Abu Dhabi builds on nine pillars for best services

Abu Dhabi: The five-year strategic plan of Abu Dhabi Municipality for 2008-2012 was unveiled on Tuesday, which identifies seven priority areas.

This vision is bold and far reaching and will ensure that Abu Dhabi becomes a globally significant city, with a reputation for best practices and cutting-edge service, said Juma'a Al Junaibi, General Manager of the Abu Dhabi Municipality, during a function held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

He said the vision for Abu Dhabi consists of a secure society and a dynamic open economy based on nine pillars: premium education, healthcare and infrastructure; a large empowered private sector; creation of a sustainable knowledge-based economy; an optimal transparent regulatory environment and complete international and domestic security; continuation of strong and diverse international relationships; emirate resource optimisation; maintenance of Abu Dhabi's values, culture and heritage; significant and ongoing contribution to the federation of the United Arab Emirates are also part of them.

Among the seven priorities, providing an attractive, clean and healthy environment that will strengthen the Abu Dhabi brand and identity is the most important one.

It is part of the target to transfer Abu Dhabi to be renowned as a world-class destination.

This will be achieved through elevating Abu Dhabi city's standards by improving the urban landscape while increasing the green areas and developing the spectacular waterfront to secure clean, beautiful beaches with comprehensive services.

This will also develop creative styles along with securing a healthy environment.

To sustain the rapid urban development of the city, Abu Dhabi spatial data will be continuously updated to support sustainable urban development with the construction of new roads.

These will also include gardens projects to ramp up with the development efforts taking place while maintaining high standards, while implementing increased solid waste management, processing and recycling facilities.

To Improve community services by introducing new services and greater public participation, an integrated "one stop shop" customer service will be established with a high-level of public satisfaction.

An integrated service has already been established in the municipality and this service is to be extended to the five municipal centres located throughout the city.

ADM employees will be provided increased training, increasing accountability and transparency by adopting a suitable governance and regulatory framework is the other important goal.

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of internal and external processes to enhance the municipal system and responsiveness to its stakeholders, international standards and codes for contracts will be applied.

For making better partnership with private sector to provide high quality, cost effective services, certain services will be outsourced thereby reducing operational costs.

The vision for Abu Dhabi based on nine pillars

1. Premium education, healthcare and infrastructure
2. A large empowered private sector
3. The creation of a sustainable knowledge based economy
4. An optimal transparent regulatory environment
5. Complete international and domestic security
6. A continuation of strong and diverse international relationships
7. Resource optimisation
8. Maintenance of Abu Dhabi's values, culture and heritage
9. A significant and ongoing contribution to the federation of the United Arab Emirates

Seven strategic priorities

1. Strengthen the Abu Dhabi brand and identity through an attractive, clean and healthy environment
2. Achieve sustainable urban development
3. Improve and diversify services provided to customers and community
4. Develop national leadership and to encourage human resources development
5. Enhance corporate governance, accountability, responsibility and transparency
6. Leverage public private partnerships and strategic networks
7. Improve efficiency and achieve process excellence in service delivery

The new vision includes:

• The creation of a sustainable, knowledge-based economy
• The maintenance of Abu Dhabi's values, culture and heritage
• A transparent regulatory environment
• A large, empowered private sector
• Providing the best facilities for education, healthcare and infrastructure
• Modified Municipal Responsibilities

Under Law No. 10, which was enacted earlier this year, the Abu Dhabi Municipality will now be responsible for the following functions:

Mandated functions

• Urban Planning
• Building Permits Review and Inspection
• Public Sanitation and City Appearance
• Internal Roads, Gardens, and Green Areas
• Waste Management
• Property Registration
• Management of General Service Facilities

Functions to be transferred to other departments:

• External Roads
• Public Transportation
• Laboratories
• Forests
• Buildings
• Commercial Permits

The new organization structure for the Abu Dhabi Municipality:

• Under the new Municipality structure, there will be five sections or functions.
• Strategic Planning and Performance Management
• Town Planning
• Municipal Infrastructure & Assets
• Municipal Services
• Corporate Services