Abu Dhabi: A key element of Abu Dhabi’s Plan 2030, Zayed City, is now being developed as the new residential and commercial hub of the capital, senior urban planning officials announced in the capital Tuesday.
In fact, an ambitious Dh3.3-billion residential and commercial district in the southern section of Zayed City is expected to attract its first inhabitants by 2021, Hamad Al Mutawa, senior planning manager at the emirate’s urban sector regulator, the Urban Planning Council (UPC), told Gulf News.
“Within the next six to seven years, Zayed City will emerge as the heart of the capital, with its range of residential, commercial and community offerings. It will be the centre of all government and diplomatic transactions, and be the model for the Abu Dhabi that we envision,” Al Mutawa said.
Al Mutawa was speaking after the launch of Zayed City’s development model at Cityscape Abu Dhabi. The model was revealed in the presence of Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
According to the UPC, Zayed City, located between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Mohammad Bin Zayed City, will span 45 square kilometres when complete, and will house 370,000 residents. About 60 per cent of the district’s total area will be dedicated to residential purposes, and these neighbourhoods will include community facilities like schools, mosques, sport and recreation centres and health care facilities.
About 20 per cent of the essential infrastructure for Zayed City, including roads, lighting, and sewage and utility networks, has already been set up, officials said.
Abu Dhabi General Services Company — Musanada, a government-owned facilities and development firm, is responsible for infrastructure works in the Emirati neighbourhood within Zayed City, which will extend over 17.1 million square metres. This neighbourhood is being built at a cost of Dh2.5 million, and will be completed by the end of 2019. It is eventually expected to house about 22,000 residents. Along with 2,790 residential plots, it will include 45 gardens, 15 schools and 35 mosques.
Al Mutawa emphasised that the main hallmark of Zayed City will be its range of residential offerings for households of all income levels.
“So far, residents in the capital are distributed across neighbourhoods based on income level difference. Zayed City, on the other hand, will cater to all households, especially with its mixed-use developments and range of residential offerings. These neighbourhoods, and the rest of the city, will be intricately connected with advanced transportation networks,” Al Mutawa said.
“Moreover, it will be a self-sustaining district. Residents will be able to go to work, shop and attend school without having to travel too far from their homes in Zayed City,” he added.
Musanada is also working on the construction of Zayed City’s southern business district. The infrastructure works for this sector, which will include mixed-use buildings, are expected to cost about Dh1 billion, and the development will be finished by the end of 2019.
