Temperature check

Cityscape Abu Dhabi had been anticipated as a temperature check of the property development industry. Public and industry response was cool, but government response was considerable.

The government of Abu Dhabi appears to have shown control and constraint in its development plans, which are based around realistic and achievable population growth predictions, and are guided by the broad principles of the Estidama initiative.

At the show, this translated into the highest rates of footfall landing at the stands of the Urban Planning Council - which had announced its Plan Al Ain 2030 in the build up to Cityscape - the Department of Municipal Affairs, Masdar City and Estidama.

Announcements had a government ring to them too. Aldar Properties launched the fully government-funded Al Falah project, worth US $2.6 billion, consisting of 5000 new homes for middle-income UAE families. Next off the launch pad was the Capital City District, notable for the absence of tall towers, it has been proposed as a mixed-use city for 370,000 residents, as well as federal government buildings, universities, hospitals and embassies.

This was followed by reassurance from the government-owned Tourism Development and Investment Company that all 12 of its key projects are progressing as planned, with none placed on hold.

So, although the show is still very much created for developers to court investment, it is clear that the power within the industry is held in government hands.

A key date on the Construction Week calendar this week is Wednesday 29, when we'll host the GCC Leadership Summit on Labour Management. The event takes place at Grosvenor House in Dubai.

UAE Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghobash, will provide the opening address, which will be closely followed by a roundtable discussion of some high-profile issues in the labour market.

The importance of this, both to the UAE and the home countries of the contracted labour force, can be seen in the stakeholders who will be gathered for the discussion. The panelists will include Nazmul Quaunine, Bangladesh's Ambassador; the Consul General of India, Venu Rajamony; Shezad Thaheem, Labour Attaché for Pakistan; Virginia Calvez, Labour Attaché for the Philippines; Andrew Broderick, HSE Team Leader for Aldar Properties and Alex Zalami, Senior Advisor to the UAE Ministry of Labour.

It is fair to say there is a lot to talk about. To get involved with the debate, go to www.Constructionweek.online.com/events for further details.

Stuart Matthews is the senior group editor of ITP Business' construction and energy magazines.

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