City for workers begins to take shape

Abu Dhabi: Work on the first phase of a city for labourers has started in Abu Dhabi's Mafraq area, Zonescorp, a government agency formed for the construction of complexes for workers, announced yesterday.

Zonescorp was established under the directives of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to establish five cities accommodating about 400,000 labourers involved in construction and development projects in the emirate.

The first phase of the city in Mafraq, accommodating 100,000 workers, will be completed this year and the entire project will be completed next year.

Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Chairman of Zonescorp, said yesterday the agency has granted eight contracts to developers to construct five residential cities for workers with a budget of Dh2.5 billion.

Three of the cities are being built in Abu Dhabi, and two in Al Ain.

A statement from Zones-corp said: "The first phase of these cities would ... accommodate 100,000 workers. These include 70,000 workers who are currently living in the old residential complexes in Mohammad Bin Zayed City.

"The construction of workers' cities reflects the keenness of our wise leadership to provide social security to workers and labourers. Those cities and residential complexes would be constructed according to international standards and international laws."

'Non-profit services'

Jaber Hareb Al Khaili, Acting CEO of Zonescorp, explained that all safety and security measures would be available in those cities. He assured that Zonescorp looks at these residential projects as "non-profit services".

Accordingly rent value for investors and entrepreneurs from the private sector will be reasonable that will help them to be more productive, he added.

He also explained that a reputed international firm has been appointed to manage the construction of these cities.