Vision Magazine Online Issue 1
Vision Magazine Online Issue 1 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
- Page 2 and 3: Editorial: M&N Communications, Abu
- Page 4 and 5: Planning Abu Dhabi for the Next Gen
- Page 6 and 7: NEWS Developments Receive Estidama
- Page 8 and 9: 8 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
- Page 10 and 11: The UPC undertook rigorous research
- Page 12 and 13: Eastern Promise 12 VISION MAGAZINE
- Page 14 and 15: eco-system. It also discussed the i
- Page 16 and 17: Waking up the Corniche upgrade of 1
- Page 18 and 19: Find out how we’re creating a sus
- Page 20 and 21: Towards an Ideal Economy The Depart
- Page 22 and 23: “I never thought once that we wou
- Page 24 and 25: “From receiving planning approval
- Page 26 and 27: Quality Streets The UPC has launche
- Page 28 and 29: Meet the UPC Team People are the mo
- Page 30 and 31: 30 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
- Page 32 and 33: 20 Settlements of the Al Ain Region
- Page 34 and 35: SCALE: 1:40 SCALE: 1:40 SCALE: 1:40
- Page 36 and 37: A Sustainable Capital Asset Abu Dha
- Page 38 and 39: time” after 2015 to match populat
- Page 40 and 41: Connectivity The UPC places a high
- Page 42 and 43: Modelling Our Future Measuring 23 x
- Page 44 and 45: Illuminating the Model The Abu Dhab
April 2010<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Issue</strong> 1<br />
Abu Dhabi<br />
Urban Planning Council<br />
at Cityscape<br />
Blueprint for the Next Generation<br />
A look at how Abu Dhabi is set to grow<br />
A Race Against Time<br />
Aldar’s 999 days to get the right formula
Editorial: M&N Communications, Abu Dhabi<br />
Design: Brand Faith, Abu Dhabi<br />
Print: Universal Publisher and Distributor EST. Abu Dhabi<br />
Distribution: The Media Factory.<br />
For advertising opportunities please call 02 409 6000<br />
or email us on vision@upc.gov.ae<br />
The paper in this magazine is made from sustainable forests<br />
2 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
WELCOME PAGE 5 NEWS PAGE 6 -7<br />
BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION<br />
PAGE 8-11 EASTERN PROMISE PAGE<br />
12-15 WAKING UP THE CORNICHE<br />
PAGE 16-17 HOME ECONOMICS PAGE<br />
19 A RACE AGAINST TIME PAGE 21- 24<br />
QUALITY STREETS PAGE 26-27 MEET<br />
THE TEAM PAGE 28-29 BRANDING THE<br />
UPC PAGE 31-32 CITYSCAPE SPECIAL<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 3
Planning Abu Dhabi for the Next Generation<br />
The Urban Planning Council produces plans and<br />
development regulations that govern Abu Dhabi’s physical<br />
environment. In alignment with the clear targets identified<br />
by Economic <strong>Vision</strong> 2030, the Council manages the<br />
Emirate’s sustainable urban growth through efficient<br />
development review and proactive implementation in<br />
coordination with the public and private sector partners.<br />
4 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Welcome<br />
Keeping you better informed<br />
At the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) we consider<br />
communication to be vital: people are at the heart of<br />
everything we do. We take time to listen to the people of<br />
Abu Dhabi to ensure we meet the needs and wants of the<br />
various communities across the Emirate so that we improve<br />
the quality of life for all. We take time to listen to businesses<br />
to ensure we help them thrive, and the wider and diversified<br />
economy to grow.<br />
We work hard to communicate the fast paced changes<br />
across Abu Dhabi Emirate to all stakeholders. This new<br />
quarterly magazine, “VISION”, is part of our commitment<br />
to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with the plans<br />
and urban developments within their cities, towns, islands<br />
and rural areas across the Emirate. It also links with our<br />
website www.upc.gov.ae which contains a wealth of<br />
easily accessible, up to date information; please do take the<br />
opportunity to look.<br />
Cityscape Abu Dhabi will be showcasing the most exciting<br />
real estate projects across the Emirate, including the first<br />
viewing of the UPC’s 23 by 17 metre model of the city<br />
of Abu Dhabi. We felt that Cityscape Abu Dhabi was the<br />
appropriate place and time to launch our new magazine so<br />
that visitors, as well as the general public, can understand<br />
how all these proposed developments will come together to<br />
create our new city.<br />
I hope you enjoy this first issue of “VISION” and find it a<br />
valuable guide to some of the changes happening in Abu<br />
Dhabi and also the role that we at the UPC are taking in<br />
shaping a better place for you all to live, work and play.<br />
H.E. Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi<br />
General Manager<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
We always welcome and value your feedback.<br />
Please email us at vision@upc.gov.ae<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 5
NEWS<br />
Developments Receive<br />
Estidama Awards<br />
Twelve developments across Abu Dhabi Emirate have been<br />
awarded Estidama Excellence Awards at the World Future<br />
Energy Summit at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre<br />
(ADNEC).<br />
Estidama is the sustainability programme managed by<br />
the Urban Planning Council (UPC). It bestowed Estidama<br />
Excellence Awards to 12 developments that help use<br />
various methods to reduce their negative impact on the<br />
environment.<br />
All 12 developments are advancing towards certification<br />
within Estidama’s sustainability guidelines and principles,<br />
which have been designed to enhance sustainability and<br />
livability standards across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.<br />
A wide range of projects from single buildings to mixeduse<br />
developments received the award, including: Al Salam<br />
Street Residence Development; Al Rayyana Development;<br />
the British College in Abu Dhabi; Al Ain Wildlife Park and<br />
Resort Hotel; R-3 Residential Development in Al Ain;<br />
Masdar Headquarters; the Abu Dhabi Mid-Field Airport<br />
Terminal; the Magnet at twofour54; and Ain Al Fayda<br />
Community in Al Ain.<br />
The 12 projects are exemplary representatives of the goals<br />
of Estidama and have offered a wide range of innovative<br />
solutions that meets the needs of both Abu Dhabi and the<br />
wider GCC region.<br />
The process of Estidama compliance certification<br />
commenced in 2009 with a number of projects vying to<br />
gain Estidama pilot project status in recognition of their<br />
green credentials.<br />
The UPC Wins Excellence<br />
in GIS Award<br />
The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has been selected as<br />
the winner for the 2010 Excellence in GIS (Geographical<br />
Information Systems) Award, in recognition of its<br />
achievements in executing exceptional GIS systems across<br />
three municipalities in Abu Dhabi.<br />
The award was presented to the UPC at GISWORX fifth<br />
annual conference held from 15-17 March in Abu Dhabi.<br />
The Excellence in GIS Implementation (EGI) Awards<br />
have been implemented by GISTEC, the official and sole<br />
distributor of ESRI software and the organiser of the GIS<br />
event in the UAE to promote innovation and experimentation<br />
in the area of GIS implementation.<br />
Scoring For The UPC<br />
In March, the Urban Planning Council (UPC) took part in the<br />
Dar Abu Dhabi Football Championships 2010, which is an<br />
intergovernmental initiative, with teams from a number of<br />
Abu Dhabi’s government bodies.<br />
Aldar, Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research,<br />
Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Mubadala, Executive<br />
Affairs Authority, National Crisis & Emergency Management<br />
Authority (NCEMA) and Injazat Data Systems all took part.<br />
After a valiant effort by the UPC players in their first round<br />
matches, the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific<br />
Research were eventually declared the winners.<br />
The UPC Supports<br />
Red Crescent<br />
The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has teamed up with<br />
the Red Crescent to support Al Ghadeer, a joint initiative<br />
designed to develop and improve the skills of local women<br />
on low incomes. Al Ghadeer will train local women to<br />
craft traditional UAE products using locally provided and<br />
recycled materials. Products include date baskets and<br />
Arabic coffee sets.<br />
Al Ghadeer’s promotion of the Emirate’s culture and<br />
Islamic values complements the UPC’s Capital 2030<br />
(formerly known as Plan Abu Dhabi 2030), which<br />
supports the preservation of Abu Dhabi’s unique heritage<br />
and traditions.<br />
6 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Students Win Acclaim<br />
for Green Fareej Design<br />
The UPC Takes Part in<br />
The Abu Dhabi Award<br />
The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has introduced the<br />
Abu Dhabi Award for Organisational Excellence.<br />
Launched in 2007, the Award invites all government<br />
organisations to participate in the initiative to drive<br />
organisational excellence and improvement. The<br />
Award will allocate scores on the contribution of<br />
UPC staff across all its departments. A newly created<br />
‘excellence team’ will support the UPC’s Award<br />
submission in the summer.<br />
The winners will be announced in late 2010.<br />
However, all award nominees will benefit from<br />
feedback from the judges on how their organisation<br />
can change and improve their performance.<br />
Students of Ajman University of Science and<br />
Technology (AUST) have been announced as<br />
winners of the first Estidama Fareej Design<br />
Contest, a competition jointly created by the<br />
Urban Planning Council (UPC) and Abu Dhabibased<br />
private property developer Aldar, at the<br />
Greenbuild International Conference in Arizona,<br />
USA.<br />
Over 100 university students from architecture, urban<br />
planning, engineering and other related degree courses took<br />
on the challenge to design a sustainable, energy efficient<br />
Emirati villa that could be integrated into a traditional ‘fareej’<br />
neighbourhood plan.<br />
‘Fareej’ is the traditional Arabic neighbourhood design.<br />
The pattern is based on the traditional organisation of<br />
Emirati settlements and reflects the importance of family<br />
relationships.<br />
AUST’s winning design, entitled ‘Wind Catcher’ incorporated<br />
a modern take on the traditional ‘Wind Tower’ design<br />
element which is prevalent in traditional Middle Eastern<br />
homes.<br />
UPC Undertakes Baniyas<br />
Public Consultation<br />
The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has held a<br />
number of community events in Baniyas and<br />
South Wathba to ensure the views of the local<br />
community are incorporated into the South<br />
Wathba/Baniyas Revitalisation Masterplan.<br />
The community events form part of the UPC’s Public<br />
Involvement Plan, which is committed to including<br />
the local residents within the planning process for all<br />
revitalisation masterplans.<br />
In Baniyas and South Wathba, the community<br />
actvities have included Community Majlis events<br />
in August and September 2009, during which<br />
consultants and planners from the UPC met with<br />
community leaders to identify issues within the area.<br />
This was followed in October by inviting community<br />
The judging panel, made up of expert representatives from<br />
the UPC, Aldar and Masdar, along with two prominent<br />
Emirati planners from X-Architects and dxb.lab, were<br />
extremely impressed by AUST’s design.<br />
“The incredible response to the contest from the students<br />
is a clear indication of Estidama’s bright prospects in the<br />
future,” said H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of the<br />
UPC. “It is a perfect example of the support our mission<br />
enjoys among our next generation of young Emiratis<br />
who will certainly have a key role to play in the ongoing<br />
implementation of Estidama.”<br />
members to discuss any problems, solutions and<br />
future dreams for the region. Additional events are<br />
due to be held in the coming months.<br />
The UPC will continue to work on the creation of the<br />
Baniyas/South Wathba Revitalisation Masterplan and,<br />
once approved, will report back to the community.<br />
The UPC is committed to listening to the public and<br />
involving them throughout the planning stages,<br />
highlighting the importance the UPC places on local<br />
knowledge. Through its various Public Involvement<br />
Plans, the UPC aims to reach out to the public as it<br />
creates masterplans for communities across Abu<br />
Dhabi Emirate.<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 7
8 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Blueprint for the Next<br />
Generation<br />
Abu Dhabi is set to undergo a remarkable period of growth. The<br />
Urban Structure Framework Plan called Capital 2030 and the Urban<br />
Planning Council will ensure the city will grow in a contemporary<br />
and connected manner that is fit for the next generation.<br />
The city of Abu Dhabi has come a long way<br />
since the 1960s. The discovery of oil during this<br />
decade and the formation of the UAE in 1971<br />
saw the city experience an unprecedented<br />
period of growth. From a population estimated to<br />
be 25,000 in 1960, Abu Dhabi has today grown<br />
into a city of about one million people.<br />
Despite this rapid progress, Abu Dhabi’s best<br />
days are still ahead. Its population is expected to<br />
triple to over three million by 2030, its economy<br />
is expected to diversify and continue its upward<br />
momentum, while Abu Dhabi’s reputation on the<br />
international stage is set to flourish.<br />
But to achieve these goals, Abu Dhabi needs a<br />
detailed strategic plan.<br />
Until 2007, there was no definitive plan to<br />
oversee the growth of the city. Building<br />
regulations focused on developments in isolation<br />
rather than how they contributed to neighbouring<br />
buildings and the overall cityscape. However,<br />
in 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
(UPC) was created by the law No.23 of 2007 to<br />
oversee the future growth of Abu Dhabi’s urban<br />
environments and to define the shape of the<br />
metropolitan area that is set to become one of<br />
the world’s fastest growing cities.<br />
The UPC immediately set about designing an<br />
Urban Structure Framework Plan, originally<br />
called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 but now renamed<br />
Capital 2030, to act as a blueprint to guide the<br />
evolution of the city between 2007 and 2030.<br />
The purpose of the detailed document is to<br />
deliver upon the vision of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin<br />
Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler<br />
of Abu Dhabi, to fulfil the Late Sheikh Zayed bin<br />
Sultan Al Nahyan's goal of transforming Abu<br />
Dhabi into a global capital city.<br />
“It is important that the growth of Abu Dhabi<br />
is managed in a co-ordinated and sustained<br />
way,” explains H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General<br />
Manager of the UPC. “So we designed this<br />
visionary plan primarily to help Abu Dhabi filter<br />
and respond to current and future development<br />
needs by establishing a planning culture and<br />
introducing strong guiding principles for any new<br />
development.<br />
Capital 2030 provides a way to grow the city,<br />
take advantage of the economic opportunities<br />
and add new elements to the city. We want to<br />
create a world-class contemporary interpretation<br />
of an Arab city, but not at the expense of our<br />
people or the natural environment.”<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 9
The UPC undertook rigorous research to create an<br />
urban structure framework plan to ensure Abu Dhabi<br />
can cater for its anticipated economic and population<br />
growth over the next 20 years. Work began in<br />
December 2006 with a series of evaluation exercises<br />
and preparatory analysis. This comprised economic<br />
analysis, including projecting the main sectors that will<br />
contribute to economic growth, as well as population,<br />
employment and tourism forecasts. It also included<br />
a review of Abu Dhabi’s existing infrastructure and<br />
transportation capacity.<br />
Then in February and March 2007, the UPC organised<br />
a series of 'charrettes'. These brought together local,<br />
regional and international urban planning experts to<br />
debate and discuss the best ways to expand the city<br />
of Abu Dhabi, so it can accommodate the predicted<br />
population and economic growth while becoming a<br />
more vibrant and liveable city.<br />
The economic and demographic analysis projected<br />
that Abu Dhabi’s population will more than triple from<br />
930,000 in 2007 to 3.1 million in 2030. Meanwhile,<br />
the number of tourist visits to Abu Dhabi is forecast to<br />
grow from 1.8 million in 2007 to 7.9 million in 2030.<br />
This high level of growth needs to be accompanied by<br />
an increase in accommodation to house the growing<br />
number of residents and tourists. Capital 2030 has<br />
calculated that Abu Dhabi will need 686,000 residential<br />
units in 2030. In 2007 it only had 180,000 homes. It<br />
also needs to boost the number of hotels rooms from<br />
10,000 in 2007 to 74,500 in 2030.<br />
Of course, all these new people will only come to Abu<br />
Dhabi if they can find jobs. Capital 2030 is therefore<br />
closely aligned with the Abu Dhabi Economic <strong>Vision</strong><br />
2030, which sets out economic targets that have<br />
been prepared by the Economic <strong>Vision</strong> Taskforce and<br />
approved by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.<br />
It is important that the<br />
growth of Abu Dhabi is<br />
managed in a<br />
co-ordinated and<br />
sustained way<br />
H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi,<br />
General Manager,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
To meet these economic targets, Capital 2030 has<br />
calculated how much commercial space is required to<br />
accommodate the necessary businesses to grow the<br />
economy and create jobs. It estimates that Abu Dhabi<br />
needs to treble the amount of office and industrial<br />
space for warehouses and factories by 2030. This<br />
means creating more office space and industrial space<br />
to accommodate future needs.<br />
All these new residents, employees and tourists also<br />
need places to shop and spend their leisure time. Retail<br />
space, cinemas, restaurants and even golf courses<br />
have been factored into Capital 2030.<br />
In addition, community amenities such as schools,<br />
hospitals, clinics, playgrounds and parks also need to<br />
be provided to keep pace with the growing population.<br />
For instance, Capital 2030 forecasts that the city will<br />
need 650 schools and 10,000 hospital beds to serve<br />
the enlarged population in 2030. The delivery of<br />
infrastructure for basic amenities, such as water, sewage,<br />
power and telecommunications, has also been planned.<br />
More people means more traffic, so Capital 2030<br />
includes an integrated transport strategy that includes<br />
building new roads and parking facilities to improve<br />
traffic flows, but also proposes the development<br />
of cycle lanes and new public transport networks,<br />
including an underground metro and overland tram, to<br />
offer an alternative to the car.<br />
This amounts to a lot of required development and<br />
new infrastructure. The Urban Structure Framework<br />
Plan is therefore a vital document to ensure Abu Dhabi<br />
meets its growth forecast, but in a measured and<br />
sustainable way.<br />
Abu Dhabi Island is not big enough to house this<br />
huge growth in population and to accommodate<br />
all the necessary business, leisure and community<br />
developments. Capital 2030 has identified locations<br />
where the city will expand. These include many<br />
surrounding islands.<br />
For instance, the 27 square kilometre Saadiyat Island has<br />
been identified as Abu Dhabi’s new cultural heart. It will<br />
be home to the new Zayed National Museum, the Louvre<br />
Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum. But<br />
it will also be home to 160,000 residents with all the<br />
necessary community, retail and leisure facilities.<br />
Sowwah Island has been designated as the heart of Abu<br />
Dhabi’s new Central Business District. The 105 hectare<br />
island will accommodate much of the necessary new<br />
office accommodation for blue chip companies and<br />
have a daily working population of 75,000 as well as<br />
being home to 30,000 residents. Meanwhile, Yas Island<br />
has already become a key entertainment location. The<br />
25 square kilometre island played host to the inaugural<br />
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and it<br />
will also open the world’s first Ferrari World theme park<br />
later this year as well as other entertainment and leisure<br />
venues and hotels.<br />
Meanwhile, Capital 2030 has identified the proposed<br />
Capital District, located between Khalifa City A and<br />
Khalifa City B and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, as a<br />
second centre for the city. The 4,900 hectare new<br />
district will act as the federal seat of government<br />
and accommodate the majority of Abu Dhabi’s<br />
government departments, foreign embassies as well<br />
as being home to 370,000 residents.<br />
10 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Next Steps:<br />
The Capital 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan<br />
provides a clear, viable vision for the future of Abu<br />
Dhabi. It is a broad document of ideas, directions and<br />
patterns but it does not provide detailed guidelines for<br />
individual areas.<br />
The UPC is now adding detail to the broad proposals<br />
outlined in Capital 2030 and is in the process of drawing<br />
up detailed masterplans for new developments and<br />
revitalisation plans to regenerate and improve existing<br />
neighbourhoods.<br />
For instance, a detailed masterplan has been drawn<br />
up for the new Capital District and revitalisation plans<br />
are being created for existing neighbourhoods such as<br />
Khalifa City A and Khalifa City B, Shahama and Bahia<br />
and Wasat Madinat Abu Dhabi (downtown Abu Dhabi).<br />
Capital 2030’s vision is already being delivered on the<br />
Corniche with the first phase of the Revitalisation Plan<br />
completed in November 2009.<br />
Meanwhile, the other regions within Abu Dhabi<br />
Emirate are undergoing the same process to create<br />
their own framework plans. Plan Al Gharbia 2030,<br />
which covers the western region, is due to be<br />
published in the coming months. Plan Al Ain 2030<br />
was released in 2009 and covers the Al Ain City<br />
Urban Structure Framework Plan. Work is currently<br />
underway to create the Al Ain Regional Structure<br />
Framework Plan to complete Plan Al Ain 2030 to<br />
provide a comprehensive and consistent plan that<br />
reflects the varying characteristics across the region.<br />
What Does The UPC Do?<br />
To deliver on <strong>Vision</strong> 2030, the UPC<br />
has five core areas of responsibility:<br />
1. To develop the comprehensive<br />
plans for blocks, neighbourhoods,<br />
districts and regions across Abu<br />
Dhabi Emirate;<br />
2. To assist in the implementation<br />
of all plans created by guiding,<br />
monitoring and working with the<br />
implementation team and other<br />
governmental bodies;<br />
3. To develop regulations, guidelines<br />
and policies that will help guide<br />
planning and development in the<br />
Emirate;<br />
4. To review and assess major<br />
strategic developments to<br />
comply with the plans, policies,<br />
regulations and guidelines in-line<br />
with Capital 2030 and external<br />
government requirements; and<br />
5. To incorporate and encourage<br />
Estidama principles of<br />
sustainability into the built<br />
environment through the<br />
Estidama Pearl Rating Systems<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 11
Eastern Promise<br />
12 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
The UPC charrette<br />
process will ensure<br />
local needs and issues<br />
are recognised in the<br />
forthcoming Al Ain<br />
Regional Structure<br />
Framework Plan<br />
Al Ain has some of the most stunning scenery in<br />
the Emirate, along with significant agricultural and<br />
archeological sites not found outside of the region.<br />
Back in 2008, an Urban Structure Framework Plan<br />
was created for the oasis city of Al Ain, but it quickly<br />
became clear that the rest of the Al Ain Region also<br />
needed a plan of its own to ensure local communities<br />
within the 20 settlements which surround the city<br />
of Al Ain were sensitively developed to harness the<br />
region’s potential to meet the needs of both current<br />
and future generations.<br />
In November 2009, 60 local planners, officials,<br />
specialists and international consultants participated<br />
in a ‘charrette’ to learn about the region and create<br />
the principles, policies and plans which will eventually<br />
become the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan.<br />
A charrette is the term used to describe an intensive,<br />
creative and collaborative session which brings<br />
together an array of participants who each bring a skill,<br />
expertise or local knowledge to the team.<br />
The Al Ain Region charrette brought together people<br />
from the Urban Planning Council (UPC), Al Ain<br />
Municipality, local agencies, urban planners, designers,<br />
architects, engineers and other experts, both local and<br />
international, to work through an agreed schedule on<br />
the geography, environment and economy, through to<br />
culture and heritage. The charrette participants also<br />
spent a day touring the settlements with local officials<br />
to get a good understanding of the region and the<br />
existing facilities.<br />
“Charrettes are an essential tool in creating a successful<br />
regional plan,” says Saif Ghubash, Senior Planning<br />
Professional at the UPC. “Bringing everyone together<br />
in one room, working together to define the vision and<br />
sharing knowledge with one another ensures that the<br />
plans are creative, yet realistic and meet the needs of<br />
the communities within the region.<br />
“Local specialists have an in-depth knowledge that<br />
shapes and directs the plans that our international<br />
experts cannot acquire in such a short period of time,”<br />
adds Ghubash. “From ensuring that new roads won’t<br />
suffer from sand drifts by knowing which way the<br />
winds typically blow, through to understanding the<br />
intrinsic views and traditions of local people which will<br />
shape the type and location of community facilities;<br />
charrettes are the most efficient way of quickly<br />
gathering knowledge and creating a comprehensive<br />
plan,” he explains.<br />
The Al Ain Region charrette examined key issues such<br />
as the growth of smaller communities; the creation of<br />
new infrastructure and industry; the development of<br />
multi-use community facilities; outlining plot patterns;<br />
and, most importantly, the protection of the natural<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 13
eco-system. It also discussed the incorporation of<br />
community facilities and retail centres to serve the<br />
region’s settlements.<br />
The Emirati residents of the Al Ain Region continue<br />
to maintain strong family bonds; however, the<br />
settlements have become more culturally diverse due<br />
to the rise in expatriates. As one of the key objectives,<br />
the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan will also<br />
take into account the different needs of these new<br />
residents.<br />
Furthermore, the framework plan will ensure a ’critical<br />
mass’ in some of the settlements to reduce the level<br />
of outward migration.<br />
“We need to really focus on increasing the quality of life<br />
for all residents living and working in the settlements<br />
of the Al Ain Region,” says Ahmed Al Kuwaiti, Planning<br />
Professional at the UPC. “The attraction of bigger cities<br />
such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain, particularly for<br />
young and ambitious Emiratis, can often lead them<br />
to pursuing careers outside of the region. So we<br />
need to create economically productive, sustainable<br />
communities that provide opportunities closer to home<br />
without compromising the environment.”<br />
In line with Estidama, the UPC’s programme of<br />
sustainability and Abu Dhabi’s contribution to the global<br />
discussion on the creation of more environmentallyfriendly<br />
communities, cities and global enterprises,<br />
the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan will be<br />
founded on key environmental, cultural, social and<br />
economic sustainability principles.<br />
Next Steps<br />
Following a presentation of the plans and principles to H.E.<br />
Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of the UPC, and Dr Matar<br />
Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Al Ain Municipality, the<br />
UPC and their consultants will spend a number of months<br />
collaborating with the Eastern Region Development Council<br />
(ERDC), Al Ain Municipality, Department of Transportation,<br />
the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi<br />
Authority for Culture and Heritage to create the Al Ain<br />
Regional Structure Framework Plan.<br />
Once the plan, which will sit alongside the existing Al Ain<br />
City Urban Structure Framework Plan, is given approval, the<br />
UPC will apply a comprehensive community involvement<br />
programme in order to ensure a sustained involvement of<br />
key local people in the entire planning process.<br />
Community involvement activities will aim to inspire and<br />
increase citizens’ involvement by encouraging them to<br />
activate Abu Dhabi’s sustainable vision to improve community,<br />
environmental, social and economic responsibility.<br />
As H.E. Falah Al Hababi, General Manager of the UPC<br />
summarises: “Each community in the Emirate is distinct in<br />
its own vision. At the UPC, we understand and acknowledge<br />
the distinct cultural and environmental ethos of each region<br />
and hence, have always aimed at creating framework plans<br />
that not only preserve these precious elements but also<br />
create the authentic Arab capital of the world.”<br />
Charrettes are the<br />
most efficient way<br />
of quickly gathering<br />
knowledge and creating<br />
a comprehensive plan<br />
A First For The UPC<br />
Four Emirati urban planning and design students were<br />
invited to the charrettes to help support the consultants<br />
and planners. The students took notes, provided local<br />
knowledge and assisted in the drawing and colouring of<br />
the settlement plans.<br />
“The students did a fantastic job,” said Saif Ghubash, Senior<br />
Planning Professional at the UPC. “It was a great opportunity<br />
for the students to apply their course knowledge and have<br />
exposure to the real life challenges that urban planners<br />
face.”<br />
Given the success of the students’ participation, the UPC<br />
aims to provide this opportunity again in future charrette<br />
sessions to inspire and support the next generation of<br />
Emirati urban planners.<br />
Saif Ghubash,<br />
Senior Planning Professional,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
14 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 15
Waking up the<br />
Corniche<br />
upgrade of 1.6 kilometres of public beach completed<br />
in October 2009, the waterfront now buzzes with<br />
cyclists, joggers, skateboarders and people playing<br />
beach volleyball and beach football.<br />
Those of a more leisurely nature can be found strolling<br />
along the new boardwalk that stretches the entire<br />
length of the public beach, picnicking on the newly<br />
laid grass areas, eating in one of the many new cafes,<br />
or sunbathing on the sandy beaches using the rental<br />
beach beds, umbrellas and cabanas.<br />
In a short space of time, the Corniche has become<br />
one of Abu Dhabi’s leading destinations for local<br />
people and tourists. This transformation is thanks to<br />
the Corniche Revitalisation Programme, which is being<br />
led by the Urban Planning Council (UPC) in conjunction<br />
with the Abu Dhabi Municipality and Executive Affairs<br />
Authority.<br />
The aim is to provide Abu Dhabi with the “ultimate<br />
beach experience” by creating an attractive, vibrant,<br />
liveable and publicly accessible waterfront to rival some<br />
of the best beachfronts in the world from La Croisette<br />
in Cannes and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, to<br />
Beirut’s Corniche and Los Angeles’ Venice Beach.<br />
Abu Dhabi now has a Corniche to rival the best waterfronts in<br />
the world due to the Corniche Revitalisation Programme<br />
Excitement was delivered to the max in March with<br />
Wakestock Abu Dhabi. The international wakeboard<br />
and music festival brought together the world’s best<br />
wakeboarders as well as a number of leading local and<br />
international music acts.<br />
Before anyone had chance to catch a breath, another<br />
exhilarating event was held at the same venue; the<br />
Red Bull Air Race.<br />
Both Wakestock and the Red Bull Air Race followed<br />
other successful events on the Corniche. These include<br />
Yasalam in late October, which celebrated the inaugural<br />
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a<br />
series of free music concerts, movie nights and public<br />
art events. The WOMAD international music festival<br />
will come to the Corniche again this spring.<br />
It is a facility that has<br />
become a day out for the<br />
whole family<br />
Stretching 8 kilometres from the<br />
Heritage Village Marina to<br />
Mina Zayed, the Corniche’s<br />
potential was identified in<br />
the UPC’s Capital 2030<br />
as an area that needed<br />
to be activated and<br />
enhanced while<br />
maintaining Abu<br />
Dhabi's green<br />
forecourt. To fulfil<br />
the Corniche’s<br />
potential, a<br />
substantial<br />
investment has<br />
gone into developing<br />
new facilities and<br />
amenities and<br />
improving beach<br />
areas.<br />
New sports, leisure and<br />
entertainment activities<br />
have been created, while<br />
new facilities, such as<br />
changing rooms, toilets and<br />
a Mosque for offering prayers<br />
have been added.<br />
But the real star of all these events is not a headline<br />
act; it is Abu Dhabi’s revamped Corniche.<br />
The Corniche has transformed into a world-class<br />
waterfront destination. The wakeboarders, flying<br />
daredevils and music acts may have gone, but the<br />
Corniche remains a hive of activity which will continue<br />
to improve over the coming years. Following an<br />
Yasser Al Nuaimi,<br />
Associate Manager,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
A security post has been built to<br />
ensure the waterfront is secure<br />
for beachgoers and families, who<br />
are also catered for with a separate<br />
Family Beach. Meanwhile, trained<br />
lifeguards patrol the beach to<br />
watch over the safety of swimmers<br />
from seven surveillance towers.<br />
16 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
“Before the Revitalisation Programme, the Corniche<br />
was frequented by only a small proportion of the<br />
population,” remembers Yasser Al Nuaimi, Associate<br />
Manager at the UPC. “But now it is a facility that has<br />
become a day out for the whole family and in turn the<br />
whole community.”<br />
Despite the new amenities, Al Nuaimi says the<br />
most important changes have been those that have<br />
improved accessibility and made the entire area<br />
pedestrian-friendly.<br />
Underpasses have been upgraded and four pedestrian<br />
crossings have been added or improved to provide<br />
convenient and safe passage across the highway.<br />
Additional parking facilities have been delivered<br />
opposite the public beach and complemented with<br />
a park and ride service with stops at each of the six<br />
entry points to the beach.<br />
The good news is that the Corniche Revitalisation<br />
Programme is not yet finished. Another 400 metres<br />
of beachfront will receive the same facelift in the first<br />
half of this year. The UPC is also planning to add a 1.6<br />
kilometre extension, which will mean the beachfront<br />
will total 3.6 kilometres and stretch up to the junction<br />
with Airport Road. A truly exciting development for<br />
the community and tourists to use and enjoy for<br />
generations to come.<br />
A place to eat<br />
The Corniche has an array<br />
of new affordable food and<br />
beverage outlets spread<br />
along the waterfront to<br />
cater for breakfast, lunch,<br />
a quick snack following a<br />
swim, or a place to enjoy a<br />
coffee while watching the<br />
sun set.<br />
A place to<br />
relax<br />
A new boardwalk<br />
stretching the entire<br />
length of the public beach<br />
allows people to stroll<br />
along the shoreline and<br />
then sit down on one of<br />
many benches to enjoy<br />
the sea views. No longer<br />
do people have to walk<br />
on a pavement next to the<br />
Corniche Road.<br />
Beach rental services<br />
are available and include<br />
beach beds, umbrellas<br />
and cabanas to cater for<br />
sunbathers.<br />
Relax on one of the newly<br />
laid grass areas.<br />
A place for<br />
events<br />
Yasalam will return later in<br />
the year to commemorate<br />
Abu Dhabi’s second F1<br />
Grand Prix in November<br />
with its mix of public events<br />
and entertainment.<br />
The Corniche was the<br />
perfect backdrop for the<br />
Red Bull Air Race, which<br />
flew in on 25 and 26 March<br />
2010, while the beach<br />
was the perfect venue for<br />
Wakestock Abu Dhabi 2010<br />
in early March.<br />
The WOMAD festival will<br />
find it has an improved<br />
venue when it returns on<br />
22-24 April 2010.<br />
A place to play<br />
The Corniche has become<br />
an ideal place for running,<br />
cycling and skateboarding,<br />
while karts can be rented<br />
for both adults and children.<br />
Beach volleyball pitches and<br />
beach football pitches have<br />
been added.<br />
The beach is now a safe<br />
place for swimmers<br />
with trained lifeguards<br />
monitoring the sea from<br />
seven surveillance towers.<br />
A place for<br />
families<br />
The new beach has a<br />
separate Family Beach area<br />
that includes children’s<br />
play areas with slides<br />
and even table football<br />
facilities.<br />
Families can enjoy the<br />
use of picnic areas or<br />
visit one of the many<br />
food and beverage outlets<br />
where everyone can find<br />
something they enjoy<br />
eating.<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 17
Find out how we’re<br />
creating a sustainable future<br />
Visit: www.upc.gov.ae<br />
18 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Home Economics<br />
The Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) plays a key role<br />
in helping grow the economy and supporting local businesses. This included<br />
helping to conceive the Abu Dhabi Economic <strong>Vision</strong> 2030. ADCED’s Deputy<br />
General Manager, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani provides an insight.<br />
What is ADCED’s mission?<br />
Since our establishment in May 2006, the Abu<br />
Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED)<br />
has sought to facilitate economic diversification and<br />
growth through greater understanding, co-operation<br />
and engagement between the public and private<br />
sectors of Abu Dhabi.<br />
What has ADCED achieved<br />
since it was created?<br />
We have forged strong working relationships with a<br />
number of leading international institutions focusing<br />
on economic development. Our overseas activities are<br />
predominantly focused on conducting benchmarking<br />
studies and promoting the Abu Dhabi Economic<br />
<strong>Vision</strong> 2030.<br />
We aim to stimulate<br />
economic development<br />
through government<br />
initiatives and thoughtleadership<br />
programmes<br />
Our mission is to develop policy recommendations<br />
and kick-start initiatives to promote sustainable<br />
and diversified economic growth by improving Abu<br />
Dhabi’s infrastructure and business environment<br />
and enhancing human capital. As an advisory body<br />
for both public and private stakeholders, we aim to<br />
stimulate economic development through government<br />
initiatives and thought-leadership programmes.<br />
What do you do to achieve this<br />
mission?<br />
Our Council helps to create networks that connect<br />
public and private sector leaders from government,<br />
business, academia and the community to provide<br />
platforms for debate on economic issues that<br />
contribute to policy design and development.<br />
We also develop public policy recommendations that<br />
support sustainable economic development and Abu<br />
Dhabi’s positioning as an international economic hub.<br />
What has ADCED achieved<br />
since it was created?<br />
ADCED had a key role in the conception of the<br />
Abu Dhabi Economic <strong>Vision</strong> 2030 and our Council<br />
continues to promote the <strong>Vision</strong> both locally and<br />
internationally.<br />
In partnership with the Department of Economic<br />
Development (DED), ADCED played an important role<br />
in preparing the draft law for the regulation and coordination<br />
of statistical information in Abu Dhabi.<br />
With the technical support of Statistic Sweden, we<br />
recommended the establishment of the Statistics<br />
Centre Abu Dhabi as an independent entity to handle<br />
the tasks of developing and providing accurate<br />
statistical information across the Emirate.<br />
Another important objective is to promote the<br />
Abu Dhabi Economic <strong>Vision</strong> 2030 to business and<br />
political leaders. For example, ADCED has been an<br />
active participant in events such as the Abu Dhabi<br />
Investment Forum. With the UPC we are currently<br />
developing our network and relationship with the<br />
World Economic Forum (WEF). Alongside the UPC, we<br />
attended the Annual Meeting of the New Champions<br />
2009 organised by WEF last September in Dalian,<br />
China. ADCED also participated in the World Economic<br />
Forum Annual Meeting in Davos this year. We are<br />
currently developing our relationships with the World<br />
Bank and the IMF.<br />
Other than oil-related<br />
industries, what business<br />
sectors will become most<br />
important to Abu Dhabi?<br />
The energy sector will continue to play an<br />
important role in Abu Dhabi’s economy but at the<br />
same time other sectors are expected to enjoy<br />
positive growth including, petrochemicals, metals,<br />
aviation, pharmaceuticals, tourism, healthcare,<br />
transportation, education, media, financial services<br />
and telecommunication services.<br />
Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani,<br />
Deputy General Manager<br />
ADCED<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 19
Towards an Ideal Economy<br />
The Department of Economic Development (DED) plays a leading role in fulfilling the vision for Abu Dhabi to achieve economic stability and sustainable<br />
development, as outlined in <strong>Vision</strong> 2030, conceived under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.<br />
As the powerhouse of economic development, the DED drives Abu Dhabi’s transformation, supporting its diversification from an oil-based economy to a<br />
knowledge-based economy.<br />
Through the delivery of sound economic policies, the provision of a transparent, efficient and effective regulatory framework, and business-oriented<br />
services the DED is creating an ideal economic environment for local and international investors.<br />
Telephone: +97124031206 | Facsimile: +97124031761 | Email: ier@adeconomy.ae<br />
مجلة رؤية - MAGAZINE Page 20 ISSUE ONE - VISION
A Race Against Time<br />
On 3 February 2007 the countdown began. It was the date when Bernie<br />
Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Management, announced to the world that<br />
Abu Dhabi had been chosen to host its first Formula 1 Grand Prix race on<br />
1 November 2009. Yas Island had already been designated as the location,<br />
and Aldar as the developer of the race track and accompanying facilities and<br />
infrastructure. This gave Aldar just 999 days to deliver Abu Dhabi’s most<br />
significant and internationally recognisable development to date.<br />
Aldar’s Director of Planning and Infrastructure, Talal Al Dhiyebi, explains<br />
how Aldar worked in partnership with the Urban Planning Council and<br />
other government authorities and agencies to deliver F1 racing to the Yas<br />
Marina Circuit.<br />
Talal Al Dhiyebi,<br />
Director of Planning and Infrastructure,<br />
Aldar<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 21
“I never thought once that we would miss the<br />
deadline,” says Talal Al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s Director of<br />
Planning and Infrastructure. “Because everyone in<br />
Aldar was focused on delivering to this date.<br />
“Despite my confidence, I was not able to fully<br />
comprehend that we had actually completed the track<br />
on time until the actual race day. Seeing all those<br />
people on the track before the race - the media, the<br />
celebrities - and then hearing the roar of the F1 cars<br />
when the lights turned green; that was when I realised<br />
that the race was really happening and that we had<br />
delivered Formula One to Abu Dhabi,” remembers Al<br />
Dhiyebi.<br />
Aldar has been rightly praised for delivering worldclass<br />
race facilities and Formula One to Abu Dhabi.<br />
At its peak, the developer had to manage 48,000<br />
workers on site – a monumental logistics effort. And<br />
it had to complete the development within a tight and<br />
unmoveable deadline, especially as it was looking<br />
like the outcome of the 2009 Formula One World<br />
Championship would be decided at the last race of the<br />
season – the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi<br />
Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.<br />
In the end Jenson Button secured his first F1 World<br />
Championship in the previous race in Sao Paolo,<br />
Brazil, but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was still highly<br />
anticipated. It was the only new track to be unveiled<br />
during 2009 and it was also the last Grand Prix of the<br />
season, which always has a special resonance among<br />
race fans.<br />
“The arrival of Formula One meant that Abu Dhabi<br />
was going to appear on the world map and would be<br />
subject to the scrutiny of a worldwide audience and<br />
media interest,” recalls Al Dhiyebi. “But it was also Abu<br />
Dhabi’s opportunity to demonstrate to the world that<br />
it could deliver substantial developments.”<br />
Aldar was already underway with the development on<br />
Yas Island when the Urban Planning Council was formed<br />
in the summer of 2007 with the responsibility of<br />
managing the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environment<br />
and delivering the <strong>Vision</strong> of Capital 2030 (the Urban<br />
Structure Framework Plan originally called Plan Abu<br />
Dhabi 2030). Al Dhiyebi admits that there was some<br />
concern at the time that the UPC could halt the Yas<br />
Island project and force a redesign of the race track and<br />
associated facilities, such as the hotels, roads, marina,<br />
infrastructure and the Ferrari World theme park. This,<br />
says Al Dhiyebi, would have seriously affected the<br />
construction schedules possibly making the task even<br />
more difficult than it already was.<br />
But Al Dhiyebi soon realised that his concerns<br />
were unfounded. “Some government agencies<br />
have a reputation for being bureaucratic, but<br />
the UPC was the very opposite. The UPC fully<br />
understood our tight deadline and worked closely<br />
with us to ensure the Grand Prix was delivered.”<br />
22 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Jarat Lang, Senior Associate Planner at the UPC, says<br />
that the UPC adopted a different planning approval<br />
process to ensure the race day deadline could be met.<br />
“We wanted to quickly approve the masterplan for<br />
all the race day facilities and infrastructure, while<br />
ensuring any long-term necessary infrastructure, such<br />
as the routes and stations for a proposed metro line,<br />
were in place,” explains Lang. “So we worked really<br />
closely with Aldar with weekly dialogues.”<br />
Al Dhiyebi says he was impressed with the UPC’s<br />
attitude and approach. “They would sit down with us<br />
in open workshops. We would place our problems and<br />
concerns on the table and find solutions within that<br />
same workshop. Had we gone through a traditional<br />
planning approval process then we would still be<br />
waiting for consent today.”<br />
Al Dhiyebi has also been impressed with the positive<br />
impact that the UPC is having in Abu Dhabi City and<br />
the whole Emirate.<br />
“The UPC interacts well with developers and it<br />
understands that by working together we can achieve<br />
more for Abu Dhabi. For instance, it even has a<br />
website link for developers with useful information<br />
available online including the Capital 2030 Plan and<br />
the Development Review Process.<br />
“The UPC has also adopted the attitude that you<br />
must invest in infrastructure before undertaking<br />
any development. For instance, the Sheikh Khalifa<br />
Bridge and the 27 kilometre Shahama-Saadiyat<br />
Highway were opened before developments on Yas<br />
Island or Saadiyat Island were completed. This type<br />
of infrastructure – roads, bridges, tunnels, power,<br />
water, sewage, telecommunications etc – helps to<br />
ensure that developments are future-proofed and<br />
don’t become outdated due to inadequate transport<br />
connections or infrastructure in 10 or 20 years time.”<br />
Al Dhiyebi also praises other government departments<br />
and utility companies, such as the Abu Dhabi<br />
Municipality, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority,<br />
Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi Police, Etisalat, Abu<br />
Dhabi Tourism Authority and Abu Dhabi Motorsports<br />
Management for helping to deliver the Formula One.<br />
“For the first time, all of Abu Dhabi’s different<br />
government authorities and agencies worked<br />
together with the private sector to deliver a huge<br />
project to a tight deadline. That was perhaps Yas<br />
Island’s biggest success”.<br />
Hearing the roar<br />
of the F1 cars when<br />
the lights turned green;<br />
that was when I realised<br />
that the race was really<br />
happening and that we<br />
had delivered Formula 1<br />
to Abu Dhabi<br />
Talal Al Dhiyebi,<br />
Director of Planning and Infrastructure,<br />
Aldar<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 23
“From receiving planning approval from the UPC<br />
to agreeing with Abu Dhabi Police about race day<br />
security, it could have been a communications<br />
nightmare, but it wasn’t. Instead, the UPC and the<br />
other government authorities understood the deadline<br />
and they responded.<br />
“We didn’t have to run around to different government<br />
authorities seeking approval; they instead were<br />
proactive and came to us. We’d never seen such a<br />
joined-up approach before. Had this team spirit not<br />
existed then the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would never<br />
have happened.”<br />
The 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix does not signal the<br />
end of the story, but the start. Al Dhiyebi says that he<br />
is aware race fans will be expecting plenty of changes<br />
to Yas Island when they return in November this year.<br />
Ferrari World and a new links golf course, for instance,<br />
are both expected to be open by the start of the<br />
second Grand Prix.<br />
Despite quickly approving the masterplan for the race<br />
track and race day facilities, the UPC is taking more<br />
time examining Aldar’s masterplan for the rest of the<br />
island, which measures 25 square kilometres. The UPC<br />
and Aldar are working closely together to draw up a<br />
masterplan for the Southern Marina that will create a<br />
blueprint for a new model urban environment in Abu<br />
Dhabi.<br />
Talal Al Dhiyebi on Capital 2030,<br />
the Urban Structure Framework Plan:<br />
“Capital 2030 has provided us with<br />
clarity,” says Talal Al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s<br />
Director of Planning and Infrastructure.<br />
“It paints the bigger picture of how Abu<br />
Dhabi will evolve and grow, and so it has<br />
provided us at Aldar with a greater insight<br />
into the future direction of Abu Dhabi.<br />
“Before Capital 2030, everything was<br />
being developed in isolation. No one<br />
knew what was being developed next<br />
door to their plot or development. But<br />
Capital 2030 gave us a good indication<br />
of other developments and proposed<br />
infrastructure. It meant that we could<br />
review our plans to ensure they<br />
complemented Capital 2030 and other<br />
proposed developments.<br />
“Had Abu Dhabi continued with unplanned<br />
development then we would have created<br />
oversupply and over-investment in some<br />
real estate sectors; and undersupply and<br />
under-investment in others.”<br />
24 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 25
Quality Streets<br />
The UPC has launched the new Urban Street Design Manual to<br />
improve the streets and pavements of Abu Dhabi for all users<br />
Cities are often defined by their buildings. But while an<br />
urban skyline may attract all the attention, it is what<br />
happens at street level that makes a city a great place<br />
to live.<br />
To maximise the investment in the development of<br />
iconic office towers, inspiring museums and attractive<br />
shopping malls, these buildings need to be wellconnected<br />
and easily accessible by all.<br />
The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has identified that<br />
an efficient network of streets and pavements is<br />
critical to the growth of Abu Dhabi and to creating a<br />
world-class Arab city. In response it has launched the<br />
new ’Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual’, which<br />
will become an essential tool in creating vibrant, wellconnected<br />
and safer streets and will provide Abu Dhabi<br />
with a better streetscape.<br />
The Urban Street Design Manual is the culmination<br />
of 12 months work between the UPC, Abu Dhabi<br />
Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police and the Abu Dhabi<br />
Department of Transport in conjunction with a<br />
number of specialist consultants who have researched<br />
international best practice to create a practical guide to<br />
develop Abu Dhabi’s roads and pathways.<br />
Cars are currently the main form of transport in<br />
Abu Dhabi. The hot and humid weather during the<br />
summer months means people prefer to travel in airconditioned<br />
comfort rather than walk on pavements<br />
that have little shade. To add to the appeal of driving,<br />
people are often confronted with streets that are not<br />
pedestrian-friendly and make it difficult to walk from<br />
one place to another. Illegal and badly parked cars<br />
often create further barriers to pedestrians and act as<br />
another disincentive to walk.<br />
Ibrahim Al Hmoudi, Senior Associate Planner at the<br />
UPC, who has been heavily involved in the creation of<br />
the manual, explains that the aim of the Urban Street<br />
Design Manual is to promote the development of a<br />
‘balanced street network’.<br />
“This will ensure that streets are designed to be<br />
efficient, safe and usable for all users – pedestrians,<br />
cyclists and drivers,” says Al Hmoudi.<br />
The manual will also contain strategies to improve the<br />
ability to drive around the city by reducing congestion<br />
and improving parking provisions. But, as Al Hmoudi<br />
reiterates, “The emphasis of the Urban Street Design<br />
Manual will be on making streets safer and more<br />
comfortable for pedestrians – their safety must be<br />
paramount”.<br />
The UPC is keen to create safer streets to encourage<br />
walking, which is environmentally-friendly, promotes<br />
a healthy lifestyle and reduces congestion. But<br />
pedestrians are the most vulnerable of all street users<br />
and, therefore, require special care and consideration.<br />
Emirati children also like to play together in their local<br />
streets, so designing safer streets is important for<br />
Emirati families as well as pedestrians.<br />
To improve the safety of Abu Dhabi’s streets, the UPC<br />
aims to construct new pedestrian crossings on all<br />
streets to enable people, particularly children, to safely<br />
move from block to block. The crossings will be in the<br />
form of a number of designs, which are outlined in<br />
26 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
the manual, and they will all help to maximise the<br />
uninterrupted flow of the walkway, particularly for<br />
wheelchair users and people pushing strollers.<br />
The Urban Street Design Manual includes<br />
recommendations for providing shading along<br />
pedestrian walkways and to harness natural breezes to<br />
make walking a more comfortable experience on hot<br />
days. It also promotes the creation of attractive streets<br />
but, in keeping with the UPC’s Estidama programme of<br />
sustainability, using native plants such as palm trees to<br />
minimise watering.<br />
The UPC will use the new Manual as a reference to<br />
implement best practice in street design. Within the<br />
manual it sets out clear requirements and guidelines<br />
so that municipalities, masterplanners and developers<br />
have a comprehensive level of information to refer to<br />
when designing their plans.<br />
The manual will enable all agencies involved in street<br />
design to use a consistent approach for all urban<br />
streets across the Emirate. Reiterating the UPC’s<br />
commitment to working in partnership with other<br />
government agencies, this manual incorporates the<br />
UPC’s standards and guidelines with those of the Abu<br />
Dhabi Department of Transport, the Municipalities of Al<br />
Ain, Al Gharbia and Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Police –<br />
a truly collaborative approach.<br />
The manual will also ensure that new street design<br />
is aligned with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport’s<br />
long-term public transport plan. It is proposing to<br />
develop an underground metro, street-level tram<br />
system and a bus rapid transit (BRT) and it wants to<br />
upgrade the bus and taxi network to meet the goals<br />
set out in Capital 2030 (formerly called Plan Abu Dhabi<br />
2030). The development of new street networks must<br />
consider these new public transport initiatives and<br />
assess how they will impact drivers and pedestrians.<br />
For instance, lay-bys and designated shaded waiting<br />
areas will need to be created for taxis. Buses will<br />
require clear paved pedestrian access points, shaded<br />
or air-conditioned seated waiting areas and real-time<br />
information displays. Entrances to metro stations<br />
will have to be designed to be easily accessible from<br />
pedestrian walkways, while trams and the BRT must<br />
provide comfortable waiting stations for users.<br />
Cyclists will have their own colour-coded designated<br />
routes running alongside the streets and better<br />
facilities to park their bicycles securely. The streets<br />
will have clearer markings and better lane and island<br />
management to improve traffic flows for all vehicles.<br />
As well as being a guide for municipalities,<br />
masterplanners and developers, the Urban Street<br />
Design Manual also paints a picture of the future.<br />
It shows how Abu Dhabi is set to become a better<br />
city and how people are going to be able to more<br />
effectively and safely visit the new developments that<br />
are being planned for the capital.<br />
For more information please visit our<br />
website: www.upc.gov.ae<br />
Parking/<br />
Slow Travel<br />
Shared Space<br />
1<br />
3<br />
4<br />
According to a recent<br />
Department of Transport<br />
survey,15% of journeys<br />
made within Abu Dhabi's<br />
downtown area are made<br />
on foot. However, this figure<br />
is expected to double to<br />
30% by 2030 due to the<br />
anticipated pedestrianfriendly<br />
improvements to<br />
Abu Dhabi's streets, which<br />
will give a higher priority<br />
to pedestrians, cyclists and<br />
public transport users without<br />
compromising the overall<br />
capacity of the road network.<br />
Ibrahim Al Hmoudi,<br />
Senior Associate Planner,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 27
Meet the UPC Team<br />
People are the most<br />
important resource for the<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning<br />
Council (UPC). Human<br />
Resources Manager, Yousef<br />
Abdulla Al Junaibi, discusses<br />
the UPC’s recruitment and<br />
development strategies and<br />
opportunities for graduates<br />
People are the most<br />
important factor in<br />
achieving success in<br />
any organisation<br />
Yousef Abdulla Al Junaibi,<br />
Human Resources Manager,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
What is your role within the<br />
UPC?<br />
I am the UPC’s Human Resources (HR) Manager. In<br />
short, my role is to ensure the UPC attracts, develops<br />
and retains the best quality and the right number of<br />
employees needed to meet our long-term goals and<br />
objectives, and in particular to ensure we deliver on<br />
the vision of Capital 2030.<br />
Why is a Human Resources<br />
Department important to the UPC?<br />
People are the most important factor in achieving<br />
success in any organisation. An effective<br />
employee is the basic building block that makes<br />
organisations productive. I believe investment in<br />
improved human resources systems will result in<br />
enhanced performance and productivity across all<br />
departments.<br />
The UPC Management Team has provided the<br />
support to ensure that the UPC HR Department<br />
embraces international best practice approaches.<br />
Good HR processes can also improve vertical and<br />
horizontal communication throughout the business<br />
and enable people to better share knowledge and<br />
expertise to the benefit of fellow employees,<br />
individuals and the organisation.<br />
How many staff does the UPC<br />
employ?<br />
The UPC has over 150 employees representing 20<br />
nationalities. We’re not the biggest organisation in<br />
terms of size, but we pride ourselves on being one<br />
of Abu Dhabi’s best employers. As a result, the HR<br />
team is obliged to source the best quality people to<br />
join the UPC.<br />
What makes the UPC a good<br />
employer?<br />
Those who join the UPC are exposed to a multicultural<br />
group of experts from many fields – urban<br />
planning, urban design, project management, GIS,<br />
architecture, etc. The UPC is like a small village<br />
where people share their expertise, experience and<br />
knowledge to help create a better Abu Dhabi for<br />
future generations. This makes for a fantastic life<br />
learning environment.<br />
People who come to work here find that we have<br />
a positive atmosphere, which we encourage.<br />
Thanks to the UPC Management Team we’re also<br />
a transparent organisation that operates an open<br />
door policy all the way up to the level of General<br />
Manager.<br />
And of course we offer generous packages and<br />
benefits to our employees and we recognise and<br />
reward good performance.<br />
28 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
How do you find the best<br />
people to employ?<br />
We look for people with the appropriate knowledge,<br />
skills, abilities and attitudes and we spare no effort<br />
in sourcing them. We use in-house capabilities,<br />
like the UPC career website, as well as referrals<br />
and job fairs. We also advertise for particular roles<br />
in specialist magazines and use head-hunters and<br />
executive search firms to find experienced people.<br />
How does the UPC recruit<br />
young Emirati graduates?<br />
We have formed excellent relationships with local<br />
universities and institutes to source top-notch<br />
graduates.<br />
We invest a lot of time in the selection process and<br />
interviews are only one screening element. We have<br />
a thorough recruitment process, which includes<br />
in-depth evaluation and the use of psychometric<br />
testing to ensure we select the best employees.<br />
How do you help Emiratis<br />
develop their careers?<br />
Recently, the UPC has invested time and efforts<br />
to develop sophisticated personal development<br />
programmes for all UAE Nationals.<br />
The Personal Development Plans, or PDPs as we<br />
call them, carefully assess their current skills,<br />
behaviours and abilities. The PDPs help us to assess<br />
training needs and identify the best way to develop<br />
the careers of our employees through a number of<br />
different methods, such as job training, workshops,<br />
assignments, coaching and mentoring. This also<br />
ensures that our employees’ skills and knowledge<br />
match our business needs.<br />
We’re also willing to throw our graduates in at the<br />
deep end and allow them to swim. For instance,<br />
some recent graduates will be making presentations<br />
to the public at Cityscape Abu Dhabi. Thankfully they<br />
are good swimmers!<br />
And what about your expat<br />
employees?<br />
We don’t forget our expat employees; they are a<br />
vital asset to the UPC. We regularly send them to<br />
seminars, conferences and workshops to improve<br />
and share their knowledge and expertise. We also<br />
send non-Arabic speakers on Arabic language<br />
courses to help them integrate better into Arabic<br />
business circles.<br />
Are Emirati graduates leaving<br />
university and college with the<br />
skills required by the UPC?<br />
Universities and institutions as well as the Abu<br />
Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) are committed to<br />
educating students to ensure they have the skills<br />
and qualifications that businesses need. Emirati<br />
universities are producing excellent graduates in the<br />
fields of architecture, civil engineering, business<br />
management, project management and IT.<br />
However, urban planning, which is a core<br />
competence to the UPC, is a new concept to<br />
our local universities so they do not yet have a<br />
specialised curriculum.<br />
So how are you dealing with lack<br />
of training in urban planning?<br />
We have organised a joint programme with ADEC<br />
to send graduates to American universities to<br />
study urban planning, together with other relevant<br />
subjects such as civil engineering and architecture.<br />
We currently have two scholars in the USA – one in<br />
Michigan State University and the other in Arizona<br />
State University. We plan to send more scholars this<br />
year abroad to countries including the USA, Canada,<br />
UK, New Zealand and Italy.<br />
We’re also speaking to universities in the UAE<br />
about the prospect of developing an urban planning<br />
syllabus.<br />
What do you enjoy most about<br />
your job?<br />
I love HR and take pleasure seeing our Emirati<br />
graduates develop both personally and professionally<br />
within our organisation, and also our non-Nationals<br />
contributing by transferring their vast knowledge<br />
and experience to younger staff. And I especially<br />
enjoy working in a harmonious and efficient<br />
environment where so many nationalities come<br />
together for the greater benefit for them personally<br />
and for the UPC, which will in the end benefit the<br />
Abu Dhabi Emirate. I simply enjoy this team spirit.<br />
The UPC is like a small village<br />
where people share their expertise,<br />
experience and knowledge to help<br />
create a better Abu Dhabi<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 29
30 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Branding the UPC<br />
Since 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has<br />
been working on developing a clear brand identity to promote all<br />
masterplans under the Abu Dhabi 2030 <strong>Vision</strong> umbrella. As the<br />
regions, cities and settlements start to take shape on the drawing<br />
board, the UPC’s Communications Team has been hard at work<br />
creating a branding strategy that creates consistency across the<br />
organisation, yet individuality for the masterplans being produced.<br />
But why is branding so important for the UPC and Abu Dhabi?<br />
Budour Rawas Al Rashedi, Associate Manager for Corporate<br />
Marketing at the UPC explains…<br />
Great brands are built<br />
by being consistent in<br />
the way we act and<br />
design our masterplans<br />
and also in the way we<br />
communicate.<br />
Why does the UPC<br />
need a brand?<br />
The UPC is the agency responsible for planning<br />
the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environments<br />
and therefore is very visible across the Emirate.<br />
We needed to create a brand that reflects Abu<br />
Dhabi as an Emirate and highlights the work that<br />
is being done in an easily identifiable way. The<br />
UPC is working for the public to create vibrant<br />
and sustainable communities. We want people to<br />
recognise our logo and understand what we aim to<br />
do. As our projects are implemented, people will be<br />
able to visibly see the UPC’s work taking shape.<br />
How does the UPC brand<br />
work?<br />
Following a period of research and analysis to<br />
explore the Emirate’s characteristics, we worked<br />
on a number of designs to find one which best<br />
represented Abu Dhabi. The brand works on a<br />
number of levels. The visionary approach to planning<br />
is reflected in the ‘<strong>Vision</strong> 2030’ part of the logo and<br />
this is enhanced by incorporating the Abu Dhabi<br />
emblem into the overall identity. This helps to focus<br />
on the long-term, strategic nature of the plans.<br />
The colours used; a sandy brown and marine blue,<br />
reflect the convergence of the sea and the desert<br />
which makes Abu Dhabi so special and highlights the<br />
importance of protecting the natural environment,<br />
one of the pillars of the UPC’s Estidama programme<br />
of sustainability.<br />
Why is branding important?<br />
Great brands are built by being consistent in the<br />
way we act and design our masterplans and also<br />
in the way we communicate. Given the number<br />
of masterplans, brochures and documents the<br />
UPC produces, it is really important that there<br />
is consistency across the documents so that<br />
everyone, whether they are a member of the<br />
public or a developer, can identify the plan as a<br />
UPC document. Furthermore, designing a logo<br />
creates a link between the people and their cities,<br />
towns and settlements – their own signature for<br />
their community.<br />
Over the next 12 months, we will be building<br />
on the successes of 2009 and the visibility we<br />
achieved in the media to reinforce the UPC’s<br />
mission as an agent of social, cultural and<br />
economic development.<br />
How do you create the<br />
brands?<br />
It is important we have a level of consistency across<br />
the UPC, but it is also important that individual<br />
cities and settlements maintain their own identity.<br />
Across the Emirate, there are some differences in<br />
environments. The logos are therefore created to<br />
reflect and celebrate this diversity.<br />
Budour Rawas Al Rashedi<br />
Associate Manager,<br />
Corporate Marketing,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 31
20 Settlements of the Al Ain Region 7 Settlements of the Western Region<br />
20 تجمع سكني في منطقة العين<br />
7 تجمعات سكنية في المنطقة الغربية<br />
We start by looking at the natural colours of the<br />
location, as the environment is a key element for<br />
the UPC. We look at whether the town or settlement<br />
is going to be a mainly residential area, a central<br />
business district or perhaps a city centre and<br />
incorporate this into a visual design.<br />
The common thread throughout the design comes<br />
from the number seven. Abu Dhabi is the capital of<br />
the UAE and so many of the logos incorporate seven<br />
stars, circles or points to reflect the seven Emirates<br />
that comprise the United Arab Emirates.<br />
How does the branding<br />
hierarchy work?<br />
There is a clear hierarchy within the frameworks<br />
and masterplans that the branding supports. Sitting<br />
at the top is ‘<strong>Vision</strong> 2030’. Below is the Capital 2030<br />
Urban Structure Framework Plan (formerly called<br />
Plan Abu Dhabi 2030). This document was released<br />
at the same time as the UPC was formed and covers<br />
the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. We rebranded it<br />
as ‘Capital 2030’ to reflect its geographic range and<br />
to allow it to sit alongside the two other regional<br />
visions of Al Ain 2030, which covers the city of<br />
Al Ain and the wider Al Ain Region, and Al Gharbia<br />
2030, which covers the western region.<br />
Once the three framework plans have been released,<br />
they will be merged into a new Plan Abu Dhabi 2030<br />
<strong>Vision</strong> document that will provide the vision for the<br />
entire Emirate of Abu Dhabi.<br />
What do the three regional<br />
framework plans cover?<br />
Al Ain 2030 covers the whole of the region of Al<br />
Ain and was released in April 2009. Under this plan<br />
will sit Al Ain City, Wasat Madinat (Downtown) Al<br />
Ain and a number of suburbs that surround the city.<br />
The green colour of the logo reflects Al Ain’s status<br />
as the ‘Garden City’. There will also be an Al Ain<br />
Regional Structure Framework Plan, which will cover<br />
the 20 settlements within the Al Ain Region.<br />
Al Gharbia 2030 covers the western region and is<br />
due for release later this year. It will be the final<br />
regional framework plan joining Al Ain 2030 and<br />
Capital 2030.<br />
Capital 2030 will have a number of masterplans,<br />
such as the Capital District. Capital 2030 is branded<br />
in a regal red colour representing Abu Dhabi as the<br />
capital of the UAE. The Capital District Masterplan<br />
follows this theme and has a burgundy colour,<br />
reflecting its position as the future seat of federal<br />
government.<br />
The downtown area of Abu Dhabi Island will be<br />
covered by the Wasat Madinat Abu Dhabi Masterplan.<br />
It will have a blue logo to reflect the proximity<br />
to the seafront. Shahama & Bahia, Khalifa City A<br />
and Khalifa City B all have desert coloured logos,<br />
which mirror the mainland’s desert environment.<br />
As with Al Ain and Al Gharbia, further cities, such<br />
as Mohammed bin Zayed City will follow with their<br />
own masterplans and corresponding logos.<br />
Why does the UPC have a<br />
Communications team?<br />
The planners, policy makers, urban designers and<br />
managers are all working hard to create the plans<br />
within <strong>Vision</strong> 2030. The Corporate Communications<br />
team, headed by Jean-Philippe Coulaud,<br />
communicates these plans to all the stakeholders<br />
who are interested in the work of the UPC. For<br />
instance, we promote the UPC’s initiatives through<br />
public 'charrette' sessions and use questionnaires<br />
and feedback to understand the views of the public,<br />
which are then incorporated into the plans that will<br />
eventually become the towns and neighbourhoods<br />
in which they live, work and play.<br />
Planning for the future<br />
Both on a professional and a personal level, I feel<br />
honoured to be part of the team that has initiated<br />
this process. We are crafting a brand identity that<br />
embodies the drive, determination and passion of Abu<br />
Dhabi and creates a distinct but collective sentiment<br />
that will draw together the individual communities<br />
throughout the Emirate to create authentic modern<br />
Arab settlements for generations to come.<br />
Page 32 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE
Cityscape<br />
Special<br />
Cityscape Returns<br />
Abu Dhabi’s real estate market remains robust as<br />
highlighted by the return of Cityscape to the Emirate<br />
Contents:<br />
Cityscape Returns Page 1<br />
The UPC at Cityscape Page 2<br />
A Sustainable Capital Asset Page 4<br />
Putting People First Page 7<br />
Modelling our Future Page 10<br />
Cityscape Abu Dhabi<br />
in numbers 2009<br />
No of stands: 265<br />
No of exhibitors<br />
317<br />
(including stand shares):<br />
Exhibiting countries: 34<br />
Total attendance: 33,186<br />
Visitor countries<br />
87<br />
represented:<br />
Average days attended: 1.2<br />
Top 5 Overseas Visitor Countries<br />
1. United Kingdom 2,469<br />
2. U.S.A 899<br />
3. Saudi Arabia 661<br />
4. Bahrain 367<br />
5. Oman 342<br />
Within four years, Cityscape Abu Dhabi has established<br />
itself as a highlight on the international real estate<br />
calendar.<br />
Last year, the exhibition and conference attracted more<br />
than 33,000 participants from 87 countries cementing<br />
the event’s position as one of the leading real estate<br />
events in the world.<br />
“This year we’re expecting a similar number of participants<br />
as in 2009, which is an incredible achievement when you<br />
take into consideration that even the most established<br />
real estate events globally are seeing participation fall by<br />
up to 60%,” says Rohan Marwaha, Managing Director of<br />
Cityscape. “This is testament to the strength of the Abu<br />
Dhabi real estate market.”<br />
With Cityscape events in almost every major emerging<br />
market, namely India, China, Singapore, Brazil, Dubai and<br />
Saudi Arabia, Marwaha is well placed to comment on Abu<br />
Dhabi’s real estate market.<br />
He highlights the role of the Urban Planning Council<br />
(UPC) and, in particular, the Capital 2030 Urban Structure<br />
Framework Plan (formerly called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030)<br />
as providing Abu Dhabi with a key advantage over other<br />
international markets.<br />
“The UPC is providing Abu Dhabi’s real estate market<br />
with a clear vision, while Capital 2030 ensures that<br />
the city is properly masterplanned,” says Marwaha.<br />
“Too often in emerging markets there is no strategy for<br />
development, which can lead to significant problems with<br />
infrastructure, supply of utilities, aesthetics and many<br />
others. This is clearly not the case in Abu Dhabi given the<br />
UPC’s vision and ongoing careful consideration of many<br />
factors throughout the masterplanning process.<br />
“Abu Dhabi is providing confidence through transparency,<br />
which is obviously attractive to local and international<br />
investors, while also helping to preserve the Emirate’s<br />
culture, heritage and natural environment.”<br />
The efforts of the UPC and Capital 2030 are now being<br />
recognised internationally. Attracted by Abu Dhabi’s<br />
population and economic growth forecasts, and the<br />
clarity provided within Capital 2030, Abu Dhabi is now on<br />
the radar for many international investors.<br />
This is being translated into a greater number of overseas<br />
visitors to Cityscape Abu Dhabi. In 2009, nearly 7,000<br />
overseas delegates flew in to Abu Dhabi to visit Cityscape;<br />
a number that represents about 20% of all participants.<br />
This number is expected to rise further this year.<br />
The UPC is providing Abu<br />
Dhabi’s real estate market<br />
with a clear vision, while<br />
Capital 2030 ensures that the<br />
city is properly masterplanned<br />
Rohan Marwaha,<br />
Managing Director,<br />
Cityscape<br />
Marwaha says Cityscape has developed a close<br />
relationship with the UPC to help it better understand<br />
the future direction of Abu Dhabi’s real estate market,<br />
to ensure the exhibition and conference is tailored<br />
accordingly. Cityscape organisers have also worked<br />
closely with the UPC on its stand, which will be the<br />
largest at this year’s exhibition and will showcase a model<br />
of Abu Dhabi measuring 23 metres by 17 metres.<br />
But Marwaha is keen to stress that Cityscape Abu Dhabi is<br />
about far more than just the exhibition.<br />
“We have a full three-day conference programme that<br />
has different streams depending on your interest. We have<br />
also organised investor round tables; the Cityscape Awards<br />
for Real Estate and various networking opportunities,<br />
including business breakfasts, a golf tournament, a CEO<br />
networking lunch, a cultural evening, cocktail party and<br />
an investor and developer networking reception.<br />
“Cityscape is about enabling the real estate industry to<br />
share knowledge and best practice; it’s about creating<br />
transparency, networking and building new relationships.<br />
When this happens then more business is done, which is<br />
good news for Abu Dhabi’s real estate market.”<br />
Page 1
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SCALE: 1:40<br />
SCALE: 1:40<br />
SCALE: 1:40<br />
Estidama<br />
The UPC at<br />
Cityscape<br />
Estidama is the UPC’s programme<br />
of sustainability that provides a clear<br />
understanding of Estidama and the principles<br />
of the programme that will transform Abu Dhabi<br />
into a world-class sustainable capital city. At the<br />
kiosk visitors can learn about the Pearls Rating<br />
Systems and hear new information about the<br />
Communities and Buildings Systems and the rating<br />
process. The kiosk will demonstrate a range<br />
of changes that residents can make to their<br />
villa, or consider if building a new villa, to<br />
improve its sustainability rating.<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
SECTION<br />
CURVED SECTION<br />
CL<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
SECTION<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
SECTION<br />
CURVED SECTION<br />
CL<br />
دليل تصميم الشوارع الحضرية - أبوظبي<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual<br />
البنية التحتية<br />
Infrastructure<br />
تخطيط احياء السكنية<br />
Neighbourhood Planning<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
SECTION<br />
دليل تصميم الشوارع الحضرية - أبوظب<br />
البنية التحتية<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual<br />
Infrastructure<br />
FINISH<br />
SUB-FL00R<br />
FINISH<br />
VENUE FLR<br />
250.20<br />
[8'-3"]<br />
5°<br />
246.00<br />
[8'-1"] DIA. KIOSK BASE DISK<br />
Al Ain 2030<br />
74.73<br />
[2'-5"]<br />
95.23<br />
[3'-1"]<br />
123.23<br />
[4'-1"] MONITOR<br />
COORD. FINAL SUB-FLR<br />
FINISH KIOSK FLR SURFACE<br />
THICKNESS WITH ELECTRA<br />
TO ALIGN WITH FINISH SUB-FLR<br />
The Al KIOSK Ain STATION FRONT 2030 VIEW kiosk explains how the<br />
3<br />
UPC is now adding to the Al Ain City Urban<br />
Structure Framework Plan with the Al Ain Regional<br />
Structure Framework Plan to guide development<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
SECTION<br />
CURVED SECTION<br />
SECTION<br />
CL<br />
across the whole of Al Ain. The principles of both<br />
Neighbourhood Planning<br />
plans, which together will make up Plan Al Ain 2030,<br />
are highlighted. An update on the forthcoming Wasat<br />
Madinat Al Ain Plan, which covers Al Ain’s downtown Al Gharbia 2030<br />
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city are progressing.<br />
The kiosk for Al Gharbia allows visitors to<br />
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3<br />
read about the principles that have guided<br />
the development of the Plan Al Gharbia 2030<br />
Regional Structure Framework Plan. Facts<br />
and figures about the region sit alongside<br />
information on the seven settlements of Al<br />
Gharbia that are covered by the framework<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
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CLplan. This information includes some<br />
تخطيط احياء السكنية<br />
دليل تصمي<br />
sign Manual<br />
Development Review and<br />
the Development Code<br />
تخطيط احياء السكنية<br />
Neighbourhood Planning<br />
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three streams are tailored to reflect the level of complexity in<br />
small, medium and large developments. The kiosk also displays<br />
the new on-line system and allows visitors the opportunity to<br />
test the system for themselves while guided by a member<br />
of the UPC team. A brochure that contains forms for the<br />
new process will be available. Information about the<br />
new Abu Dhabi Development Code, due for release in<br />
2010, shows how the UPC is guiding and planning<br />
development across Abu Dhabi and explains<br />
how the Code will be implemented.<br />
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of the key proposed developments<br />
due to take place. Photos, videos<br />
and maps provide a visual<br />
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journey for visitors.<br />
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Capital 2030<br />
Capital 2030 provides visitors with the<br />
opportunity to look at all of the UPC’s projects<br />
across the city of Abu Dhabi. From the Corniche<br />
Revitalisation Programme through to the North<br />
Wathba/South Baniyas Masterplan, visitors can view<br />
key information and see images, maps and plans. An<br />
interactive map for the Capital District will highlight<br />
what is planned for each precinct, including details<br />
on the New Stadium and Zayed University. Videos<br />
show how the Capital District will look and give<br />
visitors a taste of the future.<br />
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SCALE: 1:40<br />
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STRAIGHT<br />
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CL<br />
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دليل تصميم الشوارع الحضرية - أبوظبي<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual<br />
البنية التحتية<br />
Infrastructure<br />
تخطيط احياء السكنية<br />
Neighbourhood Planning<br />
STRAIGHT<br />
SECTION<br />
CURVED SECTION<br />
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Street Design and<br />
Infrastructure<br />
Infrastructure is an often forgotten subject and yet<br />
without it there would be no power, water, roads and<br />
communications. The infrastructure kiosk provides an<br />
insight into the work of the UPC’s Infrastructure team<br />
and how the plans they are creating will meet the needs<br />
of both current and future generations. Linked with<br />
infrastructure are the streets that connect people to<br />
places. The kiosk showcases the principles of the<br />
recently launched Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design<br />
Manual and highlights some of the planned<br />
changes to make Abu Dhabi’s streets<br />
safer, more vibrant and pedestrianfriendly.<br />
دليل تصميم الشوارع الحضرية - أبوظبي<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual<br />
البنية التحتية<br />
Infrastructure<br />
تخطيط احياء السكنية<br />
Neighbourhood Planning<br />
Neighbourhood<br />
Planning<br />
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The Neighbourhood Planning kiosk will be<br />
3<br />
playing a video explaining how the UPC is using<br />
the traditional ‘fareej’ style of neighbourhood<br />
design to create new ways of living to promote<br />
walking in lively, exciting neighbourhoods. The<br />
kiosk explains the elements that make up the<br />
neighbourhood and how these combine with<br />
community facilities such as schools,<br />
mosques, shops and clinics to create<br />
‘complete’ communities.<br />
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Geographic Information<br />
Systems (GIS)<br />
Geographic Information Systems play an important role<br />
at the UPC. For instance, GIS enables planners to visualise<br />
how masterplans, infrastructure plans and developments<br />
will fit within the existing city fabric. It enables areas of<br />
environmental importance to be clearly mapped, and<br />
ensures that views of important monuments are not<br />
obstructed by new developments. The GIS kiosk will<br />
also feature two fly-throughs that allow visitors,<br />
with the aid of a control pad, to navigate<br />
freely through both a simulation of Wasat<br />
Madinat Abu Dhabi and a simulation<br />
of the Capital District.<br />
Page 3
A Sustainable Capital Asset<br />
Abu Dhabi will be graced with a new federal heart, called Capital<br />
District, which will help elevate the city to the status of a leading<br />
sustainable Arab capital.<br />
Travelling along the main road between Abu Dhabi<br />
Mainland and Abu Dhabi International Airport you can<br />
see a forest of cranes towering over the first buildings<br />
to be constructed in Abu Dhabi’s new sustainable<br />
Capital District development.<br />
The Zayed University and Abu Dhabi’s 65,000-seat<br />
New Stadium are huge developments in their own<br />
right, but they are dwarfed by the Urban Planning<br />
Council’s (UPC) grand masterplan.<br />
The sheer scale of the planned new Capital District<br />
is mesmerising. Totalling 45 square kilometres, the<br />
triangular-shaped district covers an area equivalent to<br />
about 75% of the land mass of Abu Dhabi Island.<br />
Unsurprisingly, it is the single largest initiative within<br />
Capital 2030 (the Urban Structure Framework<br />
Plan formerly called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030), and<br />
arguably Abu Dhabi’s most important and sustainable<br />
development. Once complete, it will provide more than<br />
32 million square metres of office, residential, hotel,<br />
retail and leisure space; as well as key government<br />
buildings, mosques, schools, parks, plazas, community<br />
facilities and health amenities.<br />
Located strategically between Abu Dhabi International<br />
Airport and Abu Dhabi Island, the Capital District will<br />
be home for some of Abu Dhabi’s most important<br />
institutions in six separate precincts (see page 6). It<br />
will become home to 370,000 residents and have<br />
a daily population of more than 800,000 workers,<br />
visitors and shoppers when complete.<br />
“The objective of the Capital District is to create a<br />
leading sustainable modern Arab capital” explains<br />
Jody Andrews, Director of the Capital District<br />
Development at the UPC. “The Capital District reflects<br />
the passion and vision of the Emirate’s leadership to<br />
transform Abu Dhabi into an economically, socially<br />
and environmentally sustainable city that reflects the<br />
values, culture and heritage of its people.”<br />
The design of the Capital District is based on a concept<br />
called the ‘4 Cs’ – Capital, Central to business,<br />
Connectivity and Community.<br />
The Capital District will become the centre of political<br />
leadership and influence across the country as it will<br />
serve as the new national seat of the UAE government<br />
and house a diplomatic and embassy neighbourhood.<br />
It will also become Central to business and help Abu<br />
Dhabi attain sustainable and diversified economic<br />
growth by creating a second Central Business District<br />
for Abu Dhabi, which will total 1.5 million square<br />
metres and create over 100,000 jobs.<br />
A key aspect of the Capital District will be Connectivity.<br />
It will be served by a world-class transportation system<br />
to include an underground metro, a street level light rail<br />
system, a new bus network and a high speed regional<br />
rail connecting the Capital District to the airport, Dubai,<br />
Al Ain and beyond. The design of the streetscape will<br />
also promote walking and cycling.<br />
Page 4
The final ‘C’, Community, relates to the new residential<br />
districts, including Emirati Neighbourhoods covering<br />
1,865 hectares, within the Capital District. The whole<br />
district is designed to socially and culturally enrich the<br />
lives of the 370,000 people that are anticipated to live<br />
in the Capital District.<br />
“We’ve drawn inspiration from the best capital cities<br />
around the world, but it is a plan with deep roots<br />
here, in the UAE,” explains Andrews. “The Capital<br />
District is masterplanned in the context of the UAE<br />
and its heritage and culture, but is influenced by best<br />
practices from capital cities around the world.”<br />
Andrews says that the Capital District is being<br />
developed to help meet the goals established in Capital<br />
2030. It sets out the sustainable urban development<br />
vision for Abu Dhabi and is based on a rigorous<br />
economic analysis of the Emirate’s projected growth<br />
rates and demographic changes, and the sustainable<br />
infrastructure required to plan for that growth. The<br />
Capital District will be a driver for economic growth<br />
and provide the necessary residential, office, retail<br />
and leisure space required to encourage businesses<br />
to grow or locate to Abu Dhabi and accommodate a<br />
population forecasted to grow to more than 3 million<br />
people.<br />
To achieve its objectives, the UPC will play a key<br />
facilitative role in the development of the buildings in<br />
the Capital District. In the Capital District Masterplan,<br />
the UPC has set guidelines regarding the size, usage<br />
and design of buildings that can be developed within<br />
each precinct. The UPC is taking a more direct role in<br />
the design and construction of the infrastructure to<br />
deliver it to the highest possible level of economic,<br />
social and environmental sustainability and prepare<br />
the parcels of land for development of the buildings.<br />
“It is important to understand that although the UPC<br />
is facilitating the Capital District development,” says<br />
Andrews, “we will require the expertise and leadership<br />
of the entire Abu Dhabi development community.<br />
All of Abu Dhabi’s developers will have a significant<br />
role to play in ensuring that the individual parcels,<br />
like the infrastructure, are developed to the highest<br />
possible level of economic, social and environmental<br />
sustainability.”<br />
Due to play a critical role in the growth projections<br />
for 2030, the Capital District will be a significant<br />
achievement for both the UPC as well as Abu Dhabi’s<br />
real estate and development community.<br />
And it will represent a triumph for Abu Dhabi as it<br />
takes tangible steps to become the leading sustainable<br />
modern Arab capital.<br />
The objective of the<br />
Capital District is<br />
to create a leading<br />
sustainable modern Arab<br />
capital<br />
Jody Andrews,<br />
Director of the Capital District Development,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
Progress<br />
“We have moved from the masterplanning stage to<br />
the engineering stage of the Capital District,” explains<br />
James Reed, the UPC’s Development Manager for the<br />
Capital District.<br />
The UPC has begun the preparatory work to install<br />
the necessary infrastructure for the Capital District.<br />
Designed from a framework of sustainability, the<br />
infrastructure will include roads, water, sewage,<br />
electricity, telecommunications and the foundations<br />
required to build an extensive transportion system.<br />
“Preparing for the design and implementation of the<br />
infrastructure for the Capital District began in the<br />
second quarter of 2009,” says Reed, “and our goal is<br />
to deliver the infrastructure in such a way as to allow<br />
developers to begin work as quickly as possible.”<br />
Reed expects the core infrastructure to be complete<br />
by 2015, though certain infrastructure will be<br />
planned to be strategically delivered at the “right<br />
Page 5
time” after 2015 to match population growth. Just as<br />
importantly, strategic areas of the Capital District will<br />
have infrastructure completed much earlier to allow<br />
development to begin sooner.<br />
For instance, the construction of the infrastructure<br />
within the Emirati Neighbourhood is expected to<br />
begin in 2010 and the first homes as early as 2011.<br />
Meanwhile, significant progress has already been<br />
made with the Zayed University and the New Stadium<br />
for Abu Dhabi by Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality<br />
(MREH).<br />
MREH is making significant progress with the<br />
construction of the new university campus site,<br />
which covers an area of 80 hectares. It will include<br />
academic buildings, recreation facilities and residential<br />
accommodation for 6,000 students, as well as related<br />
faculty and support staff and is expected to complete<br />
in 2012, the same year the 65,000-seat New Stadium<br />
will also open.<br />
City Centre Precinct<br />
At the heart of the City Centre Precinct will be a retailled<br />
Souk District, which will include a traditionalstyle<br />
Souk Market. The precinct’s largest area will be<br />
devoted to a high density Central Business District,<br />
which will total 1.5 million square metres and create<br />
over 100,000 jobs in a dynamic, mixed-use urban<br />
core.<br />
The North Spine District, which runs parallel to Airport<br />
Road, will comprise high-density housing as well as a<br />
hospital and medical campus with biomedical research<br />
facilities and two universities – Zayed University,<br />
already under construction, and a new Khalifa<br />
University for Science and Advanced Research.<br />
A Federal Mosque District will be home to a national<br />
mosque as well as housing.<br />
Emirati Neighbourhoods<br />
The Emirati Neighbourhoods are an integral part of the<br />
Capital District. The large area of housing will cover<br />
1,865 hectares – over 40% of the total land area of<br />
the Capital District.<br />
The Emirati Neighbourhoods will have a more relaxed<br />
ambience compared to the rest of the Capital District.<br />
The aim is to create residential communities for Emirati<br />
nationals living in villa and fareej-style homes that<br />
reflect the aspirations of the Emirati people. There are<br />
approximately 3,000 individual family plots that will<br />
eventually be home to 50,000 people.<br />
Federal Precinct<br />
The Federal Precinct will serve as the national seat<br />
of government for the UAE. It will be centred on a<br />
new ceremonial public space called National Square<br />
and include other public realm elements such as the<br />
International Park and Monumental Park.<br />
The precinct will be home to other significant<br />
public institutions, such as libraries and museums,<br />
as well as local, regional and national government<br />
departments and ministries within the Ministries Zone<br />
and Institutions Zone. A Diplomatic Zone will house<br />
international embassies.<br />
Sports Hub Precinct<br />
The New Stadium for Abu Dhabi is currently under<br />
construction and the foundations being established.<br />
The remainder of the Sports Hub Precinct is being<br />
designed around the New Stadium.<br />
South Spine Precinct<br />
The South Spine Precinct is currently undergoing<br />
masterplanning refinement and will be comprised of<br />
business and high density residential properties.<br />
Palace Precinct<br />
The Palace Precinct is currently under design<br />
development.<br />
Page 6
Putting People First<br />
The focus of the Urban Planning Council (UPC)<br />
is not just about bricks and mortar, the work of<br />
the UPC is all about people. At the heart of all<br />
the UPC’s initiatives are the people that live in,<br />
work in and visit Abu Dhabi.<br />
The UPC’s overarching aim is to raise the quality<br />
of life for its residents and visitors by creating a<br />
world-class sustainable capital city.<br />
Abu Dhabi’s Plan 2030 establishes a clear vision<br />
for sustainability as the foundation of any new<br />
development occurring in the Emirate and<br />
capital city of Abu Dhabi. This commitment is a<br />
reflection of the values and ideals of our nation.<br />
The tenet of sustainable living in the Middle East<br />
is the guiding force behind the UPC’s Estidama<br />
initiative. More than just a sustainability<br />
programme, Estidama is the symbol of an<br />
inspired vision for governance and community<br />
development. It promotes a new mindset for<br />
building a forward thinking global capital.<br />
To ensure the UPC creates a better Emirate, it<br />
has identified seven key themes that will make<br />
a tangible, positive difference to the lives and<br />
lifestyles of the people of Abu Dhabi. The seven<br />
themes are also designed to help Abu Dhabi<br />
evolve into a contemporary and multi-cultural<br />
Arab capital city.<br />
Community Development<br />
The UPC is committed to creating ‘complete’<br />
communities for Abu Dhabi’s residents. These<br />
communities will feature a fusion of contemporary<br />
design and sustainable technologies that respect<br />
traditional Emirati home designs.<br />
Inspired by traditional ‘fareej’ design, neighbourhoods<br />
will feature a range of housing options for all income<br />
levels and will be designed to include cool, shaded<br />
walkways and communal open spaces.<br />
These neighbourhoods will feature a variety of<br />
high quality community facilities, such as schools,<br />
medical facilities, mosques, parks and shops to create<br />
complete, well-connected and lively communities<br />
across the Emirate.<br />
Page 7
Connectivity<br />
The UPC places a high level of importance on<br />
connectivity to ensure residents and visitors can<br />
conveniently reach their homes, work places,<br />
community facilities and recreational locations.<br />
Streets will be designed to encourage walking and<br />
cycling through the creation of safe, shaded and wellconnected<br />
streets. A transport network comprising an<br />
underground metro, street-level trams and buses will<br />
improve connectivity across the cities of Abu Dhabi,<br />
while a regional rail service will connect the Emirate<br />
to the wider UAE.<br />
Abu Dhabi International Airport will continue to<br />
increase both in size and in the range of destinations<br />
it serves; thereby expanding the airport’s global reach.<br />
Revitalisation<br />
In addition to creating new communities, the UPC also<br />
focuses on regenerating and improving existing cities<br />
and communities across the Abu Dhabi Emirate.<br />
Revitalisation strategies are being developed for the<br />
downtown districts of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, which will<br />
infuse the cities with better transport connections and<br />
greater pedestrian connectivity, along with a higher<br />
quality of community facilities and more sustainable<br />
housing options. Overall, the aim is to create wellbalanced<br />
and diverse urban environments to enhance<br />
the rich social fabric that already exists.<br />
Natural Environment<br />
The UPC is actively working to protect, preserve and<br />
enhance Abu Dhabi’s wealth of marine and landbased<br />
environmental assets for future generations.<br />
These include the Eastern Mangroves, which run along<br />
the eastern shoreline of Abu Dhabi Island and act as<br />
an important ‘hatchery’ for the Gulf’s fish stocks,<br />
while also providing a habitat for a number of species<br />
of birds. Green and Hawksbill turtles often lay their<br />
eggs on the shores of Abu Dhabi, while flamingoes,<br />
dolphins, porpoise and dugong can be found in the<br />
Emirate’s marine waters.<br />
Page 8
Culture and Heritage<br />
The UPC bestows great importance in conserving the<br />
unique heritage, culture and customs of the people<br />
and places of Abu Dhabi. Interpreting and incorporating<br />
these Arab and Emirati elements into contemporary<br />
forms will help to create an authentic Arab capital.<br />
Abu Dhabi has a unique connection with the sea. A<br />
planned Heritage Trail will re-establish the traditional<br />
Bedouin route from the shore to the desert by<br />
linking the historic fort of Qasr Al Hosn to the Qasr<br />
Al Manhal palace and onwards to the Sheikh Zayed<br />
Grand Mosque, then culminating in the entrance to the<br />
planned Grand Boulevard of the Capital District.<br />
While great significance is placed on Emirati heritage<br />
and customs, Abu Dhabi appreciates and respects<br />
diversity. International museums, such as the<br />
Guggenheim and Louvre, highlight Abu Dhabi’s<br />
openness to other international arts and culture.<br />
Waterfront<br />
Abu Dhabi’s unique location, where the desert<br />
converges with the sea, has created an exceptional<br />
marine waterfront. The UPC’s Corniche Revitalisation<br />
Programme has already made major improvements<br />
and created an exciting beachfront location with a<br />
range of sports and recreational facilities.<br />
The Al Bateen Waterfront Guidelines also support the<br />
public’s access to the waterfront in this historic part<br />
of Abu Dhabi. A public corniche running along the<br />
waterfront of Coastal Bahia, which will form part of the<br />
Revitalisation Masterplan for Shahama & Bahia, further<br />
highlights the importance of Abu Dhabi’s coastal areas<br />
both for recreation and tourism.<br />
World-Class Sporting<br />
Venue<br />
Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming recognised as a leading<br />
destination for international sporting events. Yas Island,<br />
Mohamed Bin Zayed Sports Stadium, Zayed Sports<br />
City and Abu Dhabi Golf Club have all attracted some<br />
of the world’s most prestigious sporting spectacles.<br />
The UPC will continue this success by building new<br />
sports facilities, such as basketball and racketball<br />
courts, into a number of projects to provide recreational<br />
activities within easy reach of its residents. The Capital<br />
District, for instance, will be home to the 65,000<br />
seater New Stadium Abu Dhabi that will be located in<br />
the Sports Hub District. This further demonstrates the<br />
UPC’s commitment to providing high-quality sporting<br />
facilities for both event and public use.<br />
Page 9
Modelling Our Future<br />
Measuring 23 x 17 metres, the UPC’s new model of Abu<br />
Dhabi is the centrepiece of Cityscape Abu Dhabi<br />
Abu Dhabi is bursting with exciting new developments.<br />
Some are close to completion, while others remain<br />
computer generated images with start dates due in<br />
the near future.<br />
However, at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, which is being held<br />
at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre between<br />
18-21 April, visitors will get a detailed glimpse into<br />
the future of how Abu Dhabi will look once these<br />
projects are complete.<br />
This is due to the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s<br />
(UPC) decision to commission an interactive model<br />
of Abu Dhabi. It will not be the only model on<br />
display at Cityscape, but measuring 23 metres by<br />
17 metres, it will be the largest and the centrepiece<br />
of the exhibition.<br />
The impressive model is on display on the UPC’s<br />
stand and shows the whole of the city of Abu Dhabi.<br />
It stretches from the Corniche on Abu Dhabi Island<br />
to Shahama, Mussafah and Al Falah on the mainland<br />
and includes the islands of Saadiyat, Yas, Lulu, Reem<br />
and Sowwah, which are all set to become key<br />
development areas for Abu Dhabi.<br />
With a scale of 1:2000, individual buildings can be<br />
easily identified on the model, which includes all of<br />
Abu Dhabi’s future developments, such as Sowwah<br />
Square and Masdar. But existing landmarks, such<br />
as Emirates Palace and the Grand Mosque, are also<br />
prominent to help people navigate the map.<br />
Page 10
“We wanted to provide the people of Abu Dhabi a clear<br />
way to see how Abu Dhabi is developing and will look<br />
in the future,” says Naser Al Junaibi, Communications<br />
Manager in the UPC’s Corporate Communications team.<br />
“Models are a fantastic visualisation tool. They have a<br />
magnetic pull and enable people to really understand<br />
how developments relate to one another,” adds Al<br />
Junaibi.<br />
The UPC commissioned UK modelling company Pipers<br />
to build the model. Pipers is known for building the<br />
model of Saadiyat Island and developing a number<br />
of models of London, including a model to support<br />
London’s successful Olympics bid.<br />
The UPC first began working with Pipers in the<br />
summer of 2007. Pipers originally built a triangularshaped<br />
model of the new Capital District, which went<br />
on display at Cityscape Abu Dhabi in 2009.<br />
“The positive response we received about the model<br />
of the Capital District gave us the confidence to build<br />
something on a grander scale that would highlight all<br />
of Abu Dhabi’s key developments,” says Al Junaibi.<br />
The UPC has designed a purpose-built stand for<br />
the model at Cityscape that will enable people to<br />
clearly see the entire model from wherever they are<br />
positioned. There will also be an opportunity to have<br />
a bird’s eye perspective of the model with viewing<br />
platforms on the first floor of the stand.<br />
The model was hand-made using polyurethane board<br />
and perspex, except for using laser-cutting equipment<br />
for the villas, in the UK by a core team of 15 that at<br />
times swelled to 30 people.<br />
The model is broken into 262 separate sections<br />
measuring no wider than 1.5 metres to enable the<br />
model to be delivered to ADNEC or any other building.<br />
The model is transported in a bespoke series of boxes<br />
weighing in excess of eight tonnes when fully loaded,<br />
and it takes eight people more than four days to<br />
reassemble the model.<br />
Despite the challenges of building, transporting and<br />
reassembling the model, Matthew Quinn, Middle East<br />
Director at Pipers, says that the most difficult process<br />
was actually collating the necessary data to create an<br />
accurate model.<br />
“The UPC provided us with the information of about<br />
100 development projects in Abu Dhabi. Each separate<br />
developer then had to be contacted so that we could<br />
get the details of profile and height of the buildings,<br />
the precise location of the scheme, its relation to other<br />
buildings and visuals of the project to help us create an<br />
accurate model,” explains Quinn.<br />
However, Al Junaibi says that the model will<br />
continue to be updated. “It has been designed to be<br />
a communications platform to inform our citizens<br />
on work being progressed in their city. It is a living,<br />
breathing model that will be updated and amended.<br />
Cityscape will be the model’s unveiling, but it will also<br />
be the first time that we will receive feedback from<br />
Abu Dhabi’s real estate community and the general<br />
public to help us to continue to update the model and<br />
make it even more accurate.”<br />
Page 11
Illuminating the Model<br />
The Abu Dhabi model will provide an illuminating<br />
experience at Cityscape.<br />
An interactive projection system will throw light<br />
down on to the model to help bring the model<br />
to life. Accompanied by a narrated story of the<br />
development of Abu Dhabi, the light show will<br />
highlight different districts within the model, such<br />
as the Capital District, to support the narration.<br />
The lighting will also animate the waters that<br />
surround Abu Dhabi and highlight the future<br />
transportation systems, which include an<br />
underground metro and street-level tram system.<br />
Page 12
Models are a<br />
fantastic visualisation<br />
tool and enable<br />
people to really<br />
understand how<br />
developments relate<br />
to one another<br />
تعد النماذج المجسمة<br />
أداة تصويرية رائعة<br />
للغاية، حيث تستقطب<br />
اهتمام الزوار<br />
ناصر الجنيبي<br />
مدير االتصال<br />
مجلس أبوظبي للتخطيط العمراني<br />
Naser Al Junaibi,<br />
Communications Manager,<br />
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council<br />
إضاءة وهاجة في<br />
مركز أبوظبي الوطني<br />
للمعارض<br />
يقدم نموذج أبوظبي المجسم تجربة مضيئة في معرض<br />
سيتي سكيب. ويسهم نظام اإلضاءة التفاعلي في<br />
إسترسال الضوء على النموذج بهدف إضفاء حياة عليه.<br />
ومن خالل سرد قصة مصاحبة حول مشاريع التطوير<br />
المختلفة، سيعمل نظام اإلضاءة إلى إبراز المناطق المختلفة<br />
الكائنة ضمن النموذج، مثل منطقة العاصمة لتعزيز عملية<br />
السرد.<br />
وتبرز اإلضاءة المياه المحيطة بإمارة أبوظبي وطرق المواصالت<br />
المزمع تنفيذها مستقبالً، والتي تتضمن المترو والترام.<br />
صفحة 12<br />
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 45