Abu Dhabi’s final frontier

We need much better air, sea and road transport systems... The medical industries should be given top priority... The high prices of the FMCG and construction products are a major concern to the residents and small investors... Unemployment is a major problem... There are no good schools..."

These are only some of the concerns voiced by the residents of the Western Region of Abu Dhabi in a passionate and enthralling debate. We are 160km West of the UAE capital on Delma, a 10km long island from North to South and 5km long from East to West, but that doesn't make the problems any smaller. This is the last stop of seven.

Women and men, young and old, laid their troubles out in front of the Western Region Development Council (WRDC) during a road trip and a protocol-defying event where residents of each city in the region were given the chance to voice their concerns and opinions for the first time.

"Small investors should be given a fair opportunity in investing in Delma Island. Big investors are monopolising the market. Elementary students exam centres should be opened in Delma as it is not fair that our children go to Dubai to be tested," one exclaims.

"Our kids are born on this island and they are 18 and 20 years old and they still don't have citizenship," says another.

"Pollution is a big problem due to the oil reservations. It is very high in Madinat Zayed and Ghayathi cities. People have mainly migrated because of this issue." Their voices rise as the debate heats up.

The WRDC council, which was established by a decree on May 2006 and activated by assigning a director general and advisory board members on September 2006, is set to act as a link between the residents and the relevant government authorities to ensure their concerns are heard and that action is taken.