Abu Dhabi: Students from Zayed University have developed a highly innovative idea for the creation of a waterway city on Yas Island, with the small city made up of villages all connected by water.
The project was submitted as part of the Yas Island Breakthrough Challenge organised by Miral and Zayed University, which aims to have students come up with innovative ideas that will contribute to Yas Island becoming a major leisure and entertainment destination.
“The Waterways City will be surrounded by water and will have different villages with each village having a specific theme. The villages will all be connected with each other through waterways, with people travelling on boats to navigate through the city,” said Jawahir Al Ali, one of the students behind the project.
According to Al Ali, the city will be a car-free city, with no vehicles allowed inside.
“No cars will be used in the city because we want to have an environmentally clean city. Also with no cars, it will make the experience more enjoyable for the people in the city because it will be quieter and cleaner. The boats will also be powered by solar energy.
“The whole idea for this city is to have something very unique, to have something that doesn’t exist in Abu Dhabi or the UAE, and to allow visitors to have a very special experience,” she added.
Al Ali told Gulf News that the city would also aim to have an Emirati feel to it.
“The houses in the city will be based on different designs, but they will be centred on the culture of the UAE with a modern touch. We want the city to be traditional and for the people to feel like they are in the UAE. Often a lot of leisure areas are very westernised and so we wanted to ensure that this city reflected the UAE.”
According to Al Ali, the villages will have restaurants, a shopping mall and a sports club.
“We want to make this a destination for visitors to keep coming back to, and so we have made it suitable for all nationalities and ages — there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
“The sports club will allow visitors and residents to familiarise themselves with traditional Emirati sports like falcon hunting and diving. The museum which will be situated on another village will also give an insight into the UAE and its history.
“Each village will have an Emirati theme behind it and will symbolise the rich spirit of the UAE,” she added.
