Abu Dhabi: A total of Dh323.2 million has been contributed by nine leading developers towards the establishment of community facilities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The private sector firms signed a formal agreement with the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s urban sector developer, the Urban Planning Council (UPC), at Cityscape Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The funds have been allocated as part of the companies’ corporate social responsibility initiatives during the UAE’s Year of Giving.
“We are proud to have the private sector’s active support in the building of new sustainable communities that meet the expectations of residents and living standards in the emirate,” said Falah Al Ahbabi, director general of the UPC, at a press conference in the capital.
According to UPC officials, the Dh323.2 million will be allocated to a variety of projects over the next few months. These projects will we designed to develop facilities like public parks, playgrounds, mosques, and recreational centres, or be used to refurbish and enhance existing amenities, said Mohammad Al Khadar, executive director for urban development and Estidama (sustainability) at the UPC.
“The call for contributions was made about two months ago, and now that the relevant agreements have been signed, a committee will look into the allocation of funds towards specific projects. We expect to see the first projects being completed as early as the end of the year,” Al Khadar told Gulf News.
Upto 70 per cent of the contributions will be used for the development of mosques and parks across the emirate, especially in areas with a marked shortage of community facilities, he added. While it is not known exactly how many development projects can be undertaken with the funds, the official pointed out that the construction of a large new mosque typically costs about Dh20 million.
“For example, we are looking into suburbs like Mohammad Bin Zayed City, Shamkha and Samha, and ascertaining possible locations for the facilities within these suburbs,” Al Khadar said.
Mohammad Al Mubarak, chief executive officer at master developer Aldar Properties, announced that the company will build seven mosques in the emirate at a cost of Dh130 million.
“Our partnership with the UPC in this initiative fits within our programme of social responsibility, as well as the current national emphasis on supporting economic growth through the development of sustainable communities,” said Sufian Al Marzouqi, chief executive of tourism master developer Tourism Development and Investment Company.
