 

have been added. 

But the real star of all these events is not a headline 

act; it is Abu Dhabi’s revamped Corniche. 

The Corniche has transformed into a world-class 

waterfront destination. The wakeboarders, flying 

daredevils and music acts may have gone, but the 

Corniche remains a hive of activity which will continue 

to improve over the coming years. Following an 

Yasser Al Nuaimi, 

Associate Manager, 


A security post has been built to 

ensure the waterfront is secure 

for beachgoers and families, who 

are also catered for with a separate 

Family Beach. Meanwhile, trained 

lifeguards patrol the beach to 

watch over the safety of swimmers 

from seven surveillance towers. 


“Before the Revitalisation Programme, the Corniche 

was frequented by only a small proportion of the 

population,” remembers Yasser Al Nuaimi, Associate 

Manager at the UPC. “But now it is a facility that has 

become a day out for the whole family and in turn the 

whole community.” 

Despite the new amenities, Al Nuaimi says the 

most important changes have been those that have 

improved accessibility and made the entire area 

pedestrian-friendly. 

Underpasses have been upgraded and four pedestrian 

crossings have been added or improved to provide 

convenient and safe passage across the highway. 

Additional parking facilities have been delivered 

opposite the public beach and complemented with 

a park and ride service with stops at each of the six 

entry points to the beach. 

The good news is that the Corniche Revitalisation 

Programme is not yet finished. Another 400 metres 

of beachfront will receive the same facelift in the first 

half of this year. The UPC is also planning to add a 1.6 

kilometre extension, which will mean the beachfront 

will total 3.6 kilometres and stretch up to the junction 

with Airport Road. A truly exciting development for 

the community and tourists to use and enjoy for 

generations to come. 

A place to eat 

The Corniche has an array 

of new affordable food and 

beverage outlets spread 

along the waterfront to 

cater for breakfast, lunch, 

a quick snack following a 

swim, or a place to enjoy a 

coffee while watching the 

sun set. 

A place to 

relax 

A new boardwalk 

stretching the entire 

length of the public beach 

allows people to stroll 

along the shoreline and 

then sit down on one of 

many benches to enjoy 

the sea views. No longer 

do people have to walk 

on a pavement next to the 

Corniche Road. 

Beach rental services 

are available and include 

beach beds, umbrellas 

and cabanas to cater for 

sunbathers. 

Relax on one of the newly 

laid grass areas. 

A place for 

events 

Yasalam will return later in 

the year to commemorate 

Abu Dhabi’s second F1 

Grand Prix in November 

with its mix of public events 

and entertainment. 

The Corniche was the 

perfect backdrop for the 

Red Bull Air Race, which 

flew in on 25 and 26 March 

2010, while the beach 

was the perfect venue for 

Wakestock Abu Dhabi 2010 

in early March. 

The WOMAD festival will 

find it has an improved 

venue when it returns on 

22-24 April 2010. 

A place to play 

The Corniche has become 

an ideal place for running, 

cycling and skateboarding, 

while karts can be rented 

for both adults and children. 

Beach volleyball pitches and 

beach football pitches have 

been added. 

The beach is now a safe 

place for swimmers 

with trained lifeguards 

monitoring the sea from 

seven surveillance towers. 

A place for 

families 

The new beach has a 

separate Family Beach area 

that includes children’s 

play areas with slides 

and even table football 

facilities. 

Families can enjoy the 

use of picnic areas or 

visit one of the many 

food and beverage outlets 

where everyone can find 

something they enjoy 

eating. 


Find out how we’re 

creating a sustainable future 

Visit: www.upc.gov.ae 


Home Economics 

The Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) plays a key role 

in helping grow the economy and supporting local businesses. This included 

helping to conceive the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. ADCED’s Deputy 

General Manager, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani provides an insight. 

What is ADCED’s mission? 

Since our establishment in May 2006, the Abu 

Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) 

has sought to facilitate economic diversification and 

growth through greater understanding, co-operation 

and engagement between the public and private 

sectors of Abu Dhabi. 

What has ADCED achieved 

since it was created? 

We have forged strong working relationships with a 

number of leading international institutions focusing 

on economic development. Our overseas activities are 

predominantly focused on conducting benchmarking 

studies and promoting the Abu Dhabi Economic 

Vision 2030. 

We aim to stimulate 

economic development 

through government 

initiatives and thoughtleadership 

programmes 

Our mission is to develop policy recommendations 

and kick-start initiatives to promote sustainable 

and diversified economic growth by improving Abu 

Dhabi’s infrastructure and business environment 

and enhancing human capital. As an advisory body 

for both public and private stakeholders, we aim to 

stimulate economic development through government 

initiatives and thought-leadership programmes. 

What do you do to achieve this 

mission? 

Our Council helps to create networks that connect 

public and private sector leaders from government, 

business, academia and the community to provide 

platforms for debate on economic issues that 

contribute to policy design and development. 

We also develop public policy recommendations that 

support sustainable economic development and Abu 

Dhabi’s positioning as an international economic hub. 

What has ADCED achieved 

since it was created? 

ADCED had a key role in the conception of the 

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and our Council 

continues to promote the Vision both locally and 

internationally. 

In partnership with the Department of Economic 

Development (DED), ADCED played an important role 

in preparing the draft law for the regulation and coordination 

of statistical information in Abu Dhabi. 

With the technical support of Statistic Sweden, we 

recommended the establishment of the Statistics 

Centre Abu Dhabi as an independent entity to handle 

the tasks of developing and providing accurate 

statistical information across the Emirate. 

Another important objective is to promote the 

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 to business and 

political leaders. For example, ADCED has been an 

active participant in events such as the Abu Dhabi 

Investment Forum. With the UPC we are currently 

developing our network and relationship with the 

World Economic Forum (WEF). Alongside the UPC, we 

attended the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 

2009 organised by WEF last September in Dalian, 

China. ADCED also participated in the World Economic 

Forum Annual Meeting in Davos this year. We are 

currently developing our relationships with the World 

Bank and the IMF. 

Other than oil-related 

industries, what business 

sectors will become most 

important to Abu Dhabi? 

The energy sector will continue to play an 

important role in Abu Dhabi’s economy but at the 

same time other sectors are expected to enjoy 

positive growth including, petrochemicals, metals, 

aviation, pharmaceuticals, tourism, healthcare, 

transportation, education, media, financial services 

and telecommunication services. 

Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, 

Deputy General Manager 

ADCED 


Towards an Ideal Economy 

The Department of Economic Development (DED) plays a leading role in fulfilling the vision for Abu Dhabi to achieve economic stability and sustainable 

development, as outlined in Vision 2030, conceived under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

As the powerhouse of economic development, the DED drives Abu Dhabi’s transformation, supporting its diversification from an oil-based economy to a 

knowledge-based economy. 

Through the delivery of sound economic policies, the provision of a transparent, efficient and effective regulatory framework, and business-oriented 

services the DED is creating an ideal economic environment for local and international investors. 

Telephone: +97124031206 | Facsimile: +97124031761 | Email: ier@adeconomy.ae 

مجلة رؤية - MAGAZINE Page 20 ISSUE ONE - VISION

A Race Against Time 

On 3 February 2007 the countdown began. It was the date when Bernie 

Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Management, announced to the world that 

Abu Dhabi had been chosen to host its first Formula 1 Grand Prix race on 

1 November 2009. Yas Island had already been designated as the location, 

and Aldar as the developer of the race track and accompanying facilities and 

infrastructure. This gave Aldar just 999 days to deliver Abu Dhabi’s most 

significant and internationally recognisable development to date. 

Aldar’s Director of Planning and Infrastructure, Talal Al Dhiyebi, explains 

how Aldar worked in partnership with the Urban Planning Council and 

other government authorities and agencies to deliver F1 racing to the Yas 

Marina Circuit. 

Talal Al Dhiyebi, 

Director of Planning and Infrastructure, 

Aldar 


“I never thought once that we would miss the 

deadline,” says Talal Al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s Director of 

Planning and Infrastructure. “Because everyone in 

Aldar was focused on delivering to this date. 

“Despite my confidence, I was not able to fully 

comprehend that we had actually completed the track 

on time until the actual race day. Seeing all those 

people on the track before the race - the media, the 

celebrities - and then hearing the roar of the F1 cars 

when the lights turned green; that was when I realised 

that the race was really happening and that we had 

delivered Formula One to Abu Dhabi,” remembers Al 

Dhiyebi. 

Aldar has been rightly praised for delivering worldclass 

race facilities and Formula One to Abu Dhabi. 

At its peak, the developer had to manage 48,000 

workers on site – a monumental logistics effort. And 

it had to complete the development within a tight and 

unmoveable deadline, especially as it was looking 

like the outcome of the 2009 Formula One World 

Championship would be decided at the last race of the 

season – the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi 

Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit. 

In the end Jenson Button secured his first F1 World 

Championship in the previous race in Sao Paolo, 

Brazil, but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was still highly 

anticipated. It was the only new track to be unveiled 

during 2009 and it was also the last Grand Prix of the 

season, which always has a special resonance among 

race fans. 

“The arrival of Formula One meant that Abu Dhabi 

was going to appear on the world map and would be 

subject to the scrutiny of a worldwide audience and 

media interest,” recalls Al Dhiyebi. “But it was also Abu 

Dhabi’s opportunity to demonstrate to the world that 

it could deliver substantial developments.” 

Aldar was already underway with the development on 

Yas Island when the Urban Planning Council was formed 

in the summer of 2007 with the responsibility of 

managing the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environment 

and delivering the Vision of Capital 2030 (the Urban 

Structure Framework Plan originally called Plan Abu 

Dhabi 2030). Al Dhiyebi admits that there was some 

concern at the time that the UPC could halt the Yas 

Island project and force a redesign of the race track and 

associated facilities, such as the hotels, roads, marina, 

infrastructure and the Ferrari World theme park. This, 

says Al Dhiyebi, would have seriously affected the 

construction schedules possibly making the task even 

more difficult than it already was. 

But Al Dhiyebi soon realised that his concerns 

were unfounded. “Some government agencies 

have a reputation for being bureaucratic, but 

the UPC was the very opposite. The UPC fully 

understood our tight deadline and worked closely 

with us to ensure the Grand Prix was delivered.” 


Jarat Lang, Senior Associate Planner at the UPC, says 

that the UPC adopted a different planning approval 

process to ensure the race day deadline could be met. 

“We wanted to quickly approve the masterplan for 

all the race day facilities and infrastructure, while 

ensuring any long-term necessary infrastructure, such 

as the routes and stations for a proposed metro line, 

were in place,” explains Lang. “So we worked really 

closely with Aldar with weekly dialogues.” 

Al Dhiyebi says he was impressed with the UPC’s 

attitude and approach. “They would sit down with us 

in open workshops. We would place our problems and 

concerns on the table and find solutions within that 

same workshop. Had we gone through a traditional 

planning approval process then we would still be 

waiting for consent today.” 

Al Dhiyebi has also been impressed with the positive 

impact that the UPC is having in Abu Dhabi City and 

the whole Emirate. 

“The UPC interacts well with developers and it 

understands that by working together we can achieve 

more for Abu Dhabi. For instance, it even has a 

website link for developers with useful information 

available online including the Capital 2030 Plan and 

the Development Review Process. 

“The UPC has also adopted the attitude that you 

must invest in infrastructure before undertaking 

any development. For instance, the Sheikh Khalifa 

Bridge and the 27 kilometre Shahama-Saadiyat 

Highway were opened before developments on Yas 

Island or Saadiyat Island were completed. This type 

of infrastructure – roads, bridges, tunnels, power, 

water, sewage, telecommunications etc – helps to 

ensure that developments are future-proofed and 

don’t become outdated due to inadequate transport 

connections or infrastructure in 10 or 20 years time.” 

Al Dhiyebi also praises other government departments 

and utility companies, such as the Abu Dhabi 

Municipality, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, 

Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi Police, Etisalat, Abu 

Dhabi Tourism Authority and Abu Dhabi Motorsports 

Management for helping to deliver the Formula One. 

“For the first time, all of Abu Dhabi’s different 

government authorities and agencies worked 

together with the private sector to deliver a huge 

project to a tight deadline. That was perhaps Yas 

Island’s biggest success”. 

Hearing the roar 

of the F1 cars when 

the lights turned green; 

that was when I realised 

that the race was really 

happening and that we 

had delivered Formula 1 

to Abu Dhabi 

Talal Al Dhiyebi, 

Director of Planning and Infrastructure, 

Aldar 


“From receiving planning approval from the UPC 

to agreeing with Abu Dhabi Police about race day 

security, it could have been a communications 

nightmare, but it wasn’t. Instead, the UPC and the 

other government authorities understood the deadline 

and they responded. 

“We didn’t have to run around to different government 

authorities seeking approval; they instead were 

proactive and came to us. We’d never seen such a 

joined-up approach before. Had this team spirit not 

existed then the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would never 

have happened.” 

The 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix does not signal the 

end of the story, but the start. Al Dhiyebi says that he 

is aware race fans will be expecting plenty of changes 

to Yas Island when they return in November this year. 

Ferrari World and a new links golf course, for instance, 

are both expected to be open by the start of the 

second Grand Prix. 

Despite quickly approving the masterplan for the race 

track and race day facilities, the UPC is taking more 

time examining Aldar’s masterplan for the rest of the 

island, which measures 25 square kilometres. The UPC 

and Aldar are working closely together to draw up a 

masterplan for the Southern Marina that will create a 

blueprint for a new model urban environment in Abu 

Dhabi. 

Talal Al Dhiyebi on Capital 2030, 

the Urban Structure Framework Plan: 

“Capital 2030 has provided us with 

clarity,” says Talal Al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s 

Director of Planning and Infrastructure. 

“It paints the bigger picture of how Abu 

Dhabi will evolve and grow, and so it has 

provided us at Aldar with a greater insight 

into the future direction of Abu Dhabi. 

“Before Capital 2030, everything was 

being developed in isolation. No one 

knew what was being developed next 

door to their plot or development. But 

Capital 2030 gave us a good indication 

of other developments and proposed 

infrastructure. It meant that we could 

review our plans to ensure they 

complemented Capital 2030 and other 

proposed developments. 

“Had Abu Dhabi continued with unplanned 

development then we would have created 

oversupply and over-investment in some 

real estate sectors; and undersupply and 

under-investment in others.” 



Quality Streets 

The UPC has launched the new Urban Street Design Manual to 

improve the streets and pavements of Abu Dhabi for all users 

Cities are often defined by their buildings. But while an 

urban skyline may attract all the attention, it is what 

happens at street level that makes a city a great place 

to live. 

To maximise the investment in the development of 

iconic office towers, inspiring museums and attractive 

shopping malls, these buildings need to be wellconnected 

and easily accessible by all. 

The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has identified that 

an efficient network of streets and pavements is 

critical to the growth of Abu Dhabi and to creating a 

world-class Arab city. In response it has launched the 

new ’Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual’, which 

will become an essential tool in creating vibrant, wellconnected 

and safer streets and will provide Abu Dhabi 

with a better streetscape. 

The Urban Street Design Manual is the culmination 

of 12 months work between the UPC, Abu Dhabi 

Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police and the Abu Dhabi 

Department of Transport in conjunction with a 

number of specialist consultants who have researched 

international best practice to create a practical guide to 

develop Abu Dhabi’s roads and pathways. 

Cars are currently the main form of transport in 

Abu Dhabi. The hot and humid weather during the 

summer months means people prefer to travel in airconditioned 

comfort rather than walk on pavements 

that have little shade. To add to the appeal of driving, 

people are often confronted with streets that are not 

pedestrian-friendly and make it difficult to walk from 

one place to another. Illegal and badly parked cars 

often create further barriers to pedestrians and act as 

another disincentive to walk. 

Ibrahim Al Hmoudi, Senior Associate Planner at the 

UPC, who has been heavily involved in the creation of 

the manual, explains that the aim of the Urban Street 

Design Manual is to promote the development of a 

‘balanced street network’. 

“This will ensure that streets are designed to be 

efficient, safe and usable for all users – pedestrians, 

cyclists and drivers,” says Al Hmoudi. 

The manual will also contain strategies to improve the 

ability to drive around the city by reducing congestion 

and improving parking provisions. But, as Al Hmoudi 

reiterates, “The emphasis of the Urban Street Design 

Manual will be on making streets safer and more 

comfortable for pedestrians – their safety must be 

paramount”. 

The UPC is keen to create safer streets to encourage 

walking, which is environmentally-friendly, promotes 

a healthy lifestyle and reduces congestion. But 

pedestrians are the most vulnerable of all street users 

and, therefore, require special care and consideration. 

Emirati children also like to play together in their local 

streets, so designing safer streets is important for 

Emirati families as well as pedestrians. 

To improve the safety of Abu Dhabi’s streets, the UPC 

aims to construct new pedestrian crossings on all 

streets to enable people, particularly children, to safely 

move from block to block. The crossings will be in the 

form of a number of designs, which are outlined in 


the manual, and they will all help to maximise the 

uninterrupted flow of the walkway, particularly for 

wheelchair users and people pushing strollers. 

The Urban Street Design Manual includes 

recommendations for providing shading along 

pedestrian walkways and to harness natural breezes to 

make walking a more comfortable experience on hot 

days. It also promotes the creation of attractive streets 

but, in keeping with the UPC’s Estidama programme of 

sustainability, using native plants such as palm trees to 

minimise watering. 

The UPC will use the new Manual as a reference to 

implement best practice in street design. Within the 

manual it sets out clear requirements and guidelines 

so that municipalities, masterplanners and developers 

have a comprehensive level of information to refer to 

when designing their plans. 

The manual will enable all agencies involved in street 

design to use a consistent approach for all urban 

streets across the Emirate. Reiterating the UPC’s 

commitment to working in partnership with other 

government agencies, this manual incorporates the 

UPC’s standards and guidelines with those of the Abu 

Dhabi Department of Transport, the Municipalities of Al 

Ain, Al Gharbia and Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Police – 

a truly collaborative approach. 

The manual will also ensure that new street design 

is aligned with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport’s 

long-term public transport plan. It is proposing to 

develop an underground metro, street-level tram 

system and a bus rapid transit (BRT) and it wants to 

upgrade the bus and taxi network to meet the goals 

set out in Capital 2030 (formerly called Plan Abu Dhabi 

2030). The development of new street networks must 

consider these new public transport initiatives and 

assess how they will impact drivers and pedestrians. 

For instance, lay-bys and designated shaded waiting 

areas will need to be created for taxis. Buses will 

require clear paved pedestrian access points, shaded 

or air-conditioned seated waiting areas and real-time 

information displays. Entrances to metro stations 

will have to be designed to be easily accessible from 

pedestrian walkways, while trams and the BRT must 

provide comfortable waiting stations for users. 

Cyclists will have their own colour-coded designated 

routes running alongside the streets and better 

facilities to park their bicycles securely. The streets 

will have clearer markings and better lane and island 

management to improve traffic flows for all vehicles. 

As well as being a guide for municipalities, 

masterplanners and developers, the Urban Street 

Design Manual also paints a picture of the future. 

It shows how Abu Dhabi is set to become a better 

city and how people are going to be able to more 

effectively and safely visit the new developments that 

are being planned for the capital. 

For more information please visit our 

website: www.upc.gov.ae 

Parking/ 

Slow Travel 

Shared Space 

1 

3 

4 

According to a recent 

Department of Transport 

survey,15% of journeys 

made within Abu Dhabi's 

downtown area are made 

on foot. However, this figure 

is expected to double to 

30% by 2030 due to the 

anticipated pedestrianfriendly 

improvements to 

Abu Dhabi's streets, which 

will give a higher priority 

to pedestrians, cyclists and 

public transport users without 

compromising the overall 

capacity of the road network. 

Ibrahim Al Hmoudi, 

Senior Associate Planner, 



Meet the UPC Team 

People are the most 

important resource for the 

Abu Dhabi Urban Planning 

Council (UPC). Human 

Resources Manager, Yousef 

Abdulla Al Junaibi, discusses 

the UPC’s recruitment and 

development strategies and 

opportunities for graduates 

People are the most 

important factor in 

achieving success in 

any organisation 

Yousef Abdulla Al Junaibi, 

Human Resources Manager, 


What is your role within the 

UPC? 

I am the UPC’s Human Resources (HR) Manager. In 

short, my role is to ensure the UPC attracts, develops 

and retains the best quality and the right number of 

employees needed to meet our long-term goals and 

objectives, and in particular to ensure we deliver on 

the vision of Capital 2030. 

Why is a Human Resources 

Department important to the UPC? 

People are the most important factor in achieving 

success in any organisation. An effective 

employee is the basic building block that makes 

organisations productive. I believe investment in 

improved human resources systems will result in 

enhanced performance and productivity across all 

departments. 

The UPC Management Team has provided the 

support to ensure that the UPC HR Department 

embraces international best practice approaches. 

Good HR processes can also improve vertical and 

horizontal communication throughout the business 

and enable people to better share knowledge and 

expertise to the benefit of fellow employees, 

individuals and the organisation. 

How many staff does the UPC 

employ? 

The UPC has over 150 employees representing 20 

nationalities. We’re not the biggest organisation in 

terms of size, but we pride ourselves on being one 

of Abu Dhabi’s best employers. As a result, the HR 

team is obliged to source the best quality people to 

join the UPC. 

What makes the UPC a good 

employer? 

Those who join the UPC are exposed to a multicultural 

group of experts from many fields – urban 

planning, urban design, project management, GIS, 

architecture, etc. The UPC is like a small village 

where people share their expertise, experience and 

knowledge to help create a better Abu Dhabi for 

future generations. This makes for a fantastic life 

learning environment. 

People who come to work here find that we have 

a positive atmosphere, which we encourage. 

Thanks to the UPC Management Team we’re also 

a transparent organisation that operates an open 

door policy all the way up to the level of General 

Manager. 

And of course we offer generous packages and 

benefits to our employees and we recognise and 

reward good performance. 


How do you find the best 

people to employ? 

We look for people with the appropriate knowledge, 

skills, abilities and attitudes and we spare no effort 

in sourcing them. We use in-house capabilities, 

like the UPC career website, as well as referrals 

and job fairs. We also advertise for particular roles 

in specialist magazines and use head-hunters and 

executive search firms to find experienced people. 

How does the UPC recruit 

young Emirati graduates? 

We have formed excellent relationships with local 

universities and institutes to source top-notch 

graduates. 

We invest a lot of time in the selection process and 

interviews are only one screening element. We have 

a thorough recruitment process, which includes 

in-depth evaluation and the use of psychometric 

testing to ensure we select the best employees. 

How do you help Emiratis 

develop their careers? 

Recently, the UPC has invested time and efforts 

to develop sophisticated personal development 

programmes for all UAE Nationals. 

The Personal Development Plans, or PDPs as we 

call them, carefully assess their current skills, 

behaviours and abilities. The PDPs help us to assess 

training needs and identify the best way to develop 

the careers of our employees through a number of 

different methods, such as job training, workshops, 

assignments, coaching and mentoring. This also 

ensures that our employees’ skills and knowledge 

match our business needs. 

We’re also willing to throw our graduates in at the 

deep end and allow them to swim. For instance, 

some recent graduates will be making presentations 

to the public at Cityscape Abu Dhabi. Thankfully they 

are good swimmers! 

And what about your expat 

employees? 

We don’t forget our expat employees; they are a 

vital asset to the UPC. We regularly send them to 

seminars, conferences and workshops to improve 

and share their knowledge and expertise. We also 

send non-Arabic speakers on Arabic language 

courses to help them integrate better into Arabic 

business circles. 

Are Emirati graduates leaving 

university and college with the 

skills required by the UPC? 

Universities and institutions as well as the Abu 

Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) are committed to 

educating students to ensure they have the skills 

and qualifications that businesses need. Emirati 

universities are producing excellent graduates in the 

fields of architecture, civil engineering, business 

management, project management and IT. 

However, urban planning, which is a core 

competence to the UPC, is a new concept to 

our local universities so they do not yet have a 

specialised curriculum. 

So how are you dealing with lack 

of training in urban planning? 

We have organised a joint programme with ADEC 

to send graduates to American universities to 

study urban planning, together with other relevant 

subjects such as civil engineering and architecture. 

We currently have two scholars in the USA – one in 

Michigan State University and the other in Arizona 

State University. We plan to send more scholars this 

year abroad to countries including the USA, Canada, 

UK, New Zealand and Italy. 

We’re also speaking to universities in the UAE 

about the prospect of developing an urban planning 

syllabus. 

What do you enjoy most about 

your job? 

I love HR and take pleasure seeing our Emirati 

graduates develop both personally and professionally 

within our organisation, and also our non-Nationals 

contributing by transferring their vast knowledge 

and experience to younger staff. And I especially 

enjoy working in a harmonious and efficient 

environment where so many nationalities come 

together for the greater benefit for them personally 

and for the UPC, which will in the end benefit the 

Abu Dhabi Emirate. I simply enjoy this team spirit. 

The UPC is like a small village 

where people share their expertise, 

experience and knowledge to help 

create a better Abu Dhabi 



Branding the UPC 

Since 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has 

been working on developing a clear brand identity to promote all 

masterplans under the Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision umbrella. As the 

regions, cities and settlements start to take shape on the drawing 

board, the UPC’s Communications Team has been hard at work 

creating a branding strategy that creates consistency across the 

organisation, yet individuality for the masterplans being produced. 

But why is branding so important for the UPC and Abu Dhabi? 

Budour Rawas Al Rashedi, Associate Manager for Corporate 

Marketing at the UPC explains… 

Great brands are built 

by being consistent in 

the way we act and 

design our masterplans 

and also in the way we 

communicate. 

Why does the UPC 

need a brand? 

The UPC is the agency responsible for planning 

the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environments 

and therefore is very visible across the Emirate. 

We needed to create a brand that reflects Abu 

Dhabi as an Emirate and highlights the work that 

is being done in an easily identifiable way. The 

UPC is working for the public to create vibrant 

and sustainable communities. We want people to 

recognise our logo and understand what we aim to 

do. As our projects are implemented, people will be 

able to visibly see the UPC’s work taking shape. 

How does the UPC brand 

work? 

Following a period of research and analysis to 

explore the Emirate’s characteristics, we worked 

on a number of designs to find one which best 

represented Abu Dhabi. The brand works on a 

number of levels. The visionary approach to planning 

is reflected in the ‘Vision 2030’ part of the logo and 

this is enhanced by incorporating the Abu Dhabi 

emblem into the overall identity. This helps to focus 

on the long-term, strategic nature of the plans. 

The colours used; a sandy brown and marine blue, 

reflect the convergence of the sea and the desert 

which makes Abu Dhabi so special and highlights the 

importance of protecting the natural environment, 

one of the pillars of the UPC’s Estidama programme 

of sustainability. 

Why is branding important? 

Great brands are built by being consistent in the 

way we act and design our masterplans and also 

in the way we communicate. Given the number 

of masterplans, brochures and documents the 

UPC produces, it is really important that there 

is consistency across the documents so that 

everyone, whether they are a member of the 

public or a developer, can identify the plan as a 

UPC document. Furthermore, designing a logo 

creates a link between the people and their cities, 

towns and settlements – their own signature for 

their community. 

Over the next 12 months, we will be building 

on the successes of 2009 and the visibility we 

achieved in the media to reinforce the UPC’s 

mission as an agent of social, cultural and 

economic development. 

How do you create the 

brands? 

It is important we have a level of consistency across 

the UPC, but it is also important that individual 

cities and settlements maintain their own identity. 

Across the Emirate, there are some differences in 

environments. The logos are therefore created to 

reflect and celebrate this diversity. 

Budour Rawas Al Rashedi 

Associate Manager, 

Corporate Marketing, 



20 Settlements of the Al Ain Region 7 Settlements of the Western Region 

20 تجمع سكني في منطقة العين 

7 تجمعات سكنية في المنطقة الغربية 

We start by looking at the natural colours of the 

location, as the environment is a key element for 

the UPC. We look at whether the town or settlement 

is going to be a mainly residential area, a central 

business district or perhaps a city centre and 

incorporate this into a visual design. 

The common thread throughout the design comes 

from the number seven. Abu Dhabi is the capital of 

the UAE and so many of the logos incorporate seven 

stars, circles or points to reflect the seven Emirates 

that comprise the United Arab Emirates. 

How does the branding 

hierarchy work? 

There is a clear hierarchy within the frameworks 

and masterplans that the branding supports. Sitting 

at the top is ‘Vision 2030’. Below is the Capital 2030 

Urban Structure Framework Plan (formerly called 

Plan Abu Dhabi 2030). This document was released 

at the same time as the UPC was formed and covers 

the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. We rebranded it 

as ‘Capital 2030’ to reflect its geographic range and 

to allow it to sit alongside the two other regional 

visions of Al Ain 2030, which covers the city of 

Al Ain and the wider Al Ain Region, and Al Gharbia 

2030, which covers the western region. 

Once the three framework plans have been released, 

they will be merged into a new Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 

Vision document that will provide the vision for the 

entire Emirate of Abu Dhabi. 

What do the three regional 

framework plans cover? 

Al Ain 2030 covers the whole of the region of Al 

Ain and was released in April 2009. Under this plan 

will sit Al Ain City, Wasat Madinat (Downtown) Al 

Ain and a number of suburbs that surround the city. 

The green colour of the logo reflects Al Ain’s status 

as the ‘Garden City’. There will also be an Al Ain 

Regional Structure Framework Plan, which will cover 

the 20 settlements within the Al Ain Region. 

Al Gharbia 2030 covers the western region and is 

due for release later this year. It will be the final 

regional framework plan joining Al Ain 2030 and 

Capital 2030. 

Capital 2030 will have a number of masterplans, 

such as the Capital District. Capital 2030 is branded 

in a regal red colour representing Abu Dhabi as the 

capital of the UAE. The Capital District Masterplan 

follows this theme and has a burgundy colour, 

reflecting its position as the future seat of federal 

government. 

The downtown area of Abu Dhabi Island will be 

covered by the Wasat Madinat Abu Dhabi Masterplan. 

It will have a blue logo to reflect the proximity 

to the seafront. Shahama & Bahia, Khalifa City A 

and Khalifa City B all have desert coloured logos, 

which mirror the mainland’s desert environment. 

As with Al Ain and Al Gharbia, further cities, such 

as Mohammed bin Zayed City will follow with their 

own masterplans and corresponding logos. 

Why does the UPC have a 

Communications team? 

The planners, policy makers, urban designers and 

managers are all working hard to create the plans 

within Vision 2030. The Corporate Communications 

team, headed by Jean-Philippe Coulaud, 

communicates these plans to all the stakeholders 

who are interested in the work of the UPC. For 

instance, we promote the UPC’s initiatives through 

public 'charrette' sessions and use questionnaires 

and feedback to understand the views of the public, 

which are then incorporated into the plans that will 

eventually become the towns and neighbourhoods 

in which they live, work and play. 

Planning for the future 

Both on a professional and a personal level, I feel 

honoured to be part of the team that has initiated 

this process. We are crafting a brand identity that 

embodies the drive, determination and passion of Abu 

Dhabi and creates a distinct but collective sentiment 

that will draw together the individual communities 

throughout the Emirate to create authentic modern 

Arab settlements for generations to come. 

Page 32 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE

Cityscape 

Special 

Cityscape Returns 

Abu Dhabi’s real estate market remains robust as 

highlighted by the return of Cityscape to the Emirate 

Contents: 

Cityscape Returns Page 1 

The UPC at Cityscape Page 2 

A Sustainable Capital Asset Page 4 

Putting People First Page 7 

Modelling our Future Page 10 

Cityscape Abu Dhabi 

in numbers 2009 

No of stands: 265 

No of exhibitors 

317 

(including stand shares): 

Exhibiting countries: 34 

Total attendance: 33,186 

Visitor countries 

87 

represented: 

Average days attended: 1.2 

Top 5 Overseas Visitor Countries 

1. United Kingdom 2,469 

2. U.S.A 899 

3. Saudi Arabia 661 

4. Bahrain 367 

5. Oman 342 

Within four years, Cityscape Abu Dhabi has established 

itself as a highlight on the international real estate 

calendar. 

Last year, the exhibition and conference attracted more 

than 33,000 participants from 87 countries cementing 

the event’s position as one of the leading real estate 

events in the world. 

“This year we’re expecting a similar number of participants 

as in 2009, which is an incredible achievement when you 

take into consideration that even the most established 

real estate events globally are seeing participation fall by 

up to 60%,” says Rohan Marwaha, Managing Director of 

Cityscape. “This is testament to the strength of the Abu 

Dhabi real estate market.” 

With Cityscape events in almost every major emerging 

market, namely India, China, Singapore, Brazil, Dubai and 

Saudi Arabia, Marwaha is well placed to comment on Abu 

Dhabi’s real estate market. 

He highlights the role of the Urban Planning Council 

(UPC) and, in particular, the Capital 2030 Urban Structure 

Framework Plan (formerly called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030) 

as providing Abu Dhabi with a key advantage over other 

international markets. 

“The UPC is providing Abu Dhabi’s real estate market 

with a clear vision, while Capital 2030 ensures that 

the city is properly masterplanned,” says Marwaha. 

“Too often in emerging markets there is no strategy for 

development, which can lead to significant problems with 

infrastructure, supply of utilities, aesthetics and many 

others. This is clearly not the case in Abu Dhabi given the 

UPC’s vision and ongoing careful consideration of many 

factors throughout the masterplanning process. 

“Abu Dhabi is providing confidence through transparency, 

which is obviously attractive to local and international 

investors, while also helping to preserve the Emirate’s 

culture, heritage and natural environment.” 

The efforts of the UPC and Capital 2030 are now being 

recognised internationally. Attracted by Abu Dhabi’s 

population and economic growth forecasts, and the 

clarity provided within Capital 2030, Abu Dhabi is now on 

the radar for many international investors. 

This is being translated into a greater number of overseas 

visitors to Cityscape Abu Dhabi. In 2009, nearly 7,000 

overseas delegates flew in to Abu Dhabi to visit Cityscape; 

a number that represents about 20% of all participants. 

This number is expected to rise further this year. 

The UPC is providing Abu 

Dhabi’s real estate market 

with a clear vision, while 

Capital 2030 ensures that the 

city is properly masterplanned 

Rohan Marwaha, 

Managing Director, 

Cityscape 

Marwaha says Cityscape has developed a close 

relationship with the UPC to help it better understand 

the future direction of Abu Dhabi’s real estate market, 

to ensure the exhibition and conference is tailored 

accordingly. Cityscape organisers have also worked 

closely with the UPC on its stand, which will be the 

largest at this year’s exhibition and will showcase a model 

of Abu Dhabi measuring 23 metres by 17 metres. 

But Marwaha is keen to stress that Cityscape Abu Dhabi is 

about far more than just the exhibition. 

“We have a full three-day conference programme that 

has different streams depending on your interest. We have 

also organised investor round tables; the Cityscape Awards 

for Real Estate and various networking opportunities, 

including business breakfasts, a golf tournament, a CEO 

networking lunch, a cultural evening, cocktail party and 

an investor and developer networking reception. 

“Cityscape is about enabling the real estate industry to 

share knowledge and best practice; it’s about creating 

transparency, networking and building new relationships. 

When this happens then more business is done, which is 

good news for Abu Dhabi’s real estate market.” 

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Estidama 

The UPC at 

Cityscape 

Estidama is the UPC’s programme 

of sustainability that provides a clear 

understanding of Estidama and the principles 

of the programme that will transform Abu Dhabi 

into a world-class sustainable capital city. At the 

kiosk visitors can learn about the Pearls Rating 

Systems and hear new information about the 

Communities and Buildings Systems and the rating 

process. The kiosk will demonstrate a range 

of changes that residents can make to their 

villa, or consider if building a new villa, to 

improve its sustainability rating. 

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دليل تصميم الشوارع الحضرية - أبوظبي 

Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual 

البنية التحتية 

Infrastructure 

تخطيط احياء السكنية 

Neighbourhood Planning 

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The Al KIOSK Ain STATION FRONT 2030 VIEW kiosk explains how the 

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UPC is now adding to the Al Ain City Urban 

Structure Framework Plan with the Al Ain Regional 

Structure Framework Plan to guide development 

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across the whole of Al Ain. The principles of both 


plans, which together will make up Plan Al Ain 2030, 

are highlighted. An update on the forthcoming Wasat 

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city are progressing. 

The kiosk for Al Gharbia allows visitors to 

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read about the principles that have guided 

the development of the Plan Al Gharbia 2030 

Regional Structure Framework Plan. Facts 

and figures about the region sit alongside 

information on the seven settlements of Al 

Gharbia that are covered by the framework 

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Development Review and 

the Development Code 



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three streams are tailored to reflect the level of complexity in 

small, medium and large developments. The kiosk also displays 

the new on-line system and allows visitors the opportunity to 

test the system for themselves while guided by a member 

of the UPC team. A brochure that contains forms for the 

new process will be available. Information about the 

new Abu Dhabi Development Code, due for release in 

2010, shows how the UPC is guiding and planning 

development across Abu Dhabi and explains 

how the Code will be implemented. 

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of the key proposed developments 

due to take place. Photos, videos 

and maps provide a visual 

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Capital 2030 

Capital 2030 provides visitors with the 

opportunity to look at all of the UPC’s projects 

across the city of Abu Dhabi. From the Corniche 

Revitalisation Programme through to the North 

Wathba/South Baniyas Masterplan, visitors can view 

key information and see images, maps and plans. An 

interactive map for the Capital District will highlight 

what is planned for each precinct, including details 

on the New Stadium and Zayed University. Videos 

show how the Capital District will look and give 

visitors a taste of the future. 

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Street Design and 


Infrastructure is an often forgotten subject and yet 

without it there would be no power, water, roads and 

communications. The infrastructure kiosk provides an 

insight into the work of the UPC’s Infrastructure team 

and how the plans they are creating will meet the needs 

of both current and future generations. Linked with 

infrastructure are the streets that connect people to 

places. The kiosk showcases the principles of the 

recently launched Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design 

Manual and highlights some of the planned 

changes to make Abu Dhabi’s streets 

safer, more vibrant and pedestrianfriendly. 







Neighbourhood 

Planning 

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The Neighbourhood Planning kiosk will be 

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playing a video explaining how the UPC is using 

the traditional ‘fareej’ style of neighbourhood 

design to create new ways of living to promote 

walking in lively, exciting neighbourhoods. The 

kiosk explains the elements that make up the 

neighbourhood and how these combine with 

community facilities such as schools, 

mosques, shops and clinics to create 

‘complete’ communities. 

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Geographic Information 

Systems (GIS) 

Geographic Information Systems play an important role 

at the UPC. For instance, GIS enables planners to visualise 

how masterplans, infrastructure plans and developments 

will fit within the existing city fabric. It enables areas of 

environmental importance to be clearly mapped, and 

ensures that views of important monuments are not 

obstructed by new developments. The GIS kiosk will 

also feature two fly-throughs that allow visitors, 

with the aid of a control pad, to navigate 

freely through both a simulation of Wasat 

Madinat Abu Dhabi and a simulation 

of the Capital District. 

Page 3

A Sustainable Capital Asset 

Abu Dhabi will be graced with a new federal heart, called Capital 

District, which will help elevate the city to the status of a leading 

sustainable Arab capital. 

Travelling along the main road between Abu Dhabi 

Mainland and Abu Dhabi International Airport you can 

see a forest of cranes towering over the first buildings 

to be constructed in Abu Dhabi’s new sustainable 

Capital District development. 

The Zayed University and Abu Dhabi’s 65,000-seat 

New Stadium are huge developments in their own 

right, but they are dwarfed by the Urban Planning 

Council’s (UPC) grand masterplan. 

The sheer scale of the planned new Capital District 

is mesmerising. Totalling 45 square kilometres, the 

triangular-shaped district covers an area equivalent to 

about 75% of the land mass of Abu Dhabi Island. 

Unsurprisingly, it is the single largest initiative within 

Capital 2030 (the Urban Structure Framework 

Plan formerly called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030), and 

arguably Abu Dhabi’s most important and sustainable 

development. Once complete, it will provide more than 

32 million square metres of office, residential, hotel, 

retail and leisure space; as well as key government 

buildings, mosques, schools, parks, plazas, community 

facilities and health amenities. 

Located strategically between Abu Dhabi International 

Airport and Abu Dhabi Island, the Capital District will 

be home for some of Abu Dhabi’s most important 

institutions in six separate precincts (see page 6). It 

will become home to 370,000 residents and have 

a daily population of more than 800,000 workers, 

visitors and shoppers when complete. 

“The objective of the Capital District is to create a 

leading sustainable modern Arab capital” explains 

Jody Andrews, Director of the Capital District 

Development at the UPC. “The Capital District reflects 

the passion and vision of the Emirate’s leadership to 

transform Abu Dhabi into an economically, socially 

and environmentally sustainable city that reflects the 

values, culture and heritage of its people.” 

The design of the Capital District is based on a concept 

called the ‘4 Cs’ – Capital, Central to business, 

Connectivity and Community. 

The Capital District will become the centre of political 

leadership and influence across the country as it will 

serve as the new national seat of the UAE government 

and house a diplomatic and embassy neighbourhood. 

It will also become Central to business and help Abu 

Dhabi attain sustainable and diversified economic 

growth by creating a second Central Business District 

for Abu Dhabi, which will total 1.5 million square 

metres and create over 100,000 jobs. 

A key aspect of the Capital District will be Connectivity. 

It will be served by a world-class transportation system 

to include an underground metro, a street level light rail 

system, a new bus network and a high speed regional 

rail connecting the Capital District to the airport, Dubai, 

Al Ain and beyond. The design of the streetscape will 

also promote walking and cycling. 

Page 4

The final ‘C’, Community, relates to the new residential 

districts, including Emirati Neighbourhoods covering 

1,865 hectares, within the Capital District. The whole 

district is designed to socially and culturally enrich the 

lives of the 370,000 people that are anticipated to live 

in the Capital District. 

“We’ve drawn inspiration from the best capital cities 

around the world, but it is a plan with deep roots 

here, in the UAE,” explains Andrews. “The Capital 

District is masterplanned in the context of the UAE 

and its heritage and culture, but is influenced by best 

practices from capital cities around the world.” 

Andrews says that the Capital District is being 

developed to help meet the goals established in Capital 

2030. It sets out the sustainable urban development 

vision for Abu Dhabi and is based on a rigorous 

economic analysis of the Emirate’s projected growth 

rates and demographic changes, and the sustainable 

infrastructure required to plan for that growth. The 

Capital District will be a driver for economic growth 

and provide the necessary residential, office, retail 

and leisure space required to encourage businesses 

to grow or locate to Abu Dhabi and accommodate a 

population forecasted to grow to more than 3 million 

people. 

To achieve its objectives, the UPC will play a key 

facilitative role in the development of the buildings in 

the Capital District. In the Capital District Masterplan, 

the UPC has set guidelines regarding the size, usage 

and design of buildings that can be developed within 

each precinct. The UPC is taking a more direct role in 

the design and construction of the infrastructure to 

deliver it to the highest possible level of economic, 

social and environmental sustainability and prepare 

the parcels of land for development of the buildings. 

“It is important to understand that although the UPC 

is facilitating the Capital District development,” says 

Andrews, “we will require the expertise and leadership 

of the entire Abu Dhabi development community. 

All of Abu Dhabi’s developers will have a significant 

role to play in ensuring that the individual parcels, 

like the infrastructure, are developed to the highest 

possible level of economic, social and environmental 

sustainability.” 

Due to play a critical role in the growth projections 

for 2030, the Capital District will be a significant 

achievement for both the UPC as well as Abu Dhabi’s 

real estate and development community. 

And it will represent a triumph for Abu Dhabi as it 

takes tangible steps to become the leading sustainable 

modern Arab capital. 

The objective of the 

Capital District is 

to create a leading 

sustainable modern Arab 

capital 

Jody Andrews, 

Director of the Capital District Development, 


Progress 

“We have moved from the masterplanning stage to 

the engineering stage of the Capital District,” explains 

James Reed, the UPC’s Development Manager for the 

Capital District. 

The UPC has begun the preparatory work to install 

the necessary infrastructure for the Capital District. 

Designed from a framework of sustainability, the 

infrastructure will include roads, water, sewage, 

electricity, telecommunications and the foundations 

required to build an extensive transportion system. 

“Preparing for the design and implementation of the 

infrastructure for the Capital District began in the 

second quarter of 2009,” says Reed, “and our goal is 

to deliver the infrastructure in such a way as to allow 

developers to begin work as quickly as possible.” 

Reed expects the core infrastructure to be complete 

by 2015, though certain infrastructure will be 

planned to be strategically delivered at the “right 

Page 5

time” after 2015 to match population growth. Just as 

importantly, strategic areas of the Capital District will 

have infrastructure completed much earlier to allow 

development to begin sooner. 

For instance, the construction of the infrastructure 

within the Emirati Neighbourhood is expected to 

begin in 2010 and the first homes as early as 2011. 

Meanwhile, significant progress has already been 

made with the Zayed University and the New Stadium 

for Abu Dhabi by Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality 

(MREH). 

MREH is making significant progress with the 

construction of the new university campus site, 

which covers an area of 80 hectares. It will include 

academic buildings, recreation facilities and residential 

accommodation for 6,000 students, as well as related 

faculty and support staff and is expected to complete 

in 2012, the same year the 65,000-seat New Stadium 

will also open. 

City Centre Precinct 

At the heart of the City Centre Precinct will be a retailled 

Souk District, which will include a traditionalstyle 

Souk Market. The precinct’s largest area will be 

devoted to a high density Central Business District, 

which will total 1.5 million square metres and create 

over 100,000 jobs in a dynamic, mixed-use urban 

core. 

The North Spine District, which runs parallel to Airport 

Road, will comprise high-density housing as well as a 

hospital and medical campus with biomedical research 

facilities and two universities – Zayed University, 

already under construction, and a new Khalifa 

University for Science and Advanced Research. 

A Federal Mosque District will be home to a national 

mosque as well as housing. 

Emirati Neighbourhoods 

The Emirati Neighbourhoods are an integral part of the 

Capital District. The large area of housing will cover 

1,865 hectares – over 40% of the total land area of 

the Capital District. 

The Emirati Neighbourhoods will have a more relaxed 

ambience compared to the rest of the Capital District. 

The aim is to create residential communities for Emirati 

nationals living in villa and fareej-style homes that 

reflect the aspirations of the Emirati people. There are 

approximately 3,000 individual family plots that will 

eventually be home to 50,000 people. 

Federal Precinct 

The Federal Precinct will serve as the national seat 

of government for the UAE. It will be centred on a 

new ceremonial public space called National Square 

and include other public realm elements such as the 

International Park and Monumental Park. 

The precinct will be home to other significant 

public institutions, such as libraries and museums, 

as well as local, regional and national government 

departments and ministries within the Ministries Zone 

and Institutions Zone. A Diplomatic Zone will house 

international embassies. 

Sports Hub Precinct 

The New Stadium for Abu Dhabi is currently under 

construction and the foundations being established. 

The remainder of the Sports Hub Precinct is being 

designed around the New Stadium. 

South Spine Precinct 

The South Spine Precinct is currently undergoing 

masterplanning refinement and will be comprised of 

business and high density residential properties. 

Palace Precinct 

The Palace Precinct is currently under design 

development. 

Page 6

Putting People First 

The focus of the Urban Planning Council (UPC) 

is not just about bricks and mortar, the work of 

the UPC is all about people. At the heart of all 

the UPC’s initiatives are the people that live in, 

work in and visit Abu Dhabi. 

The UPC’s overarching aim is to raise the quality 

of life for its residents and visitors by creating a 

world-class sustainable capital city. 

Abu Dhabi’s Plan 2030 establishes a clear vision 

for sustainability as the foundation of any new 

development occurring in the Emirate and 

capital city of Abu Dhabi. This commitment is a 

reflection of the values and ideals of our nation. 

The tenet of sustainable living in the Middle East 

is the guiding force behind the UPC’s Estidama 

initiative. More than just a sustainability 

programme, Estidama is the symbol of an 

inspired vision for governance and community 

development. It promotes a new mindset for 

building a forward thinking global capital. 

To ensure the UPC creates a better Emirate, it 

has identified seven key themes that will make 

a tangible, positive difference to the lives and 

lifestyles of the people of Abu Dhabi. The seven 

themes are also designed to help Abu Dhabi 

evolve into a contemporary and multi-cultural 

Arab capital city. 

Community Development 

The UPC is committed to creating ‘complete’ 

communities for Abu Dhabi’s residents. These 

communities will feature a fusion of contemporary 

design and sustainable technologies that respect 

traditional Emirati home designs. 

Inspired by traditional ‘fareej’ design, neighbourhoods 

will feature a range of housing options for all income 

levels and will be designed to include cool, shaded 

walkways and communal open spaces. 

These neighbourhoods will feature a variety of 

high quality community facilities, such as schools, 

medical facilities, mosques, parks and shops to create 

complete, well-connected and lively communities 

across the Emirate. 

Page 7

Connectivity 

The UPC places a high level of importance on 

connectivity to ensure residents and visitors can 

conveniently reach their homes, work places, 

community facilities and recreational locations. 

Streets will be designed to encourage walking and 

cycling through the creation of safe, shaded and wellconnected 

streets. A transport network comprising an 

underground metro, street-level trams and buses will 

improve connectivity across the cities of Abu Dhabi, 

while a regional rail service will connect the Emirate 

to the wider UAE. 

Abu Dhabi International Airport will continue to 

increase both in size and in the range of destinations 

it serves; thereby expanding the airport’s global reach. 

Revitalisation 

In addition to creating new communities, the UPC also 

focuses on regenerating and improving existing cities 

and communities across the Abu Dhabi Emirate. 

Revitalisation strategies are being developed for the 

downtown districts of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, which will 

infuse the cities with better transport connections and 

greater pedestrian connectivity, along with a higher 

quality of community facilities and more sustainable 

housing options. Overall, the aim is to create wellbalanced 

and diverse urban environments to enhance 

the rich social fabric that already exists. 

Natural Environment 

The UPC is actively working to protect, preserve and 

enhance Abu Dhabi’s wealth of marine and landbased 

environmental assets for future generations. 

These include the Eastern Mangroves, which run along 

the eastern shoreline of Abu Dhabi Island and act as 

an important ‘hatchery’ for the Gulf’s fish stocks, 

while also providing a habitat for a number of species 

of birds. Green and Hawksbill turtles often lay their 

eggs on the shores of Abu Dhabi, while flamingoes, 

dolphins, porpoise and dugong can be found in the 

Emirate’s marine waters. 

Page 8

Culture and Heritage 

The UPC bestows great importance in conserving the 

unique heritage, culture and customs of the people 

and places of Abu Dhabi. Interpreting and incorporating 

these Arab and Emirati elements into contemporary 

forms will help to create an authentic Arab capital. 

Abu Dhabi has a unique connection with the sea. A 

planned Heritage Trail will re-establish the traditional 

Bedouin route from the shore to the desert by 

linking the historic fort of Qasr Al Hosn to the Qasr 

Al Manhal palace and onwards to the Sheikh Zayed 

Grand Mosque, then culminating in the entrance to the 

planned Grand Boulevard of the Capital District. 

While great significance is placed on Emirati heritage 

and customs, Abu Dhabi appreciates and respects 

diversity. International museums, such as the 

Guggenheim and Louvre, highlight Abu Dhabi’s 

openness to other international arts and culture. 

Waterfront 

Abu Dhabi’s unique location, where the desert 

converges with the sea, has created an exceptional 

marine waterfront. The UPC’s Corniche Revitalisation 

Programme has already made major improvements 

and created an exciting beachfront location with a 

range of sports and recreational facilities. 

The Al Bateen Waterfront Guidelines also support the 

public’s access to the waterfront in this historic part 

of Abu Dhabi. A public corniche running along the 

waterfront of Coastal Bahia, which will form part of the 

Revitalisation Masterplan for Shahama & Bahia, further 

highlights the importance of Abu Dhabi’s coastal areas 

both for recreation and tourism. 

World-Class Sporting 

Venue 

Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming recognised as a leading 

destination for international sporting events. Yas Island, 

Mohamed Bin Zayed Sports Stadium, Zayed Sports 

City and Abu Dhabi Golf Club have all attracted some 

of the world’s most prestigious sporting spectacles. 

The UPC will continue this success by building new 

sports facilities, such as basketball and racketball 

courts, into a number of projects to provide recreational 

activities within easy reach of its residents. The Capital 

District, for instance, will be home to the 65,000 

seater New Stadium Abu Dhabi that will be located in 

the Sports Hub District. This further demonstrates the 

UPC’s commitment to providing high-quality sporting 

facilities for both event and public use. 

Page 9

Modelling Our Future 

Measuring 23 x 17 metres, the UPC’s new model of Abu 

Dhabi is the centrepiece of Cityscape Abu Dhabi 

Abu Dhabi is bursting with exciting new developments. 

Some are close to completion, while others remain 

computer generated images with start dates due in 

the near future. 

However, at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, which is being held 

at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre between 

18-21 April, visitors will get a detailed glimpse into 

the future of how Abu Dhabi will look once these 

projects are complete. 

This is due to the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s 

(UPC) decision to commission an interactive model 

of Abu Dhabi. It will not be the only model on 

display at Cityscape, but measuring 23 metres by 

17 metres, it will be the largest and the centrepiece 

of the exhibition. 

The impressive model is on display on the UPC’s 

stand and shows the whole of the city of Abu Dhabi. 

It stretches from the Corniche on Abu Dhabi Island 

to Shahama, Mussafah and Al Falah on the mainland 

and includes the islands of Saadiyat, Yas, Lulu, Reem 

and Sowwah, which are all set to become key 

development areas for Abu Dhabi. 

With a scale of 1:2000, individual buildings can be 

easily identified on the model, which includes all of 

Abu Dhabi’s future developments, such as Sowwah 

Square and Masdar. But existing landmarks, such 

as Emirates Palace and the Grand Mosque, are also 

prominent to help people navigate the map. 

Page 10

“We wanted to provide the people of Abu Dhabi a clear 

way to see how Abu Dhabi is developing and will look 

in the future,” says Naser Al Junaibi, Communications 

Manager in the UPC’s Corporate Communications team. 

“Models are a fantastic visualisation tool. They have a 

magnetic pull and enable people to really understand 

how developments relate to one another,” adds Al 

Junaibi. 

The UPC commissioned UK modelling company Pipers 

to build the model. Pipers is known for building the 

model of Saadiyat Island and developing a number 

of models of London, including a model to support 

London’s successful Olympics bid. 

The UPC first began working with Pipers in the 

summer of 2007. Pipers originally built a triangularshaped 

model of the new Capital District, which went 

on display at Cityscape Abu Dhabi in 2009. 

“The positive response we received about the model 

of the Capital District gave us the confidence to build 

something on a grander scale that would highlight all 

of Abu Dhabi’s key developments,” says Al Junaibi. 

The UPC has designed a purpose-built stand for 

the model at Cityscape that will enable people to 

clearly see the entire model from wherever they are 

positioned. There will also be an opportunity to have 

a bird’s eye perspective of the model with viewing 

platforms on the first floor of the stand. 

The model was hand-made using polyurethane board 

and perspex, except for using laser-cutting equipment 

for the villas, in the UK by a core team of 15 that at 

times swelled to 30 people. 

The model is broken into 262 separate sections 

measuring no wider than 1.5 metres to enable the 

model to be delivered to ADNEC or any other building. 

The model is transported in a bespoke series of boxes 

weighing in excess of eight tonnes when fully loaded, 

and it takes eight people more than four days to 

reassemble the model. 

Despite the challenges of building, transporting and 

reassembling the model, Matthew Quinn, Middle East 

Director at Pipers, says that the most difficult process 

was actually collating the necessary data to create an 

accurate model. 

“The UPC provided us with the information of about 

100 development projects in Abu Dhabi. Each separate 

developer then had to be contacted so that we could 

get the details of profile and height of the buildings, 

the precise location of the scheme, its relation to other 

buildings and visuals of the project to help us create an 

accurate model,” explains Quinn. 

However, Al Junaibi says that the model will 

continue to be updated. “It has been designed to be 

a communications platform to inform our citizens 

on work being progressed in their city. It is a living, 

breathing model that will be updated and amended. 

Cityscape will be the model’s unveiling, but it will also 

be the first time that we will receive feedback from 

Abu Dhabi’s real estate community and the general 

public to help us to continue to update the model and 

make it even more accurate.” 

Page 11

Illuminating the Model 

The Abu Dhabi model will provide an illuminating 

experience at Cityscape. 

An interactive projection system will throw light 

down on to the model to help bring the model 

to life. Accompanied by a narrated story of the 

development of Abu Dhabi, the light show will 

highlight different districts within the model, such 

as the Capital District, to support the narration. 

The lighting will also animate the waters that 

surround Abu Dhabi and highlight the future 

transportation systems, which include an 

underground metro and street-level tram system. 

Page 12

Models are a 

fantastic visualisation 

tool and enable 

people to really 

understand how 

developments relate 

to one another 

تعد النماذج المجسمة 

أداة تصويرية رائعة 

للغاية،‏ حيث تستقطب 

اهتمام الزوار 

ناصر الجنيبي 

مدير االتصال 

مجلس أبوظبي للتخطيط العمراني 

Naser Al Junaibi, 

Communications Manager, 


إضاءة وهاجة في 

مركز أبوظبي الوطني 

للمعارض 

يقدم نموذج أبوظبي المجسم تجربة مضيئة في معرض 

سيتي سكيب.‏ ويسهم نظام اإلضاءة التفاعلي في 

إسترسال الضوء على النموذج بهدف إضفاء حياة عليه.‏ 

ومن خالل سرد قصة مصاحبة حول مشاريع التطوير 

المختلفة،‏ سيعمل نظام اإلضاءة إلى إبراز المناطق المختلفة 

الكائنة ضمن النموذج،‏ مثل منطقة العاصمة لتعزيز عملية 

السرد.‏ 

وتبرز اإلضاءة المياه المحيطة بإمارة أبوظبي وطرق المواصالت 

المزمع تنفيذها مستقبالً،‏ والتي تتضمن المترو والترام.‏ 

صفحة 12

Vision Magazine Online Issue 1

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