Mohamed Bin Zayed Chairs Abu Dhabi Executive Council meeting and reviews new future projects

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, chaired the Executive Council meeting held at the Crown Prince's Court.

During the meeting, the Council reviewed the progress of current and future governmental projects in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as well as the main achievements accomplished and the service projects provided to the citizens and residents of the Emirate. The Council also looked into ways to promote current projects in line with the relevant governmental goals and plans.

The Executive council has approved the allocation of Dh 17.5 billion for governmental capital projects in different sectors in 2016. These allocations would help implement the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE - May God Protect and Preserve him - aiming at investing all efforts to support the citizens' stability and decent life requirements. The allocated capital will be divided as follows: Dh 5.9 billion in housing, Dh 4.3 billion in infrastructure, Dh 1.8 billion in education, in addition to Dh 614 million in governmental facilities, Dh 644 million in social facilities and other allocations in several vital sectors.

This decision supports Abu Dhabi's efforts to implement comprehensive plans aiming at promoting the work system in all governmental sectors in the Emirate and to perform a leading role in achieving excellence, supporting thus the fulfilment of the objectives and goals set in the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

In line with the advancements achieved at all levels in Abu Dhabi, the Executive Council has agreed to award the contracts pertaining to infrastructure works in the "Emirati Neighbourhood" Project, located in Madinat Zayed, between Mohamed Bin Zayed City and Abu Dhabi International Airport. The project is divided into three contracts including infrastructure work, roads and trails networks, in addition to 2755 of residential land plots, 37 mosques, 47 gardens and 13 schools for all education stages.

The project is valued at Dh 2 billion and 367 million and will service 370 thousand citizens in a 4500 hectares residential compound featuring service facilities and world-class construction specifications.

In order to develop the infrastructure and roads and transport network in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, the Executive Council has adopted a project aiming at building a 50 km long two-way road linking Madinat Zayed to Al Marfa' City. The project's total value reached around Dh 664 million.

This project is part of the efforts aiming at developing the infrastructure in order to boost the economic and social activity in the Western Region and meet the residents' needs by providing services and facilities that comply to the highest standards of safety and security. The project aims as well at offering integrated solutions in terms of service transport and using eco-friendly techniques and solutions.

The Executive Council reviewed the progress of on-going governmental projects in the different sectors and fields within the Emirate such as Al Maqta Gateway Project that aims at developing the ports environment in Abu Dhabi and that has been designed in line with international standards to serve the business community by interlinking all of the relevant parties involved in Abu Dhabi's import and export trade business and facilitating the cargo exchange amongst the Emirate's ports.

The Council has also discussed the developments at the level of the Abu Dhabi- Dubai road that stretches between Seih Shuaib and Sweihan intersection. The 62 km long road features 4 lanes in each direction with a total cost of Dh 2.1 billion.

The Council reviewed the implementation stages of the National Housing Development Project in Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. The project includes 3000 housing units, 8 mosques and several societal and services facilities scattered over 453.8 hectares. Moreover, the Council reviewed the status of the Al Ain's Al Fayda housing project that stretches over 375 hectares and offers 2000 housing units, schools, mosques, health clinics, child care centres, commercial shops and a sports centre.

The Council discussed the Al Ain Ladies Club Project that is being established in Al Ain over 17322 m2. The building features an eco-friendly design and follows the highest standards to provide unique services for women in Al Ain, including sporting, cultural and entertaining activities.

The Council reviewed the working mechanism of Al Maqtaa Tenders Opening Hall that has entered the operating phase by starting to provide logistic services pertaining to capital projects tenders that exceed Dh 100 million and opening said tenders for local governmental entities in Abu Dhabi to maximise transparency and open competitiveness amongst all providers and contractors, attract foreign investments and promote coordination and collaboration with all governmental entities in Abu Dhabi. This process is led in consistence with governance best practices in the field of tender management for Governmental entities.

The Council tackled the developments in the establishment of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi. The project stretches over 245 thousands m2 and accommodates 732 hospital beds, in addition to operations rooms, emergency departments, intensive care units, childbirth units, a medical research centre, as well as underground parking facilities for more than 1350 cars.

Source: WAM