Al Ain 2030 offers answers, leaves questions

Amid a flurry of official pomp and circumstance, Abu Dhabi's Urban Planning Council (UPC) launched an urban structure framework for the future of Al Ain city.

What is being called ‘Plan Al Ain 2030', the initiative is the second phase of the overarching Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, which was launched in November 2007.

Plan Al Ain aims to present an intelligent and achievable framework for expanding Al Ain into an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable city. To achieve this second of two major milestones-the first being Abu Dhabi 2030-the Al Ain Municipality is working with Masdar and Abu Dhabi's Departments of Transportation, Education, Tourism and Culture & Heritage.

"Through a balance of conservation and development, Plan Al Ain 2030 will foster the authentic Arabic identity of Al Ain whilst supporting a continuously evolving modern culture," explained HE Falah Al Ahbabi, general manager of UPC.

To that end, Plan Al Ain will focus on five specific initiatives: First, using available land intelligently; Second, increasing density within the buildings and city centre; Third, preserving surrounding agricultural areas; Fourth, creating a surface tram system; Fifth, protecting designated environmental zones.

Asked if Plan Al Ain has learned any lessons from any of the region's failed or cancelled large-scale urban masterplans, Dr Matar Al Nuaimi, executive director of infrastructure & assets at Al Ain Municipality explained, "Abu Dhabi always studies outside projects very carefully and tries to learn from their mistakes."

"We're moving forward very carefully right now. The one thing we don't want is to build a bunch of buildings just to see them lay empty for years and years," continued Al Nuaimi.

According to officials in UPC and the Al Ain Municipality, in order to sidestep any future recession-based pitfalls, Plan Al Ain project goals will be defined in five-year increments and initiatives will be analysed, refined and adjusted accordingly.

Characterised by lush vegetation and fertile urban farms, Al Ain has long been considered the ‘garden city' of the UAE. In an effort to protect the city's natural green spaces, Phase I of Plan Al Ain will focus on the issue of intelligent land use.

"Plan Al Ain 2030 strikes a delicate and much-needed balance between conservation and development," said Al Ahbabi. "It explores the need to conserve ground water resources, protects natural habitats and reverses damaging trends such as the contamination of the city's oases with pesticides from local farms."

READERS' COMMENTS

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM