Abu Dhabi pushes transparency

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Saturday, 22 September 2007

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The planning council will be part of Abu Dhabi’s 25-year masterplan to integrate development.

A planning council could be set up by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to promote open communication between the government and private property developers, according to a recent report by the Oxford Business Group.

The move is part of the emirate's comprehensive urban planning framework, and will be one of the components of its 25-year strategy to generate ‘managed development'. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, associate director of urban planning affairs, Executive Affairs Authority, told the report: "As the urban environment continues to expand, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council is keen to establish an open and constructive relationship with companies in the private sector to ensure that the development Abu Dhabi needs can be facilitated, and that it is done so in a responsible way.

"It is in this context that there may be a significant role for a newly created urban planning entity or council."

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Al Ahbabi added that the move would also mean more integration between the various government bodies, such as the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the Tourism Development and Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, the Department of Transport, local municipal authorities and the Executive Affairs Authority.

"Ultimately, this coordination is what the urban planning framework and 25-year vision for Abu Dhabi seek to facilitate," said Al Ahbabi.

"When these planning projects are complete, a shared vision for the future of Abu Dhabi's urban environment will exist for perhaps the first time."

Abu Dhabi's government has a US $175 billion spending programme in place, with most of the investment focussed on industry, infrastructure and the service sector.

Around $20 billion has been earmarked for industrial projects, such as the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, while there are also plans to develop the emirate's ports.

Major investments are also being made in developing a base for construction materials.

Dubai Aluminium Company, in partnership with Mubadala Development Company, is building an aluminium plant with output of 1.2 million tonnes a year in the Taweelah area, and plans are underway for the construction of Building Materials City, a $1 billion development which will house a materials exchange allowing construction firms to source building products.