Vision Magazine Online Issue 1

“From receiving planning approval from the UPC
to agreeing with Abu Dhabi Police about race day
security, it could have been a communications
nightmare, but it wasn’t. Instead, the UPC and the
other government authorities understood the deadline
and they responded.
“We didn’t have to run around to different government
authorities seeking approval; they instead were
proactive and came to us. We’d never seen such a
joined-up approach before. Had this team spirit not
existed then the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would never
have happened.”
The 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix does not signal the
end of the story, but the start. Al Dhiyebi says that he
is aware race fans will be expecting plenty of changes
to Yas Island when they return in November this year.
Ferrari World and a new links golf course, for instance,
are both expected to be open by the start of the
second Grand Prix.
Despite quickly approving the masterplan for the race
track and race day facilities, the UPC is taking more
time examining Aldar’s masterplan for the rest of the
island, which measures 25 square kilometres. The UPC
and Aldar are working closely together to draw up a
masterplan for the Southern Marina that will create a
blueprint for a new model urban environment in Abu
Dhabi.
Talal Al Dhiyebi on Capital 2030,
the Urban Structure Framework Plan:
“Capital 2030 has provided us with
clarity,” says Talal Al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s
Director of Planning and Infrastructure.
“It paints the bigger picture of how Abu
Dhabi will evolve and grow, and so it has
provided us at Aldar with a greater insight
into the future direction of Abu Dhabi.
“Before Capital 2030, everything was
being developed in isolation. No one
knew what was being developed next
door to their plot or development. But
Capital 2030 gave us a good indication
of other developments and proposed
infrastructure. It meant that we could
review our plans to ensure they
complemented Capital 2030 and other
proposed developments.
“Had Abu Dhabi continued with unplanned
development then we would have created
oversupply and over-investment in some
real estate sectors; and undersupply and
under-investment in others.”
24 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE