Abu Dhabi UPC approves 13 development projects

Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) announced yesterday that 13 development projects covering over four million sqm. were approved during the first quarter of the year, with 70% of that being residential. Five of the approved projects were Master Plans, with the remaining eight being detailed Project Plans.
One of the biggest project approvals was for Aldar Properties' Al Raha Beach East Master Plan. The development consists of reclaimed land along the coast with a series of canals and islands interlinked by boulevards creating a unique waterfront community stretching over 20 kilometres.
It is the first phase of the overall Al Raha Beach development and will provide over 3,000 apartments, townhouses and villas as well as 50,000 sqm. of prime Grade A office space.
Another Master Plan project approval was for further development of the Petroleum Institute on the Abu Dhabi Mainland. The new enhancements to the campus will include a new male undergraduate centre, a new research centre and research park, a Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and residential blocks.
Master Plans for UAE national residential projects were approved for Aldar Properties' Al Shabahat development in Al Ain and the Bida Al Mutawa development (which will be developed by Musanada as part of the UAE National Housing Programme) in Al Gharbia, which collectively will offer over 240 villas, as well as community centres, parks and mosques.
Also approved was the Al Hai Al Tejari project in Al Gharbia, which was announced at the Al Gharbia Development Forum in Abu Dhabi yesterday. The project is a mixed-use development at the centre of Ghayathi City, located on the main road that connects the major settlements of the Western Region. It will include a town centre, office and retail space, residential apartments and a cinema.
The remaining eight approvals were for detailed Project Plans, which included Farglory's EW11 development on Al Maryah Island and Aldar Properties' Shams Abu Dhabi development on Al Reem Island, both residential projects.
In the education sector, a Project Plan for the new Institute of Applied Technology campus in Al Ain was approved, which will comprise a vocational high school and university for up to 2,400 female Emirati students, and will have a 2 Pearl Rating under the Estidama sustainability programme.
A detailed Project Plan for an extension to Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, which will add an additional 135,000 sqm. to the existing 34,500 sqm. of the current campus, to serve a total of 3,000 students and 762 faculty and staff when completed, was also approved. The new campus will include Abu Dhabi's first Medical School, an integrated Engineering College and Research and Development facilities, and will also provide students with world-class facilities such as an auditorium, students centre and sports centre. The university also intends to enlarge their current Discovery Centre to 1,800 sqm. to encourage public involvement in science and technology, with the ultimate goal of establishing Abu Dhabi as a knowledge-driven city.
Mohamed Al Khadar, Executive Director of Development Review and Estidama, UPC, said, "These approved projects bring us closer to achieving the goals of Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. The Development Review team is very careful and deliberate in its evaluation of all project proposals. Each one must adhere to our regulations and guidelines for planning Complete Sustainable Communities and take into account environmental, societal, cultural and economic factors, thereby ensuring that every new development is in line with the overall vision for the Emirate." Since 2007, the UPC's Development Review Team has delivered 432 projects and master plans covering an area of 50 million sqm. In addition to the above, these developments include Zayed University (Zayed City), Al Maryah Island, the Guggenheim (Saadiyat Island), Abu Dhabi World Trade Centre and Yas Waterworld, among many others.
Source: WAM