Al Ain 2030 offers answers, leaves questions

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(ADUPC sketches)

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(ADUPC sketches)

Phase II will focus on the structural components of the Gateway Transit Corridor and, with it, the city's surface tram system. Implementation of Phase III will include development of high-density accommodation and further infrastructure to make the city accessible to the one million residents projected to be there by 2030.

Meanwhile, all of this development comes with what seems to be a strict and genuine adherence to preserving Emirati culture, heritage and history. "Al Ain is the soul of Abu Dhabi," said Saif Ghubash, planning professional for UPC. "It exemplifies the culture and heritage of the emirate."

Impressive package. Now for the important questions...

While the UPC seems intent on protecting agriculture lands and surrounding eco-systems, it has instituted a G+4 limit for the height of buildings, which means the UAE's fourth largest city will continue to sprawl outward rather than grow upward.

Furthermore, Plan Al Ain outlines policies for myriad facilities including mosques, gathering places, recreation areas and shopping precincts - all of which are important components for a city but none of which encourage the level of density the UPC is seeking with this project.

Officials from the UPC also outlined an initiative to "maximise efficient land use" by expanding the city toward Jebel Hafeet by way of a large-scale residential, leisure and retail development, which seems to contradict the idea of creating density in the city centre. Not only that, but by expanding toward Jebel Hafeet, officials seem intent on encroaching on the eco-systems of what Ghubash called the "natural habitat of 89% of the city's wildlife."

Furthermore, neither the UPC nor Al Ain Municipality would even hazard a guess as to the scale of investment needed to put Plan Al Ain into action. Yet, both government bodies remain unwilling to commit to any foreign ownership of land and unprepared to discuss free zones for foreign companies.

And, while HE Al Ahbabi insisted that officials would use the world's best urban planning architects and consultants to implement the strategy and preserve the architectural heritage of the region, no names were provided and no architectural styles were mentioned. In fact, Al Ahbabi was unable to say even when the UPC would start accepting bids for any of the projects related to Plan Al Ain.

While Plan Al Ain is a step in the right direction for Abu Dhabi and the UAE, these and several other questions remain as to how this project will be delivered in this timeframe under these guidelines.

RELATED LINKS: Haute Qatar; Building a future; Examining Estidama; Persian Pioneer

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