Vision Magazine Online Issue 1

The UPC charrette
process will ensure
local needs and issues
are recognised in the
forthcoming Al Ain
Regional Structure
Framework Plan
Al Ain has some of the most stunning scenery in
the Emirate, along with significant agricultural and
archeological sites not found outside of the region.
Back in 2008, an Urban Structure Framework Plan
was created for the oasis city of Al Ain, but it quickly
became clear that the rest of the Al Ain Region also
needed a plan of its own to ensure local communities
within the 20 settlements which surround the city
of Al Ain were sensitively developed to harness the
region’s potential to meet the needs of both current
and future generations.
In November 2009, 60 local planners, officials,
specialists and international consultants participated
in a ‘charrette’ to learn about the region and create
the principles, policies and plans which will eventually
become the Al Ain Regional Structure Framework Plan.
A charrette is the term used to describe an intensive,
creative and collaborative session which brings
together an array of participants who each bring a skill,
expertise or local knowledge to the team.
The Al Ain Region charrette brought together people
from the Urban Planning Council (UPC), Al Ain
Municipality, local agencies, urban planners, designers,
architects, engineers and other experts, both local and
international, to work through an agreed schedule on
the geography, environment and economy, through to
culture and heritage. The charrette participants also
spent a day touring the settlements with local officials
to get a good understanding of the region and the
existing facilities.
“Charrettes are an essential tool in creating a successful
regional plan,” says Saif Ghubash, Senior Planning
Professional at the UPC. “Bringing everyone together
in one room, working together to define the vision and
sharing knowledge with one another ensures that the
plans are creative, yet realistic and meet the needs of
the communities within the region.
“Local specialists have an in-depth knowledge that
shapes and directs the plans that our international
experts cannot acquire in such a short period of time,”
adds Ghubash. “From ensuring that new roads won’t
suffer from sand drifts by knowing which way the
winds typically blow, through to understanding the
intrinsic views and traditions of local people which will
shape the type and location of community facilities;
charrettes are the most efficient way of quickly
gathering knowledge and creating a comprehensive
plan,” he explains.
The Al Ain Region charrette examined key issues such
as the growth of smaller communities; the creation of
new infrastructure and industry; the development of
multi-use community facilities; outlining plot patterns;
and, most importantly, the protection of the natural
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 13